diff --git a/config/release/create_installstick b/config/release/create_installstick
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index f82a792952..b344a79db9
--- a/config/release/create_installstick
+++ b/config/release/create_installstick
@@ -56,24 +56,85 @@ echo "# Please read the instructions and use very carefully.. #"
 echo "#                                                       #"
 echo "#########################################################"
 
+# check for some required tools
+
+  # this is needed to create a bootloader
+  which syslinux > /dev/null
+  if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv missing tool - Installation will quit     #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      We can't find the required tool \"syslinux\"     #"
+    echo "#      on your system.                                  #"
+    echo "#      Please install it via your package manager.      #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # this is needed by syslinux
+  which mcopy > /dev/null
+    if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv missing tool - Installation will quit     #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      We can't find the required tool \"mcopy\"        #"
+    echo "#      on your system.                                  #"
+    echo "#      Please install it via your package manager.      #"
+    echo "#      NOTE: Some distributions call this package       #"
+    echo "#      \"mtools\".                                      #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # this is needed to partion the stick
+  which parted > /dev/null
+  if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv missing tool - Installation will quit     #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      We can't find the required tool \"parted\"       #"
+    echo "#      on your system.                                  #"
+    echo "#      Please install it via your package manager.      #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+
 # check MD5 sums
   echo "checking MD5 sum..."
-  md5sum -c target/KERNEL.md5
-  MD5_ERROR="$?"
-  md5sum -c target/SYSTEM.md5
-  MD5_ERROR="$?"
 
-if [ "$MD5_ERROR" = "1" ]; then
-  echo "#########################################################"
-  echo "#                                                       #"
-  echo "# OpenELEC.tv failed md5 check - Installation will quit #"
-  echo "#                                                       #"
-  echo "#      Your original download was probably corrupt.     #"
-  echo "#   Please visit www.openelec.tv and get another copy   #"
-  echo "#                                                       #"
-  echo "#########################################################"
-  exit 1
-fi
+  md5sumFailed()
+  {
+    clear
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "# OpenELEC.tv failed md5 check - Installation will quit #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#      Your original download was probably corrupt.     #"
+    echo "#   Please visit www.openelec.tv and get another copy   #"
+    echo "#                                                       #"
+    echo "#########################################################"
+    exit 1
+  }
+
+  md5sum -c target/KERNEL.md5
+  if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    md5sumFailed
+  fi
+
+  md5sum -c target/SYSTEM.md5
+  if [ "$?" = "1" ]; then
+    md5sumFailed
+  fi
 
 # (TODO) umount anything
   umount "$PART"
@@ -136,6 +197,10 @@ fi
   cp README /tmp/usb_install
   cp RELEASE /tmp/usb_install
 
+# syncing disk
+  echo "syncing disk..."
+  sync
+
 # unmount partition
   echo "unmounting partition $PART..."
   umount "$PART"
@@ -143,11 +208,11 @@ fi
 # write mbr
   echo "writing mbr..."
   if [ -f /usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin ]; then
-    MBR="/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin"       # example: ubuntu
+    MBR="/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin"       # example: debian, ubuntu
   elif [ -f /usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin ]; then
     MBR="/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin"     # example: fedora
   else
-    echo "Dont find mbr.bin on Host OS"
+    echo "Can't find mbr.bin on Host OS"
   fi
 
   if [ -n "$MBR" ]; then
@@ -162,4 +227,4 @@ fi
   echo "cleaning tempdir..."
   rmdir /tmp/usb_install
 
-echo "...ready"
+echo "...finished installation"
diff --git a/projects/ATV/linux/linux.i386.conf b/projects/ATV/linux/linux.i386.conf
index e551c740a6..d24d0de74c 100644
--- a/projects/ATV/linux/linux.i386.conf
+++ b/projects/ATV/linux/linux.i386.conf
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=2
 # CONFIG_SCHED_SMT is not set
 # CONFIG_SCHED_MC is not set
 CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING=y
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y
diff --git a/projects/Fusion/linux/linux.i386.conf b/projects/Fusion/linux/linux.i386.conf
index 15ffb52772..e6c93f127f 100644
--- a/projects/Fusion/linux/linux.i386.conf
+++ b/projects/Fusion/linux/linux.i386.conf
@@ -322,8 +322,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=4
 CONFIG_SCHED_SMT=y
 CONFIG_SCHED_MC=y
 # CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING is not set
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y
diff --git a/projects/Generic/linux/linux.i386.conf b/projects/Generic/linux/linux.i386.conf
index de9f86a38e..51ea43daa0 100644
--- a/projects/Generic/linux/linux.i386.conf
+++ b/projects/Generic/linux/linux.i386.conf
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=8
 CONFIG_SCHED_SMT=y
 CONFIG_SCHED_MC=y
 # CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING is not set
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y
diff --git a/projects/ION/linux/linux.i386.conf b/projects/ION/linux/linux.i386.conf
index 443b401996..3675381a4d 100644
--- a/projects/ION/linux/linux.i386.conf
+++ b/projects/ION/linux/linux.i386.conf
@@ -322,8 +322,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=4
 CONFIG_SCHED_SMT=y
 CONFIG_SCHED_MC=y
 # CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING is not set
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y
diff --git a/projects/ION/linux/linux.x86_64.conf b/projects/ION/linux/linux.x86_64.conf
index 3173d100e3..5e4912d013 100644
--- a/projects/ION/linux/linux.x86_64.conf
+++ b/projects/ION/linux/linux.x86_64.conf
@@ -295,8 +295,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=4
 CONFIG_SCHED_SMT=y
 CONFIG_SCHED_MC=y
 # CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING is not set
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y
diff --git a/projects/Intel/linux/linux.i386.conf b/projects/Intel/linux/linux.i386.conf
index 8207cb0d97..979397df51 100644
--- a/projects/Intel/linux/linux.i386.conf
+++ b/projects/Intel/linux/linux.i386.conf
@@ -323,8 +323,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=8
 CONFIG_SCHED_SMT=y
 CONFIG_SCHED_MC=y
 # CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING is not set
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y
diff --git a/projects/Intel/linux/linux.x86_64.conf b/projects/Intel/linux/linux.x86_64.conf
index 71e72cda1a..203dfc2ea6 100644
--- a/projects/Intel/linux/linux.x86_64.conf
+++ b/projects/Intel/linux/linux.x86_64.conf
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=8
 CONFIG_SCHED_SMT=y
 CONFIG_SCHED_MC=y
 # CONFIG_IRQ_TIME_ACCOUNTING is not set
-CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE=y
-# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
+# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
+CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY=y
 # CONFIG_PREEMPT is not set
 CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC=y
 CONFIG_X86_IO_APIC=y