1. Install Ubuntu On A Flash Drive
2. Install Ubuntu On Thumb Drive From Windows
3. Install Linux On Thumb Drive
4. Install Ubuntu On Flash Drive Partition
5. Install Ubuntu On Flash Drive Mac

To install Ubuntu, select 'Install Ubuntu.' There is a performance penalty for running Ubuntu from the USB drive instead of installing it on the hard drive. There is a performance penalty for running Ubuntu from the USB drive instead of installing it on the hard drive. Article about how to create bootable Ubuntu USB flash drive using only terminal commands. Advantages and disadvantages are described in the article as well as the whole process of creating bootable Ubuntu USB flash drive from scratch. Want to install Ubuntu but don't have a spare blank DVD? After downloadin the ISO file, you can use a highly-reusable USB flash drive to get the job done. After downloadin the ISO file, you can use a highly-reusable USB flash drive to get the job done.

How can I make a persistent install of Lubuntu on my flash drive, so I can boot from my flash drive and save changes and files?

2 Answers

Running from USB is well supported by the standard Ubuntu setup, and there are a number of tutorials out there including this one.

In case that link vanishes, the procedure is as follows:

Install Ubuntu On A Flash Drive

1. Download and burn to CD the right Ubuntu ISO
2. Boot from that CD
3. Plug in the target USB drive
4. Run the startup disk creator (found under system/administration in the menus
5. Select the target drive and CD if they are not correctly selected automatically and choose how much space to reserve for changes
6. Click 'make startup disk' and wait for it to finish
7. Shutdown Ubuntu and reboot from the newly populated USB drive, and give it a test

Installed to a USB drive that way, anything you save goes into the block of space reserved for such changes - this includes saving documents, installing new programs & updating existing ones, and changing settings - so the changes are available next time you boot using that USB drive. Not changes will be made to your existing drives unless you explicitly mount them using the new installation.

This should work equally well whether you are using a flash-based USB stick or an external drive connected via USB as long as your machine supports booting from such media.

I use this approach. It is quite useful, particularly when moving between different version of linux.

I have three usb hard drives, mainly for data storage, but I also use them for linux. I reserve about 50GB at the front of each drive. 45GB for the install and 5GB for the swap.

The Ubuntu installation to external drive since 9.04 has become simple. The only thing you have to be careful with is where linux puts GRUB. You'll want it on the external drive.

To make sure this happens, you have to select that drive in the last step of the pre-install questions. On this last screen there is an advanced button, click it and select the external drive from the list.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged usbpersistentlubuntu or ask your own question.

Obtaining Ubuntu is super easy — all you have to do is download it from their website. But once you have the ISO file, what do you do with it? You could burn it to a DVD, or you can use a highly-reusable USB flash drive to get the job done.

Want to know more? Let me show you the entire process for every machine so you know exactly what you need to do to install Ubuntu properly on your computer with a USB flash drive.

Grabbing Ubuntu

Alright, to get started, we’ll first need to download Ubuntu from their website, but you already have a few choices you need to make. There is (except for six months every two years) the LTS release and the latest cutting edge release. While both are usually considered stable enough for everyday use, the LTS release is more stable and is supported for five years from its release date. The releases in between LTS releases are only supported for nine months so you must upgrade to a newer release every six months if you go that route. However, if you’re having hardware issues on an LTS release, you’ll probably find better support for your hardware on the cutting edge releases.

Then there’s the question of choosing 64-bit and 32-bit. Nowadays, you should always pick 64-bit unless you know that your computer is too old and cannot support it. There used to be a general “rule” floating around saying that you shouldn’t use 64-bit unless you have 3GB of RAM or more, but you can ignore that. All systems should take advantage of 64-bit even if they have smaller amounts of RAM.

When downloading, I recommend that you consider using the torrent links instead of your browser, as it will significantly speed up your download (and yes, it’s legal8 Legal Uses for BitTorrent: You'd Be Surprised8 Legal Uses for BitTorrent: You'd Be SurprisedLike HTTP, which your browser uses to communicate with websites, BitTorrent is just a protocol. You could use your browser to download pirated content, just as you could use a BitTorrent client to download pirated...Read More).

Prepping Your USB Drive

Once the download is finished and you have the ISO file, it’s time to write it to your USB flash drive. Here is where the instructions start to differ depending on what operating system you’re currently using.

