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How to run Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex from a flash drive
But what if you're not ready to devote valuable hard drive space to a new operating system? Fortunately, you can download the Ubuntu 8.10 LiveCD today and try the operating system out without making any changes to your hard disk. But you also can't make any changes to the CD. In other words, you can't install any applications or alter any settings and expect them to be there next time you boot from a CD.
But you can install Ubuntu 8.10 (and a number of other Linux distributions) on a USB flash drive which will allow you to save any changes. Pen Drive Linux has a set of instructions, but in a nutshell what you need to do is download the Ubuntu LiveCD, burn it to a disc and reboot your computer from the CD. Then you follow a set of instructions to copy the files you need from the CD to your 1GB or larger flash drive, tweak a few settings, and voila! You can run Ubuntu from your USB stick.
This can come in handy if you want to try out the operating system without committing to it. But it can also be useful if you tend to wander back and forth between a number of computers, because you can carry your entire operating system with all of your preferred programs and settings in your pocket.
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsTrevorOct 20th 2008 3:20PM
I believe the next release is called 8.10 Intrepid Ibex? Hardy Heron came out in April of this year.
Brad LinderOct 20th 2008 3:25PM
You are correct. Updated.
chrisarozOct 20th 2008 3:47PM
I've found the USB installtion useful, but not fully functioning. There are some things it simply doesn't (maybe can't) do that a standard install can. I've had trouble with custom drivers for video cards, and even just trying to update software. It's better than using the Live CD, but just by a little.
dsp_418Oct 20th 2008 6:08PM
If I'm right installing ubuntu on an external usb drive doesn't prevent it to modify the system boot: this means that from now on you'll see the ubuntu boot loader starting when you'll turn on your pc, and you'll have to choose which os start with...
Brad LinderOct 20th 2008 6:09PM
That would be true if you were just doing the usual install process and choosing your flash drive as the install media. But following the steps from Pen Drive Linux, you're actually creating a custom installation that doesn't alter your boot menu.
StefanOct 21st 2008 5:06PM
@ Chrisaroz and Brad Liner. Yes. It is not a full installation. It will only copy certain files and you will have something between a live CD and a persistent installation. It is not however what you would expect of a fully installed Operating System . I.E. You lose your USB key and anyone who finds has instant access to your files (since it has the same user just like the live CD.). Of course an UBUNTU installation on the USB flash drive could be hacked. But a password would make it a bit difficult and would require more knowledge.
A full install of Ubuntu can be done to a USB flash drive that has more than 4.5 GB , 8 GB that is.
If you want a persistent Linux Installation you can try Puppy Linux that has only 200 MB and it is intuitive and fully functional, persistent and it found my wireless. If wireless is not a concern, there is also SLAX and TinyME.
Best of Luck,
Stefan
aoNov 25th 2008 9:24PM
ubuntu