Have you ever tried using a live USB drive to run Linux OS? It is a simple and easy way to learn how Ubuntu works and to become familiar with the user interface (UI) and layout. Using a live USB, you can boot up the system, install programs, save items, and make configurations without altering your computer’s configuration. However, take note that once you reboot the system, all saved items and changes will be wiped away. This is not a problem if you are just trying out the operating system for one time only. If you want to save your files and settings so that you do not have to start from scratch, you can create a persistent USB drive by installing the OS on it.
This article will explain how to run Ubuntu 20.04 from a USB stick. The article will also explain how to install Ubuntu on a USB drive to make the drive persistent. The primary topics covered in this article include the following:
Apr 24, 2020 Boot Ubuntu from USB or DVD The process of booting Ubuntu 20.04 form USB includes four simple steps: First, switch OFF your PC. Second, insert the USB bootable flash drive into your computer in order to start the USB boot. Then, make sure that all other USB devices are removed (e.g. Memory cards, printers) as an extra precaution.
- How to Prepare a Live USB
- How to try Ubuntu from a USB stick (without installing the OS)
- How to install Ubuntu on a USB stick
- Install Ubuntu to the SSD using mkusb with the usb-pack-efi option. (this replaces grub 2.04 with 2.02). Deleted ISO9660 partition sdx4, and casper-rw partition sdx5, stretch usbdata NTFS partition #1 into it's place. Dropped ISO into iso folder on NTFS partition. Updated grub.cfg on usbboot partition #2 to loopmount the ISO.
- But if you clone from an Ubuntu iso file to the USB pendrive, you need not worry about the boot sector/method, everything will be cloned, and you get a 'hybrid' system with an ISO 9660 system which includes the boot sector 'automatically'.
- Boot Ubuntu from USB or DVD The process of booting Ubuntu 20.04 form USB includes four simple steps: First, switch OFF your PC. Second, insert the USB bootable flash drive into your computer in order to start the USB boot. Then, make sure that all other USB devices are removed (e.g. Memory cards, printers) as an extra precaution.
- With a bootable Ubuntu USB stick, you can: Install or upgrade Ubuntu. Test out the Ubuntu.
Requirements
- An ISO image of Ubuntu 20.04
- 2 USB drives
- A computer system
Note: We have performed the procedure discussed in this article on a system running Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
Prepare Live USB
Follow the steps below to prepare a live USB drive:
1. Download the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS ISO file from the Ubuntu official Downloads page.
2. Insert the USB drive into your system. The USB drive must be a minimum of 4GB.
3. To make a Live USB in your Ubuntu system, open the Startup Disk creator application. If you are using a Windows system, use Rufus, and for macOS, use the Disk utility. In this example, we are working on an Ubuntu system, so we will use the Startup Disk creator application.
To launch the Startup Disk creator, hit the super key on your keyboard and search for the application using the search bar that appears. When the search result appears, click on the Startup Disk creator icon to launch the application. Under the Source disc image(.iso) section in the Startup Disk creator application, click on the Other button to insert the Ubuntu .iso file. The Disk to use section will automatically detect and add your plugged-in USB drive.
4. Click the Make Startup Disk button to start creating a bootable USB drive.
Wait for a little while, and the bootable media will be created. You will see the following message. Click the Quit button to close the notification.
Run Ubuntu from USB
Once you have a bootable USB, you can take it with you anywhere and run the OS from it without installation. However, remember that you cannot store files and data on the USB live image. If you want to save files and data on the USB drive, you will first need to install Ubuntu on the USB and create persistent storage.
Note: If the system you are using already has an OS installed, you should be sure to make a backup of all your data.
Try Ubuntu
If you want to just try out Ubuntu OS without installing it, follow the steps below:
- Insert the bootable USB on your system and boot your system from it.
- After the boot is finished, the following window will appear.
- Select the Try Ubuntu option, after which the Ubuntu live session will be started.
Now, you can try using Ubuntu from the USB drive and get more familiar with its GUI layout and appearance.
Install Ubuntu
If you want to keep files and data persistent in the Ubuntu OS, you will need to install it on your USB drive. The following are the steps required to do so:
1. Insert the bootable USB on your system and boot your system from it.
2. After the boot is finished, the following window will appear. Select the Install Ubuntu option.
3. Once you have selected the Install Ubuntu option, you will see the following window. Select the keyboard layout and click Continue.
4. Select the Normal Installation or Minimal Installation option, based on whether you want the fully-featured Ubuntu OS, or you just want the basic features, respectively.
Uncheck the Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware and additional media formats check box. Then, click the Continue button. You can choose to download the updates during installation of the OS by checking the Download updates while installing Ubuntu box.
