How-to: Installing Ubuntu Linux on a usb pendrive
This tutorial will show how-to install Ubuntu on a usb stick. Even though this tutorial uses Ubuntu as its base distribution, you could virtually use any type of Linux liveCD distribution.
Being able to run Linux out of a usb bar is a great way to enjoy the live CD experience (being able to use Linux on any computer you might get by) and the big advantage of being easier to carry around than a CD.
1. Requirements
In order to reproduce this tutorial, you will need a few items such as:
* a ubuntu liveCD
* a usb bar of at least 1G
* a running Linux operating system
Now that you have all this, it is time to prepare you USB bar do host the Ubuntu liveCD files.
2. Setting up the USB disk
2.1. Finding the device
In the first place, you need to plug your usb drive and check under which device it is associated. To find out the device, run:
$ sudo fdisk -l
On my system, the device appears as being /dev/sdb, I will therefore use /dev/sdb as a reference for this tutorial, please replace it accordingly to your system (might be sda, sdc ...).
Once you found your device, you are going to create the partitions.
Using the wrong device name might destroy your system partition, please double check
2.2. Making the partitions
Make sure every of your already mounted partition are unmounted:
$sudo umount /dev/sdb1
and then launch fdisk, a tool to edit partition under linux:
sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
We are going delete all the partition and then create 2 new partition: one fat partition of 750M which will host the files from the live CD iso, and the rest on another partition.
At fdisk prompt type d x where x is the partition number (you can simply type d if you only have one partition), then:
* n to create a new partition
* p to make it primary
* 1 so it is the first primary partition
* Accept the default or type 1 to start from the first cylinder
* +750M to make it 750 Meg big
* a to toggle the partition active for boot
* 1 to choose the 1 partition
* t to change the partition type
* 6 to set it to FAT16
Now we have out first partition set up, let's create the second one:
* n to create yet again a new partition
* p to make it primary
* 2 to be the second partition
* Accept the default by typing Enter
* Accept the default to make your partition as big as possible
* Finally, type w to write the change to your usb pendrive
Partitions are now created, let's format them.
2.3. Formatting the partitions
The first partition is going to be formated as a FAT filesystem of size 16 and we are going to attribute it the label "liveusb".
$ sudo mkfs.vfat -F 16 -n liveusb /dev/sdb1
The second partition is going to be of type ext2 with a blocksize of 4096 bytes and the label casper-rw. Mind that it has to be labeled as casper-rw otherwise the tutorial won't work!.
$ sudo mkfs.ext2 -b 4096 -L casper-rw /dev/sdb2
At this stage, our usb pendrive is ready to host the liveCD image. Now, let's copy the files to the usb bar.
* How-to: Installing Ubuntu Linux on a usb pendrive -- page 2
How-to: Installing Ubuntu Linux on a usb pendrive -- page 2 ›
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Submitted by chantra on Wed, 2007-03-14 19:48.
here is a easy way i found
Submitted by historyjokeha on Mon, 2008-12-22 08:20.
there is even easier way to do it in 7 minutes using unetbootin software. to learn watch- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=q9j4jnUbLd8&fmt=18
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Hi, its a very basic
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-06-06 17:34.
Hi,
its a very basic question from a newbie like me.
while performing "step 2.3 formatting", I get following problm -
my usb is mounted as /dev/sdc1 and now I have added two partition on it as said. but while formatting which device should I use. I am confused because in the article it says sdb1 and sdb2 which might be the partition in the USB for author. for me its /dev/sdc1p1 and /dev/sdc1p2. when I try to format by this name my host can not identify this and gives error like no such device.
please help soon
thanks
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How to install Ubuntu onto a 1GB USB Pendrive from a live DVD?
Submitted by Confused_Phil on Thu, 2008-02-07 12:50.
Hi All,
I have a little problem! I would like to install Ubuntu onto a 1GB USB pendrive. However, the only guide I can find shows you how to do this using a Live CD. I have tried this but the live CD does not seem to have the ability to use wireless networking, which is the only way I have of connecting to the internet.
The live DVD comes with many more features, as you'd