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How to Make a Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive

Mar 14, 2011 07:22 PM

Hard disk problems are quite common these days, and when they fail you have no other option but to replace it. Fortunately, Ubuntu has been designed to run on your USB stick!

Most laptops are enabled to boot from a USB device, and you can create a persistent USB flash drive so that programs and settings are saved during shutdown.

Here's how:

Get Ubuntu

Download the newest version of Ubuntu and burn onto a blank disk.

Boot from the CD

Insert the Ubuntu CD into your PC and boot from it (change your boot up settings).

Plug Flash Drive In

Insert your Fat 32 formatted USB flash drive (at least 4GB is recommended).

Go to Startup Disk Creator

Found in System > Administration > Startup Disk Creator.

Penguin mascot with a desktop menu on a Linux operating system.

Choose Ubuntu as Source

Choose your Ubuntu .ISO image file as the source. The .ISO must be saved on your internal hard drive.

Screenshot of software settings interface for image compression and file management.

Choose the Flash Drive for Startup Disk

Choose your flash disk drive and be sure to click "Stored in reserved extra space" to make it persistent, otherwise you won't be able to save recently installed programs or stored documents. You can reserve up to 4GB on a larger USB stick.

Disk management interface displaying options for installing and configuring disk images on a USB drive.

Make the Disk

Now just click on "Make Startup Disk" to install Ubuntu onto the flash drive.

Bootable USB disk creation software interface.

Boot with the USB Stick

After the installation is complete, remove your CD and shutdown. Then, boot using your USB device.

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