5. Next, in the Installation type window, choose the Something else option and click the Install Now button.
6. Identify the USB drive on which you want to install Ubuntu. In my case, it is /dev/sdb with one partition, as the size of my USB drive is 32 GB. We will delete the old partition and create new ones.
Select the USB drive from the Device list at the top and click the New Partition Table button. Then, click the + button to open the Edit partition window and create three partitions, one by one:
1. A swap partition of a size slightly larger than the system’s RAM. Choose the “swap” selection in the Use as option.
2. A FAT32 partition with any size greater than 512 MB.
3. A root partition of a size not less than the 4 GB minimum. You can use all the remaining space on your USB drive for the root partition. Choose the “ext4” selection in the Use as option and set the mount point to “/.”
Under the Device for boot loader installation, make sure that you have selected the USB drive. Then, click the Install Now button.
4. A window will appear asking you to confirm the changes. Click Continue to proceed with the installation process.
5. Select the region where you live and click Continue.
6. The system will ask you to create a username, system name, and password. Provide the required information and click Continue.
Now, the installation will be started. Once the installation is completed, you will see the following message.
Click the Restart Now button to restart the system.
Conclusion
That is all you need to know to run Ubuntu 20.04 from a USB stick. Now, you will no longer need to tie to a specific machine to run Ubuntu OS. Simply plug the USB drive into any machine, boot from it, and enjoy the entire Ubuntu OS from the USB. I hope you liked the article and find it helpful for your needs.
Universal USB Installer aka UUI is a Live Linux Bootable USB Creator that allows you to choose from a selection of Linux Distributions to put on your USB Flash Drive. The Universal USB Installer is easy to use. Simply choose a Live Linux Distribution, the ISO file, your Flash Drive and, Click Install. Upon completion, you should have a ready to run bootable USB Flash Drive with your select operating system installed. Other features include; Persistence (if available) – Ubuntu, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu Casper Persistence feature works with FAT32 or NTFS formatted drives. Larger than 4GB casper-rw is possible only when the USB drive is formatted with the NTFS filesystem.
NOTE: If you are looking to add multiple Linux Distributions, System Diagnostic Tools, Antivirus Utilities, and Windows Installers to your bootable USB, use YUMI – Multiboot USB Software, instead.
Universal USB Installer (UUI) Screenshots
Universal-USB-Installer-2.0.0.0.exe – December 3, 2020 – Changes
Compile using newer Nullsoft Scriptable Install System Version 3.06.1
Universal-USB-Installer-2.0.0.0.exeSource Code
SHA-256: F8EF9425682CC2824E9163A3BB07D8620A8C90298E6D7CB91446D37113CD90BE
IMPORTANT: The Windows to Go option requires the USB be formatted NTFS with 20GB free disk space to hold the virtual disk. See FAQ for more info.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your USB drive must be Fat32/NTFS formatted, otherwise Syslinux will fail and your drive will NOT Boot.
Bootable USB Flash Drive Creation Requirements:
You should use a –> Fast SSD Flash Drive with UUI
- Universal-USB-Installer-2.0.0.0.exe
- Windows Vista/7/8/10 to create the USB
- *Fat32 or NTFS Formatted Flash Drive. MBR partition table
- PC with a BIOS that can boot from USB
- Your Favorite Linux ISO
Feel free to inform me of unlisted Live Linux distributions or version revisions, and I will do my best to update Universal USB Installer (UUI) to support them.
Universal USB Installer Recent Changelog:
12/03/20 – Version 2.0.0.0: Recompile using newer Nullsoft Scriptable Install System Version 3.06.1
11/29/20 – Version 1.9.9.9: Switched to create Ubuntu/Linux-Mint persistence file and label based on the name of the ISO. Supports persistence for Linux Mint/Ubuntu version 16 through 20+. Added a Sleep timer to pause between file creation and ext2 format so that persistent file creation can be performed on the USB.
11/25/20 – Version 1.9.9.8: Added support for old casper-rw label on older Ubuntu and Linux Mint versions. For example, for version 19.10 and below use the Ubuntu 19 (and lower) option. Revert back to creating and formatting the casper writable file on local machine, then moving it to the USB.
11/02/20 – Version 1.9.9.7: Updated to support newer Ubuntu 20.10 and derivitives. Moved casper writable file creation to occur on USB.
10/31/20 – Version 1.9.9.6: Updated several links (still more to check). Add entry for Sergei Strelec.
10/14/20 – Version 1.9.9.5: Removed Try via DD option. Moved Antergos and Mageia entries to use Grub for boot.
