Install a Bootable, PERSISTENT Linux System on a Thumbdrive

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Install a Bootable Linux System on a Flash Drive

Submitted On: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 1:33:50 AM

Dodge

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Let me start by saying that some computers won't allow booting from a USB drive. Check in your BIOS for the option. If it's not there, all may not be lost. You might have to have a bootable drive in a USB port for it to give the option. I would follow this article and try it. There's really nothing to lose. Even if it doesn't work, you can wipe the flash drive and use it for storage.
While you're here in the BIOS, set it to boot from the USB drive first now.

This is a simple process, and you should have no problems. If you do run into issues, message me and I will see if I can help.

You Will Need:

Universal-USB-Installer [Free] [773KB]
Linux Live ISO Image [Free] [I used Mint 8, 688Mb]
Computer with Windows (2000, ME, XP, Vista) and USB ports [$$$]
Thumb Drive [At Least 2Gb, Preferably 4Gb, >4 needs to be partitioned]
About 35-40 minutes [Depending on your Current System]

List Of Available Distributions:

Persistence IS available for the following:
Ubuntu 9.10 Desktop i386
Xubuntu 9.10 Desktop i386
Kubuntu 9.10 Desktop i386
Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10
Ubuntu Rescue Remix Revision 1
Ubuntu Server 9.10 32bit installer
Ubuntu Server 9.10 64bit installer
EEEBuntu 3.0
Crunchbang 9.04
EasyPeasy 1.5
Xpud 0.9.2
Linux Mint 8
YlmF OS V1.0

Persistence is NOT available for the following:
(but they will install)
gOS 3.1 gadgets
KNOPPIX V6.2
Ultimate Boot CD V4.11
Gentoo 10.1
Simply MEPIS 8.0.15
RIP Linux 9.3
PartedMagic 4.8
DSL 4.4.9
DBAN
Puppy 4.3.1
Puppy Arcade 7
Kiwi 9.04
SLAX 6.1.2
SliTaZ Cooking
Ophcrack XP
Clonezilla

*Note- Be sure to choose the right ISO for your system (AMD64 or i386). One will work, and one will give nothing but errors! If in doubt, choose i386. It will work on either architecture.

**Another note, and an important one- If you are using a drive that is larger than 4Gb, you will need to break the formatting into 2 partitions. FAT32 can't handle a partition larger than 4Gb. There are several methods to do this. I use Gparted in Ubuntu. You can download a bootable ISO of Gparted here and burn that to disk. Then boot that disk. It will boot a simple Linux desktop with Gparted.
Start Gparted (if it doesn't start automatically).
Click the top right button to select your flash drive.
You should see a big rectangle that says something like [/dev/sdb1 7.93 GiB]. Click that big box.
Now click [Resize/move]. Drag the right side of the box half way to the right. Fine-tune it with the little up/down arrows next to the numbers. You should wind up at about 3975Mb.
Now click [Partition], [Format to], [FAT32].
When that's done, click on the free space to the right of your first partition. Then click [Partition], [New]. Make it as big as it will allow. That makes all the space on the drive available.
Click [Add]. Then set the format as you did with the other partition.
Now you can move on... Shut Gparted down, remove the CD and reboot.

Start by downloading your ISO of choice. This takes a while, and you can complete other steps while...

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Tags: bootable, thumb, flash, drive, thumbdrive, flashdrive, persistent, saves, save, saved, settings

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 3:24:01 PM #35762

teh1337 Member Level 10 Posts: 2,355	Nice job and thanks fir the splash image
	I love men.

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 3:38:05 PM #35764

Dodge Site Admin 'Open foot, insert mouth' Level 19 Posts: 1,914 Submissions: 51	I didn't make that. I found it in google images. Let me know how it works out when you try this.
	Oowwww. ( ̲̅:̲̅:̲̅:̲̅[̲̅ ̲̅]̲̅:̲̅:̲̅:̲̅ ̲̅) Uses [view] tag.

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 10:28:31 PM #35880

graboid90 Soldier 'Bandersnatch' Level 20 Posts: 798 Submissions: 10	I may or may not try this one. I already deleted the install of the original article, as I found I have no uses for it. Good article. Informative, pictures, great structure. 5*
	When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.

Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 4:30:48 AM #36079

Source421 Member 'hnnggg' Level 19 Posts: 1,307 Submissions: 38	Ill try this one later, probably tonight when I get a few minutes. Only problem is, my computer doesnt like booting from a USB. Great guide though.

Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 8:11:06 PM #36215

teh1337 Member Level 10 Posts: 2,355	Works good. It was a bitch partitioning my usb though. I had to find my GPARTED live cd
	I love men.

Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 8:13:19 PM #36216

Source421 Member 'hnnggg' Level 19 Posts: 1,307 Submissions: 38	Mines over there > Worked great!

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 12:22:24 PM #36460

Dodge Site Admin 'Open foot, insert mouth' Level 19 Posts: 1,914 Submissions: 51	Glad you both got it working! Did you run into any other problems with this guide? BTW, after trying Mint on my thumbdrive for a couple days I installed it and have been using it for the past week. Like it.
	Oowwww. ( ̲̅:̲̅:̲̅:̲̅[̲̅ ̲̅]̲̅:̲̅:̲̅:̲̅ ̲̅) Uses [view] tag.

ColinFiat 2 Minutes Ago