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Idea #7491: Run Ubuntu from a Flash Drive

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #16: LiveUSB.
Written by Arch_Angel_Kiragis the 24 Apr 08 at 00:14. Category: Accessibility. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
It would be really cool if one could use Ubuntu from a flash drive, hosted from the flash drive, instead of using a CD.

This could not only make Ubuntu easier to store (we've already done this), but running it from the flash drive would remove the medium of a 25 minute install on each computer you use.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #7491
Written by Arch_Angel_Kiragis the 24 Apr 08 at 00:14.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #7491 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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probono wrote on the 24 Apr 08 at 16:30
This already works.

Basically you have to do:
* Copy the contents of the Live CD to the flash drive
* Set up SYSLINUX

For more information, see
http://klik.atekon.de/wiki/index.php/CustomizeUbuntuLive

Jiran wrote on the 24 Apr 08 at 17:53
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/09/28/usb-ubuntu-710-gutsy-gibbon-install/

Unfortunately they don't have one for Hardy Heron yet, but I'm sure they will soon. ;)

probono wrote on the 24 Apr 08 at 18:16
My method works pretty well with Hardy, just using it :-)

flounder wrote on the 24 Apr 08 at 19:21
This is a duplicate.

FYI 10 steps

Summary: (where sdX is your flash device)
1. fdisk /dev/sdX #create bootable 750M FAT partition
2. apt-get install lilo;lilo -M /dev/sdX
3. mkfs.vfat -n ubuntu804 /dev/sdX1
4. mkdir isomnt; mount -o loop desktop-804.iso isomnt
5. mkdir /media/sdX1;mount /dev/sdX1 /media/sdX1;
6. cp -a isomnt/.??* isomnt/* /media/sdX1
7. mv isomnt/isolinux isomnt/syslinux
8. mv isomnt/syslinux/isolinux.cfg isomnt/syslinux/syslinux.cfg
9. vi isomnt/syslinux/syslinux.cfg # :/isolinux/syslinux/g|x
10. syslinux /dev/sdX1;eject /dev/sdX

Done.

Persistence is another question, and it would be nice to have a helper to do this stuff automatically.

El_Tate wrote on the 24 Apr 08 at 21:32
Try Ubuntu iES ;)

http://ubuntuies.com/

jiu wrote on the 26 Apr 08 at 14:31
Ubuntu can be installed on a USB hard drive without any problems using a regular liveCD (if your BIOS can boot on usb). It's a really practical way of having it at hand on a company computer without much tampering.

Arch_Angel_Kiragis wrote on the 27 Apr 08 at 04:41
I think flounder has a point in his last line, it would be nice to have a helper to do this stuff automatically, especially for people like me who are looking at this and thinking it makes about as much sense as Grecian gutter lingo.

Thank you guys much, I'll mess around with the different methods and see which one I like. Methinks jiu's looks like the easiest, assuming my BIOS is smart enough to figure it out for me =).

Lock thread? Post as duplicate to a different thread? Change text to a request for an automated process? Your recommendations for what to do now please.

probono wrote on the 21 Jul 08 at 14:04
http://launchpad.net/liveusb


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