10/12/20 – Version 1.9.9.4: Updated to support Puppy Linux Fossapup64. Fixed Try Unlisted ISO (Grub) option. Updated to support newer CentOS installers. You must use an NTFS format on your USB when using the DVD ISO, because it is larger than 4GB.
08/04/20 – Version 1.9.9.3: Fixed broken links for Antergos, EasyPeasy, Xpud, and CubLinux.
07/28/20 – Version 1.9.9.2: Updated to support LinuxFX (aka: Windows FX or WinFX).
07/17/20 – Version 1.9.9.1: Support Ubuntu's 'writable' casper persistence file name.
12/04/19 – Version 1.9.9.0: Updated to support Clear Linux and Pop OS.
09/17/19 – Version 1.9.8.9: Updated to support Skywave Linux, and newer Knoppix. Corrected Ubuntu based persistent conditional statements.
06/01/19 – Version 1.9.8.8: Updated to support newer Archbang, ArchLinux, Manjaro, Dr.Web, and AntiX. Add support for KaOS, Pop OS, Bionic Pup, Emmabuntus, and MX Linux.
02/19/19 – Version 1.9.8.7: Updated to support initrd boot option for newer Ubuntu based distributions when USB drive is formatted NTFS. Added persistence option to Kodachi entry.
UUI can create a Bootable USB containing any of the following:
— Ubuntu 32/64 Bit —
- Ubuntu Desktop
- Xubuntu Desktop
- Kubuntu Desktop
- Lubuntu Desktop
- Edubuntu Desktop
- Ubuntu Studio
- *Ubuntu Server Installer
- **Ubuntu Alternate
- Mythbuntu Desktop
- Blackbuntu
— Linux Mint 32/64 Bit —
- Linux Mint
— Debian Live/Netinst 32/64 Bit —
- Debian Netinst
- *Debian Live
— Backtrack/Kali Versions —
- Kali Linux
- Backtrack
— Fedora 32/64 Bit —
- Fedora Desktop
— OpenSUSE 32/64 Bit —
- OpenSUSE 32bit
- *OpenSUSE 64bit
— Puppy Linux Based —
- Fatdog64
- Lighthouse Puppy
- Lucid Puppy
- Precise Puppy
- Puppy Arcade
- Puppy 4.3.1
- Racy Puppy
- Slacko Puppy
- Wary Puppy
— Linux Distros for Kids —
- DouDouLinux
- Qimo 4 Kids 2.0
- Sugar on a Stick
— Other Distros Alphabetical —
Iso Ubuntu Usb Bootable
- AOMEI (Disk Cloning and Backup Tool)
- Acronis Rescue CD
- Android
- AntiX
- Antergos
- ArchBang
- ArchLinux
- ArtistX
- Aurora
- BackBox
- Baltix Linux
- BCCD
- BlehOS
- Bodhi
- Boot Repair Disk
- Carmedia
- CentOS
- Chakra
- Clonezilla
- Crunchbang
- DBAN 2.2.X
- Deft Linux
- Deepin Linux
- DRBL
- DSL 4.4.10
- Dreamlinux
- Dynebolic
- EASUS Disk Copy
- EasyPeasy
- Elementary OS
- Elementary Unleashed
- Feather Linux
- Finnix
- Fuduntu
- Fusion Linux
- Gamedrift
- Gentoo
- GEEXBOX
- gNewSense
- GRML
- gOS gadgets
- GParted
- Jolicloud
- Kiwi
- KNOPPIX
- Kororaa
- KXStudio
- Leeenux
- Liberte
- LinHES
- Linux XP Like
- LPS
- Macbuntu
- Mandriva One 2011
- Matriux
- MCNLive Toronto
- Meego
- MicroCore
- Netrunner
- Ophcrack
- OSGeo Live
- Pardus
- PartedMagic
- PCLinuxOS
- Pear OS
- Peppermint
- PING
- Pinguy OS
- Plasma active
- PLoP Linux
- Porteus
- Redo Backup
- Rescatux
- RIP Linux
- Runt Linux
- Sabayon Linux
- SalineOS
- Satux
- Simply MEPIS
- SLAX
- SliTaZ
- Sn0wL1nuX
- SolusOS
- System Rescue CD
- Tails
- Terralinux
- TinyCore
- Trisquel
- Uberstudent
- Ultimate Boot CD
- Ultimate Edition
- WifiWay
- WifiSlax
- xPUD
- XBMC
- XBMCbuntu
- StartOS
- wattOS R5
- Zenwalk Live
- Zorin OS
— Live Antivirus Rescue CDs —
- AOSS (Malware Scanner)
- AVG Rescue CD
- Avira Antivir Rescue Disk
- Bitdefender Rescue CD
- Comodo Rescue Disk
- DrWeb LiveCD
- F-Secure Rescue CD
- G DATA Antivirus
- Kaspersky Rescue Disk
- Panda Safe CD
- Trinity Rescue Kit
— Other Software —
- Falcon 4 Boot CD
- Hiren's Boot CD
- Kon-Boot
- Sergei Strelec
— Windows to Go + Windows Installers —
- Windows to Go (on VHD)
- *Windows Vista Installer
- **Windows 7 Installer
- ***Windows 8 Installer
— Try to use an Unsupported ISO —
Iso Ubuntu 32 Bits
- Try Unlisted Linux ISO
More Live Linux Distributions will be added as time permits. Feel free to contact me to submit recommendations.
