Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive the Easy Way - How-To Geek

Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive the Easy Way - How-To Geek

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/linux/create-a-bootable-ubuntu-usb-flash-drive-the-easy-way/[21/2/2012 4:36:43 ]

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Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive the Easy WayWeve already covered how to use an Ubuntu Live CD to backup files from your deadWindows computer, but using the boot cd can sometimes be a little slow. We can speedup the booting process by installing Ubuntu to a bootable USB flash drive instead.

To accomplish this, well use a tiny software package called UNetbootin, which isdesigned to make the installation process simple and easy.

Create the Bootable Flash Drive

Youll first need to download the UNetbootin software and save it somewhere useful,since theres no installation required, just double-click to run.

I chose to use an already downloaded ISO image of the Ubuntu installation cd, and thenchose my flash drive, and clicked the OK button. Yes, this step is as simple as that.

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The process will extract the files from the ISO image (or download them), copy them tothe flash drive and then install the bootloader. Depending on what you are installing, thisreally doesnt take very long.

Once the process is completed, youll be prompted to reboot which you dontnecessarily have to do unless you want to test booting the flash drive on the samemachine you are using.

Otherwise you can hit the Exit button.

Make Sure the Partition is Active

If you get a boot device error when you try and boot from the flash device, it could bethat your partition is not marked as active. What well do is use the command linediskpart utility to fix this if you are in Vista open an administrator mode commandprompt by right-clicking and choosing Run as Administrator.

Now youll need to run this command to figure out the number of your flash drive:

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list disk

This will show you the list of drives, and you will use the disk number in the select diskcommand:

select disk 1

select partition 1

active

The active command will actually mark the current partition as active, which is why youneed to select the disk and then the partition. At this point you should be done.

Booting From the Flash Drive

Now that you are all finished, you can try and boot from the flash drive. Every BIOS isdifferent, but most of them will have a message like Press F12 for the Boot Menu,which is highly suggested. The boot menu will allow you to select the USB drive as theboot device. (apologies for the simply horrible camera phone screenshots)

Instead of the regular Ubuntu boot menu that you might be used to seeing, you will seethe UNetbootin menu, which has essentially the same options.



By The Geek on 09/2/08 Tweet

Useful Note

If you are having issues booting Ubuntu Hardy (8.04) on a Dell machine, you might wantto switch back to using Ubuntu 7.10 instead.

I was able to boot all the way into the desktop in about 35 seconds using the flashdrive way faster than using the regular live cd.

Staytuned,weregoing toexploreevenmoreoptionsforbootableCDs andUSBdrivesthat helpyourepairyour

computer.

Download UNetbootin from sourceforge.net

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September 2, 2008 5:43 amMohan

Excellent tip, I discovered this last week as I got the Asus Eee box and wanted to putKubuntu on it and after a little googling I ran into UNetbootin and it works like a charm.

September 2, 2008 5:47 amPeter

What size USB Flash Drive would you suggest?

September 2, 2008 5:52 amThe Geek

@Peter

Thats a good question, I forgot to include it youll probably need a 1GB or larger drive tobe able to fit the contents of the ISO image.

September 2, 2008 6:14 amraphoenix

What a nice surprise in my E-mail in-box this morning. Finally a small installer program thatdoesnt require a 100 page explanation and 10 re-compiles to get a program to run on amachine or device. Hats-Off to the folks over at Source Forge AND to The-Geek for anotherGreat How-To Article.

Rick P.

September 2, 2008 7:19 amhaider_up32

any tips on to bootup linux distros from portable hdds

September 2, 2008 8:39 amEJDean

Great article. Is it possible to have an fully customised Ubuntu ditsro installed on the USBstick?

September 2, 2008 9:48 ammurl

Is it possible to do same with CD? How ?

Comments (107)

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September 2, 2008 10:31 amBush -- not related

I mightve missed it, but does this process create a USB-based disc that allows forpersistent writes? That is, a fully editable environment? Or is this merely a USB-based LiveCD?

September 2, 2008 10:35 amJean-Francois Messier

Although I did not use the program for hard disks just yet, I understand you would thenselect Hard Disk and then select the drive letter for your USB-based device. Or just use theUSB device, it being a hard disk instead of flash memory. This should be the same as forthe software installation/download on the device.

September 2, 2008 10:22 pmMick Barker Sr.

It probably wouldnt hurt to have a Two Gig Flash Drive for this, that way you always haveextra space for added programs, backups, etc.

September 3, 2008 10:09 pmYang

Hi, this boot disk is working, however not seem to be persistent. So no changes will besaved.

September 4, 2008 12:57 pmJohn

I tried the latest Puppy Linux on a 512MB stick and it works good. It will allow you to savechanges and data to a save file of some kind.

September 4, 2008 2:39 pmNOOBISH

does this install to the thumb or write over HD and windows install dont really want that(yet) till I have driven and see how the games do then maybe kick vista to the curb thanks for help.

September 4, 2008 3:24 pmBush -- not related

noonish, this is a live cd-type thang: doesnt touch your HD.

September 5, 2008 8:21 amnoobish

sweet I have the flash drive with the live but havent done the install gonna work on itnext many thanx, noobish

September 7, 2008 4:13 pmDaniel

Dear Geek,

Excellent website and tips! Just created my UBUNTU USB and it works great, except it willnot connect to the wireless signal. I tried it on two different laptops without results.

Also, is it possible to add items to the UBUNTU, such as a Virus Scanner and a Windows



Boot Sector repair tool?

Daniel

September 8, 2008 12:39 amChris

Argghhh help. Ive followed all your steps Mr Geek but when I go2 my boot menu on my DellPheonix Award Bios and select USB its goes threw and say unable to load bootmgr :(

September 15, 2008 7:16 amIrony

Dont people see the sad irony in using Windows and Windows utilities to createLinux/Ubuntu setups? Ubuntu on a USB stick is a great idea. Using Windows to accomplishit, not so much.

September 15, 2008 8:01 amMike Honeycutt

Thanks for the article.

Has anyone created the ultimate USB key that boots Linux and Windows PE?I play with this occasionally and can get one OS to install/boot from the USB key but notboth.

Id be willing to pay for the details.

Mike Honeycutt

September 16, 2008 2:30 amJavaid

Great piece of advice!

Thanks very much for such a kind supoort.

September 29, 2008 12:13 amJames Charlton

Awesome..

so what do you do when the USB thumb wont show up after entering list disk.two brand new 4GB Kingston data travelersthey show when you list volume but not list disk. They work for data transfer and benchmarkfine. just an issue with the brand/make

thoughts?

September 29, 2008 1:28 amBush -- not related

Ive been quite happy with my Kingston data traveler (4GB). Ive made and destroyedseveral bootable drives on it, most recently a puppy linux to run on my eee when I borkedthe Asus, somehow (can one EVER learn enough Linux to stop doing that?).

As for the fool who doesnt understand the definition of irony well, if all one has isWindows but one would verymuch like to experience non-Windows, what are thealternatives? Its not ironic, its cleverly using Windows against itself.



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