"When will ISO-x or MODULE-y be ready for download?"

For now, see the blog for more information on when ISOs and modules are expected.

"Why won't my CD or USB boot?"

There are any number of possibilities; consider the following:

Old ISO image:

The unx-2013.05.24-i686.iso image has a bug that if you allow it to boot automatically it does not properly detect a read-only boot medium, attempts to install to the CDROM, and fails. The work around for that image is to press the ESC key when prompted during boot.

Bad ISO image:

You can use the MD5 or SHA256 checksums from the Download page to verify that your ISO image is correct.

BIOS not set to boot from CDROM or USB:

Press or hold the key sequence necessary to enter BIOS setup when you boot the machine. Look through the menus for a place to specify the boot (startup) sequence. Place the CDROM or USB into the sequence ahead of other boot media. Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup program.

On systems supporting boot media selection, press or hold the key sequence necessary to enter the boot selection menu—usually F10, F11 or F12. Select the CDROM or USB and press enter to boot from the selection.

Antiquated system:

Antiquated systems require antiquated methods. Many antique CDROM drives cannot directly boot a raw ISO image. If your drive can support booting of any Linux live CD/DVD is should boot unexicon just fine. Otherwise: you kept the documentation for that dumpster system—right? Maybe just swap the CDROM drive with something newer? Maybe just don't use antiques.

On antiquated systems that cannot boot from a USB key, it is possible to create a boot CDROM that simply chain boots to the USB. Another possibility is to use a unexicon CDROM and select the Boot from drive... menu item described in the Release Notes. Select the drive and MBR of the drive that corresponds to the USB key that you have inserted.

None of these methods will help if your BIOS is too old to support USB drives at all.