Can't install Kali Linux from USB, fails to find CD-ROM drive

You could resolve the error by repeating the steps :

Run the installer.

Open a shell (ALT + F2).

Create the directory cdrom directly on the root of the file system:

mkdir /cdrom

Note : If you got problems making the directory /cdrom, disable the CD-rom player in BIOS or disconnect the cable

Mount the USB as if it is a CD-ROM:

mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /cdrom

Where sdb1 is your USB device.

You could carry on installation now

After executing mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /cdrom, cd into the /cdrom directory and do an ls to see if the files are there. Then press ALT-F1 to go back, continue and re-select "detect CDROM"

Source :ubuntu and debian

Another layman solution was :

when the Window shows CDROM couldn't be mounted ,

1. Unplug your USB from system and re insert it

2. wait for mount/ detection (usb LED glow)

3. Hit Continue

You could do what I did. Hit escape, type install, hit enter, skip CD drive.

If you use Rufus (v 2.x) to burn the ISO to USB drive, make sure the option is "DD Image" in "Create a bootable disk using". Not sure if Unetbootin offers the same option. If image is copied using this method, you don't need to go to terminal and manually mount it.

With Rufus (v 3.x), you can not explicitly choose DD mode. IF the ISO is hybrid or has DD mode, Rufus will prompt you to choose ISO or DD mode AFTER clicking start button.

I tried all the answers here and more google results, but none worked. I eventually figured it out, the issue is the file format is not vfat, but iso9660.

When you get the CDROM not found error follow these steps:

Enter a shell (CTRL+Alt+F2)

Note: Kali told me to press (Alt+F2), but this didn't work

Get a list of devices with blkid:

~ # blkid
/dev/sdc1: UUID="2018-04-12-12-04-16-00" LABEL="Kali Live" TYPE="iso9660" PARTUUID="81c5e086-01"

Note: I have shortened my list to the relevant row. Also you can see the storage type is iso9660, not vfat

Mount the Kali CD with the mount command:

~ # mount -t iso9660 /dev/sdc1 /cdrom

Check the contents of /cdrom are as expected:

~ # ls /cdrom
autorun.inf     efi             g2ldr.mbr       md5sum.txt      win32-loader.ini
boot            efi.img         install         pool
debian          firmware        isolinux        setup.exe
dists           g2ldr           live            tools

Switch back to the installer (CTRL+Alt+F5)

Note: Kali told me to press (Alt+F1), but this didn't work. I tried F1 through to F5 until I found the correct combination

From the menu tell it to mount the CDROM, if asked choose /dev/sdc1 and /cdrom. I know we have already mounted the drive, but for some reason this step didn't work previously, but worked fine after following the previous steps.

The install will now continue as normal.