Windows

Various tools are available such as LiveLinux USB Creator for Windows onlyLinux Live USB Creator: Easily Boot Linux From Your Flash DriveLinux Live USB Creator: Easily Boot Linux From Your Flash DriveRead More and Unetbootin which is cross-platformHow To Install Linux With Ease Using UNetbootinHow To Install Linux With Ease Using UNetbootinWe've already talked about Linux and why you should try it, but probably the hardest part of getting used to Linux is getting it in the first place. For Windows users, the simplest way is...Read More. My personal favorite is the Universal USB Installer from Pendrivelinux. Download it and plug in your USB drive before launching it. For this tool, there’s no installation required.

Then simply pick the distribution you’re installing (pick the right one!), give it the path to the downloaded ISO file, and then pick your USB drive’s letter from the list. Be sure to check Format Drive to avoid any potential formatting issues. Be warned that this will erase all data from your USB drive.

Finally, choose an amount of persistent storage — if all you’re wanting to do is install Ubuntu, then you should leave it at 0. Then click on Create and it will start writing the installation image onto your USB flash drive, essentially turning it into the equivalent of an installation disc.

Mac

It’s a bit trickier to make Ubuntu USB installation media on a Mac (regardless of whether you plan to use the drive to install Ubuntu on a PC or Mac) because it cannot be done without using the Terminal. So open the Terminal, then use the following commands:

Begin by switching to the Downloads folder with

and then follow this with

Make sure you replace xxxx with the rest of the filename of the downloaded ISO. This converts the ISO image into a format that Macs can understand better. Follow this with

… to rename the image file by dropping the .dmg extension that Macs will add automatically.

Next, list your current drives with

And insert your USB drive into your Mac. Repeat the command:

and note the drive number of the drive that wasn’t there before.

Now, enter

where N is the disk number as given by the previous command (we want to unmount your flash drive so that it’s not used by anything else).

You should then run

again, N is the disk number. This writes the installation ISO onto your flash drive. Click Ignore on the warning box, and then run

where N is the disk number. This safely ejects the flash drive so that everything is finalized before the system considers it no longer connected.

If you need it, there’s also a graphical way to prep your USB drive for Linux installationHow to Create and Boot From a Linux USB Drive on MacHow to Create and Boot From a Linux USB Drive on MacThere are a few ways to get a create a live Linux USB drive that will boot on your Mac: you can do it with freeware, or get your hands dirty with the command line.Read More.

Linux

First of all, congrats if you already have Linux on a computer and just need to make an installation flash drive. The most reliable method is to open up Gparted or a Disks utility that can tell you what path the device has (whether /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, etc). Then, just do:

to switch the terminal to your Downloads folder and then

where X is the letter for the flash drive, and ubuntu-iso-name is the name of the ISO file. This will write the installation ISO onto your flash drive. Finish off with

Install Ubuntu On Thumb Drive From Windows

to make sure that all data has been written and the USB device ejects correctly (otherwise, it will write the remaining bits and then complete the ejection).

Using the USB Drive for Installation

Congratulations, you now have a USB flash drive you can use to install Ubuntu! The next step is to plug in the USB drive, turn on your computer, and enter the BIOS. This is usually done by pressing one of the following keys repeatedly as soon as the computer turns on: F2, F5, F6, F8, or F10. Often (but sadly not always), the computer will display which button needs to be pressed before it continues to boot the operating system. Once inside the BIOS, you’ll need to change the boot order so that the flash drive will boot before your hard drive. That way, it will start the installation media rather than your usual operating system.

Windows 8 users will need to use the advanced shutdown methodHow To Restore, Refresh, or Reset Your Windows 8 InstallationHow To Restore, Refresh, or Reset Your Windows 8 InstallationIn addition to the standard System Restore feature, Windows 8 has features for 'refreshing' and 'resetting' your PC. Think of these as ways of quickly re-installing Windows -- either keeping your personal files or deleting...Read More to boot from the USB device.

On Macs, you’ll have an easier time. As soon as you turn it on, hold the Option button for a few seconds until you see a selection screen. Press the right arrow key to move the selection to your flash drive, and then hit Enter to boot the installation media.

