Guide | How To How to install Linux Ubuntu on your USB Flash Drive.

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Jack

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Jan 24, 2011
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The tools needed for the installation are:

  • A clean and empty USB flash drive (no less than 2GB)
  • Universal USB Installer, click here to download it.
  • ISO file of Ubuntu , which can be downloaded here.

How to;

  1. Download the 32bit ISO of Ubuntu 11.04 Desktop and the Universal USB Installer.
  2. Double-click on the Universal USB Installer and after reading and accepting the license agreement, select Ubuntu 11.04 from the drop down list.
    [attachment=573]
  3. Browse to the location where you've previously saved the Ubuntu 11.04 ISO and select it.
    [attachment=574]
  4. Select the drive letter of the USB flash drive where you want to put Ubuntu on and check the box to format the USB flash drive.
    Set the Persistent file size for storing changes to maximum.Click the Create button.
    [attachment=576]
  5. Wait now until the tool finishes installing Ubuntu on your USB flash drive, then click Close.

That's it. Ubuntu is now installed on your USB flash disk. You should now go and configure your system to boot from your USB flash disk in order to run Ubuntu.
In order to do so, restart your computer and press F2 or DEL (or which ever message that prompts you to the boot menu).
[attachment=577]
As you can see, there is a First, Second and Third Boot Device. Scroll down and use the arrow keys to change the device in order to boot from USB devices then insert the USB flash drive into a USB port.
At the installer boot menu, select "Run Ubuntu from this USB."

You can also install other Linux builds on your USB Flash Drive :
Enjoy!

List of USB Installable Linux Distributions
Code:
eft Linux 
NEW Zorin OS 
Porteus 
Dreamlinux 
Sn0wL1inuX 11 
Ubuntu Studio 11.04 Installer 
Elementary Unleashed (Dorian 1.1) 
Bodhi 
Trinity Rescue Kit 
G Data Antivirus Boot CD 
OpenSUSE 
KON-BOOT 
Android x86 
Acronis Rescue CD 
WifiWay Site
Jolicloud (NetBook Distro) Joli-OS-1.2 
Windows Vista & Windows 7 Installers
Hiren's Boot CD (untested, but reported working)
ArchBang 
PING – Parted Image is Not Ghost 
T(A)ILS – Private Browsing via TOR 
Lighthouse Pup 
Edubuntu 10.10/11.04 
Qimo 4 Kids 
DouDouLinux 
Mythbuntu 10.10/11.04 
Panda SafeDisk CD 
BlackBuntu 
KNOPPIX V 6.4 
Pinguy OS 
Macbuntu-iso 
Linux XP Like 10.10 
Ultimate Edition LITE 
Finnix Linux 
MCNLive 
Sabayon Linux 
Ubuntu 9.10/10.04.x/10.10/11.04 Desktop i386/amd64 
Kubuntu 10.04.x/10.10/11.04 Desktop i386/amd64 
Xubuntu 10.04/10.10/11.04 Desktop i386/amd64 
Lubuntu 10.04/10.10/11.04 Site
Ubuntu NetBook Remix 10.04/10.10 
Ubuntu Rescue Remix 
Ubuntu Server 10.04/10.10 32bit/64bit Installer 
Ubuntu Mini Remix 10.04 
Sugar on a Stick 
Arch Linux 
XBMC 
ZenWalk Live 
PCLinuxOS MiniMe 
TinyCore 3 
CentOS 5 
Fedora 14/15 
Redo Backup and Recovery 0.9.5 
Runt Linux 5.0 
Feather Linux 0.7.5 
Debian Live 
Peppermint Linux OS 
GParted 
PartedMagic 
EasyPeasy 1.6 (NetBook Distro) 
DBAN 2.2.6 (Hard Disk Nuker) 
RIP Linux 
Dr.Web Live CD Scanner 
Lucid Puppy 
BackTrack 3, 4,5 
YlmF OS V3.0 
Linux Mint 
Crunchbang 
gOS 3.1 gadgets 
Ultimate Boot CD 
Gentoo 10.1 
xPUD 0.9.2 
Simply MEPIS 8.0.15 
EEEBuntu 3.0 (Netbook Distro) 
DSL (Damn Small Linux) 4.4.9 
Puppy Linux 
Puppy Arcade 8 (Console Game Emulator) 
Kiwi Linux 9.04 
SLAX 6.1.2 
SliTaZ 
Ophcrack XP 
Clonezilla 
Dynebolic 2.5.2 DHORUBA 
PLoP Linux 4.0.5 (a minimalist Linux Rescue System) 
System Rescue CD 1.5.4 (another Linux Rescue System)

Video help;
Uploaded by 28Amar46 on May 27, 2011
 

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Last edited:
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jamescv7

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Mar 15, 2011
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RE: How to install Linux Unbutu on your USB Flash Drive.

That USB Universal Installer is useful and easy to use for extracting ISO linux distribution.
 
D

Deleted member 178

Zorin is a Windows-user oriented distro made from unbuntu (as Mint too) , so the procedure is same.

Btw, i prefer using Rufus , it manage UEFI and GPT; i heard Universal has some issues lately.
 
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CMLew

Level 23
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Oct 30, 2015
1,251
Question:

1) If I wish to have two Linux OS on my flash drive, I should use multi-boot installer like YUMI right? With the ISO image kept in the same flashdrive?

2) I went to Proteus link. It say their OS is optimised to be used directly from external drive like USB, SD card. Hence I do not need a boot installer for Proteus right?

Thanks!
 

jamescv7

Level 85
Verified
Honorary Member
Mar 15, 2011
13,070
@CMLew

1) Yes you may use the multi boot installer without any problem.

Another alternative tool too: Link

2) Well still you need it in order to mount the ISO and make it bootable. It means that the OS can recognized in any such form when change in BIOS settings.
 

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