Obtaining Ubuntu is super easy — all you have to do is download it from their website. But once you have the ISO file, what do you do with it? You could burn it to a DVD, or you can use a highly-reusable USB flash drive to get the job done.
Want to know more? Let me show you the entire process for every machine so you know exactly what you need to do to install Ubuntu properly on your computer with a USB flash drive.
Grabbing Ubuntu
Alright, to get started, we’ll first need to download Ubuntu from their website, but you already have a few choices you need to make. There is (except for six months every two years) the LTS release and the latest cutting edge release. While both are usually considered stable enough for everyday use, the LTS release is more stable and is supported for five years from its release date. The releases in between LTS releases are only supported for nine months so you must upgrade to a newer release every six months if you go that route. However, if you’re having hardware issues on an LTS release, you’ll probably find better support for your hardware on the cutting edge releases.
Then there’s the question of choosing 64-bit and 32-bit. Nowadays, you should always pick 64-bit unless you know that your computer is too old and cannot support it. There used to be a general “rule” floating around saying that you shouldn’t use 64-bit unless you have 3GB of RAM or more, but you can ignore that. All systems should take advantage of 64-bit even if they have smaller amounts of RAM.
When downloading, I recommend that you consider using the torrent links instead of your browser, as it will significantly speed up your download (and yes, it’s legal8 Legal Uses for BitTorrent: You'd Be Surprised8 Legal Uses for BitTorrent: You'd Be SurprisedLike HTTP, which your browser uses to communicate with websites, BitTorrent is just a protocol. You could use your browser to download pirated content, just as you could use a BitTorrent client to download pirated..Read More).
Prepping Your USB Drive
How to Create a Bootable Dell Diagnostic CD, USB, ISO or Network IMG by Britec This file contains the boot image file, the necessary files and directory structure that you will need to create the. Now you need to put your BIOS files onto the USB stick. As a general principle, you simply need to copy and paste the files onto the volume. If they came in a self-extracting.exe file, you need to run it in order to extract the files.
Nov 20, 2008 - How to install and boot Windows on an external (USB) hard drive. Usually, if it's an option in your BIOS boot sequence menu, the. 3) Dumping the original Windows Setup CD into an ISO File. Again read this, still confused, your dell, has it no OS and you're trying to install xp with service pack 3. Download the Dell Diagnostic Distribution Package (DDDP) from the following URL. This will remove all data from the USB memory stick. Navigate to C: Dell Drivers R174621 and double click on the application DDDP. This method can be used in conjunction with updating the system BIOS from a USB Flash Drive. For more details see.
Once the download is finished and you have the ISO file, it’s time to write it to your USB flash drive. Here is where the instructions start to differ depending on what operating system you’re currently using.
Windows
Various tools are available such as LiveLinux USB Creator for Windows onlyLinux Live USB Creator: Easily Boot Linux From Your Flash DriveLinux Live USB Creator: Easily Boot Linux From Your Flash DriveRead More and Unetbootin which is cross-platformHow To Install Linux With Ease Using UNetbootinHow To Install Linux With Ease Using UNetbootinWe've already talked about Linux and why you should try it, but probably the hardest part of getting used to Linux is getting it in the first place. For Windows users, the simplest way is..Read More. My personal favorite is the Universal USB Installer from Pendrivelinux. Download it and plug in your USB drive before launching it. For this tool, there’s no installation required.
Then simply pick the distribution you’re installing (pick the right one!), give it the path to the downloaded ISO file, and then pick your USB drive’s letter from the list. Be sure to check Format Drive to avoid any potential formatting issues. Be warned that this will erase all data from your USB drive.
Finally, choose an amount of persistent storage — if all you’re wanting to do is install Ubuntu, then you should leave it at 0. Then click on Create Download vimeo on demand videos for beginners. and it will start writing the installation image onto your USB flash drive, essentially turning it into the equivalent of an installation disc.
Mac
It’s a bit trickier to make Ubuntu USB installation media on a Mac (regardless of whether you plan to use the drive to install Ubuntu on a PC or Mac) because it cannot be done without using the Terminal. So open the Terminal, then use the following commands:
Begin by switching to the Downloads folder with
and then follow this with
Make sure you replace xxxx with the rest of the filename of the downloaded ISO. This converts the ISO image into a format that Macs can understand better. Follow this with
… to rename the image file by dropping the .dmg extension that Macs will add automatically.