Things to Watch out For

Installation should be the same as with a DVD from here. There’s really only one thing you’ll need to look out for. If you choose to do manual partitioning, the USB installation media will appear on the list of drives. Just be sure to know which one is your USB drive (as it should have a much smaller capacity than your hard drive) and make sure not to touch the partitions on it nor have it selected as the installation target for the bootloader. Instead, if say the hard drive you’re installing to is /dev/sda, you’ll want to choose /dev/sda as the target if you’re running a regular BIOS system, or the EFI partition (probably /dev/sda1) if you have a UEFI systemWhat Is UEFI And How Does It Keep You More Secure?What Is UEFI And How Does It Keep You More Secure?Read More.

Enjoy Your Installation!

Install Linux On Thumb Drive

Ubuntu should now be installed on your system, thanks to your USB flash drive! Don’t worry about changing the boot order again in your BIOS after the installation — as soon as you unplug the USB drive (when Ubuntu says you can) and restart your computer, your hard drive should automatically slip back to the top spot in the boot order. And best of all, you can now do whatever you’d like with the flash drive. You can keep it as it is and reuse it to install Ubuntu on other computers, overwrite it with the installation image of another distribution, or even just reformat it to use as a regular flash drives for files you need to carry with you. You could even perform a Linux installation onto your USB driveRunning Linux from USB: Are You Doing It Right?Running Linux from USB: Are You Doing It Right?Did you know that can keep data persistent, or even do a full install for Linux, on a USB drive? Take computing totally mobile -- stick a Linux USB PC in your pocket!Read More, and not just on your computer.

Is there anything else that fellow readers should be aware of? When was the last time you installed Linux via disc? Let us know in the comments!

Image Credits: notebook and usb drive Via Shutterstock

Install Ubuntu On Flash Drive Partition

Explore more about: Linux, USB Drive.

Install Ubuntu On Flash Drive Mac

1. Installed ubuntu 16.04 (from .iso file) on old laptop using 'Universal USB installer'. Working good !

   Note: only problem was the 'ubiquity failure' during the installation (problem solved just unplugging the battery as described in the ubuntu-forum)

   thank you for the installatiuon advice

2. Newb here...If I have Ubuntu on a thumbdrive, can I set Ubuntu up on a brand new mb and hdd? No other app or OS required?

3. Hello,

   I did try many times to install ubuntu on my pc (windows 8.1) but was unable to succeed. Please can someone help me in regards to this. I have windows 10 installed now my pc but I still want to run ubuntu linux so that I can dual boot or switch to any operating system that I want. Thank you

4. Excellent tutorial, Danny. Worked like a charm for me. I installed Ubuntu on an 11-inch 2010 Macbook Air using a stick drive. Thanks for posting this!

   • Can you please provide a more detailed expalnation for the installation of ubuntu once the usb has the program? I keep getting confused on the step where the disk is supposed to be partitioned :(

5. it seems to install on my hard drive just fine but when i boot without the flash drive it is unresponsive. i am quite happy to just keep the flash drive in there but as someone who isn't exactly a computer noob. i find it quite frustrating

6. Hey. Only one troll so far. Not bad.

   rjb

7. You can us Unetbootin on Win, Mac an Linux, do not need to use terminal.

   • correct. i've never had a hard time using unetbootin. usb creator which comes with ubuntu has never worked for me. it works as far as installing an iso on the usb, but doesn't work when you try to boot to the live environment. unetbootin also includes a few other utilities that are useful like freedos, which is good to use when you want to flash your bios, and you don't have windows. i've also used unetbootin as a tool in windows one time when an upgrade from 10.04 to 12.04 borked . i had 4 hard drives on my box. i forgot to unplug all except the hard drive that i was upgrading to. one word of warning when installing most Linux distros that use grub; if your box has more than one hard drive, unplug all the drives except the one you want to install your Linux distro on...for some reason, grub gets confused which hard drive to install itself on. if your not paying attention, you boot to a screen that says 'no bootable device' and a flashing cursor. for some reason, this box would not recognize a live boot to usb to install from or repair, which is why i chose to upgrade. so i used a old xp install i had on one of my 4 hard drives , installed unetbootin, and repaired my upgraded install on my target drive . also used the utility 'boot repair'. most of the time, installing a Linux distro is effortless. however, some times, there are problems. for those who are intimidated by ANY hiccup in their life, stay with windows. (i am being sarcastic) . 'hiccups' in Linux are a feature , not a defect. i've learned more using Linux than i could ever have learned staying in bill gate's world. the community forums are more than helpful in correcting your problems . and there is no reward better than knowing you fixed your box. using Ubuntu since feisty fawn 7.04, i will never use windows again. like anything else, there is always a learning curve. don't let that stop you from trying something new. if you are ambivalent about installing a Linux distro, use the live environment for awhile with persistence for awhile until you decide to install it. no need to dual boot really (unless for a few of you, you find it more convenient to do so). Linux for me is about freedom and choice. if you like everything to be decided for you, and handed to you on a silver platter, stay with windows. this tutorial is not for you.