UUI – Universal USB Installer Troubleshooting, Issues, Bugs:
The Windows to Go option requires the USB drive be NTFS formatted and have 20GB+ free space to hold the virtual disk. Many flash drives you might find at local department stores won't be fast enough. You'll need a Very Fast Flash Drive. When Windows boots from the USB for the first time, it'll go through the setup process and then reboot. You'll need to boot using your Windows to Go flash drive a second time to finalize the setup process and finally boot into your full Portable Windows.
UUI Expects the Volume Label of your USB drive to be UUI in order for OpenSUSE, CentOS and several other distributions to boot. UUI attempts to automatically create this Volume Label, however it can sometimes fail. Please ensure that the Volume Label of your USB remains UUI if you expect distributions to boot!
Persistence feature is currently broken with Newer Debian and Debian based distributions due to significant changes upstream. Debian now requires a rename of the persistent block file and label from live-rw to persistence and must hold a persistence.conf file containing / Union. I will be working on making the necessary changes to provide a fix as time allows.
If you're using Universal-USB-Installer-2.0.0.0.exe and you still receive Insane primary (MBR) partition notices,
Insane primary (MBR) partition. Can’t find myself on the drive I booted from
Your USB drive may be improperly formatted, contains more than one partition or MBR, or your BIOS is not properly detecting the USB drive and its firmware needs to be updated. You can try these methods to Format and Restore your USB Drive
An Error (1) occurred while executing syslinux.
If you encounter a message stating
An error (1) occurred while executing syslinux. Your USB drive won't be bootable.
The most likely cause is that your USB drive is formatted as exFAT or some other unsupported format. You'll need to reformat as fat32 (currently preferred) or NTFS.
My PC wont Boot from my Flash Drive, but supports USB boot!
Many Flash Drives ship USB-FDD formatted and some systems will not detect or even boot USB-FDD. I have found that most systems can however boot USB-ZIP, and or USB-HDD. If you are having a hard time getting your BIOS to detect your flash drive, you can try to format it as USB-HDD or USB-ZIP using BOOTICE (GET IT HERE), and then proceed to use Universal USB Installer to put your chosen Distro on USB.
OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES:
- If you're running a Windows Vista or 7 Installer from your USB, after the first reboot, remove the flash drive and let the pc complete from the hard disk.
- When browsing for an ISO, UUI will only display ISO Files that match exactly what the tool is asking for. For example, if you chose to install Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop i386, you should not expect the tool to display your ubuntu-10.10-netbook-i386.iso as you have not chosen to install the netbook variant.
Auto Detection: If you run Universal USB Installer from the same directory containing an installable ISO, the script should Auto Detect the ISO and bypass step 2.
* Although you can use an NTFS formatted USB, Ubuntu based 'persistence' features will only work with a Fat16 or Fat32 formatted drive. Additionally some Linux Distributions will not boot from an NTFS formatted USB.
This tool does not support adding, installing, and booting from multiple Linux Distributions. Only One Distribution can be installed per USB drive. However the YUMI Multiboot USB Creator can be used to create a Multi System USB Device.
To try an ISO that isn't listed, simply choose one of the the last three options in Step 1. I recommend 'Try Unlisted Linux ISO (GRUB)' because it seems to be the most successful. Please inform me of any unlisted 'Linux ISOs' you get to work via these options, and I'll make a note to add them to the list.
NOTE: OpenSUSE DVD ISOs that exceed 4GB will not work due to the Fat32 limitation.
Ubuntu Server 'Failed to copy file from CD-ROM' Error (should currently be resolved)?
The Universal USB Installer should run from within Linux using WINE. However, the Fat32 format option does not work. Additionally, Syslinux must be manually installed onto the USB when using UUI.
Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 published under Bootable USB Creator Software