Next, list your current drives with
And insert your USB drive into your Mac. Repeat the command:
and note the drive number of the drive that wasn’t there before.
Now, enter
where N is the disk number as given by the previous command (we want to unmount your flash drive so that it’s not used by anything else).
You should then run
again, N is the disk number. This writes the installation ISO onto your flash drive. Click Ignore on the warning box, and then run
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where N is the disk number. This safely ejects the flash drive so that everything is finalized before the system considers it no longer connected.
If you need it, there’s also a graphical way to prep your USB drive for Linux installationHow to Create and Boot From a Linux USB Drive on MacHow to Create and Boot From a Linux USB Drive on MacThere are a few ways to get a create a live Linux USB drive that will boot on your Mac: you can do it with freeware, or get your hands dirty with the command line.Read More.
Linux
First of all, congrats if you already have Linux on a computer and just need to make an installation flash drive. The most reliable method is to open up Gparted or a Disks utility that can tell you what path the device has (whether /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, etc). Then, just do:
How To Unpack Dells Bios Iso Download To Usb Stick Drive
to switch the terminal to your Downloads folder and then
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where X is the letter for the flash drive, and ubuntu-iso-name is the name of the ISO file. This will write the installation ISO onto your flash drive. Finish off with
to make sure that all data has been written and the USB device ejects correctly (otherwise, it will write the remaining bits and then complete the ejection).
Using the USB Drive for Installation
Congratulations, you now have a USB flash drive you can use to install Ubuntu! The next step is to plug in the USB drive, turn on your computer, and enter the BIOS. This is usually done by pressing one of the following keys repeatedly as soon as the computer turns on: F2, F5, F6, F8, or F10. Often (but sadly not always), the computer will display which button needs to be pressed before it continues to boot the operating system. Once inside the BIOS, you’ll need to change the boot order so that the flash drive will boot before your hard drive. That way, it will start the installation media rather than your usual operating system.
Windows 8 users will need to use the advanced shutdown methodHow To Restore, Refresh, or Reset Your Windows 8 InstallationHow To Restore, Refresh, or Reset Your Windows 8 InstallationIn addition to the standard System Restore feature, Windows 8 has features for 'refreshing' and 'resetting' your PC. Think of these as ways of quickly re-installing Windows -- either keeping your personal files or deleting..Read More to boot from the USB device.
On Macs, you’ll have an easier time. As soon as you turn it on, hold the Option button for a few seconds until you see a selection screen. Press the right arrow key to move the selection to your flash drive, and then hit Enter to boot the installation media.
Things to Watch out ForInstallation should be the same as with a DVD from here. There’s really only one thing you’ll need to look out for. If you choose to do manual partitioning, the USB installation media will appear on the list of drives. Just be sure to know which one is your USB drive (as it should have a much smaller capacity than your hard drive) and make sure not to touch the partitions on it nor have it selected as the installation target for the bootloader. Instead, if say the hard drive you’re installing to is /dev/sda, you’ll want to choose /dev/sda as the target if you’re running a regular BIOS system, or the EFI partition (probably /dev/sda1) if you have a UEFI systemWhat Is UEFI And How Does It Keep You More Secure?What Is UEFI And How Does It Keep You More Secure?Read More. Enjoy Your Installation!How To Unpack Dells Bios Iso Download To Usb Stick 2
Ubuntu should now be installed on your system, thanks to your USB flash drive! Don’t worry about changing the boot order again in your BIOS after the installation — as soon as you unplug the USB drive (when Ubuntu says you can) and restart your computer, your hard drive should automatically slip back to the top spot in the boot order. And best of all, you can now do whatever you’d like with the flash drive. You can keep it as it is and reuse it to install Ubuntu on other computers, overwrite it with the installation image of another distribution, or even just reformat it to use as a regular flash drives for files you need to carry with you. You could even perform a Linux installation onto your USB driveRunning Linux from USB: Are You Doing It Right?Running Linux from USB: Are You Doing It Right?Did you know that can keep data persistent, or even do a full install for Linux, on a USB drive? Take computing totally mobile -- stick a Linux USB PC in your pocket!Read More, and not just on your computer.
Is there anything else that fellow readers should be aware of? When was the last time you installed Linux via disc? Let us know in the comments!
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