8. Is the usb flash drive which is used in the top picture of the story available for purchase somewhere? or was it just created for the story ? its a darn cool looking piece of hardware.

9. I have installed Linux Mint about a year ago and haven't stopped to even looked back. No more internet explorer, no more restarting my Pc after installing updates. No more searching for drivers, no more annoying spinning symbol waiting,Bye bye Windows

10. Just so you know YUMI the installer creator can also include 1 version of Windows on the USB pendrive apart from multiple versions of Linux and bootable other utilities. In fact I have also managed to include Boot It Bare Metal - a boot manager and Norton Ghost to create / restore partition images.

11. The hard drive on my HP crashed. I bought a WD 2TB replacement but the Vista re-insall DVDs failed. 'Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware.' I don't want to pay for Windows 7 on a six year old back-up computer. Am I a candidate for this?

    • 'Am I a candidate for this?'
      Are you a candidate for Linux? Certainly! Anybody who is sick of Microsoft's shenanigans and is ready to try something new, is ready for Linux. But be ready to give up your old habits and learn something new.

    • Put the right Linux distro on it, and it will run like new again. And no Windows drama.

12. Danny, I have tried to install Ubuntu on my HP Envy(bought in July 2013), both with Windows and, eventually without; after last summer's 'Security Update' borked Windows entirely, I got disgusted and wiped it off. However, even though I had a Ubuntu disk from the $40 book I bought, the install wouldn't stick. I used it for a day, then it wouldn't load. I replaced both the mSATA drive and put in an SSD instead of the HDD, loaded Ubuntu and, again, it worked for a day, then wouldn't load. Now my UEFI or BIOS says I need to update the BIOS, but how do I do that without an operating system? Why won't the Ubuntu 'stick'? Should I try 15.04 because of its updated UEFI and boot stuff? I have put off taking it back to the place I bought it, because they'll probably charge me to fix it, and I've already paid for the drive upgrades, which I installed myself, in the hopes that the manufacturers would be more Linux-friendly.

    At any rate, do you have any advice for a clean install? I get confused about if I can just use an ISO or if I need Unetbootin or one of those other installers. Thanks for any advice you can give.

13. Yes, Rufus is much faster and more reliable; however, Rufus doesn't offer a 'persistent' feature--which the user wouldn't need, obviously, if he/she were installing on a Windows machine.

    What the writer epically fails to tell his audience is the nightmare that awaits the user when he/she wants to uninstall Linux.

    Maybe he should leave his personal email address, home address, and prepaid postage labels for those who will find an ungodly mess of what was once a reliable computer when they choose to uninstall because Ubuntu, and Linux in general, is highly overrated unless one is running a server farm.

    • 'What the writer epically fails to tell his audience is the nightmare that awaits the user when he/she wants to uninstall Linux. '
      What nightmare is that? 'Nightmares' can usually be avoided by reading the manual/instructions before attempting an unfamiliar task. The different file systems and partitioning schemes of Windows and Linux can cause problems for those who have not read up on the differences.

    • Why would anybody want to uninstall Linux?

    • I still like to put Linux on CDs I give away. I have a ton of CDs sitting around, and it's hard to find flash drives 2 GB and under.

14. Rufus is another great tool for writing the ISO on the flash drive.

15. Any other Linux distro can be installed to a USB drive using these instructions, not just Ubuntu.

    • He mentioned Ubuntu because it's the most popular linux distro and everybody knows that it is indeed a linux distro. If the article title read 'Install Korora On Your Computer Using a USB Flash Drive', nobody would have understood that it's a linux distro.

    • This is the one article that could/should have been titled 'Install LINUX on Your Computer Using a USB Flash Drive' and mean it. But once again, MUO is trying to convince readers that beyond Ubuntu there is no Linux. It seems like most of the Linux articles on MUO are paid for by Canonical.