Ubuntu is an operating system that runs completely on the basis of Linux. This operating system is a freely available one on the Internet and it comes with both the community and professional support systems.
It comes with many plus points like it is free of cost, it includes one of the best translating features and accessibility infrastructure, it is also open-source software and also it is suitable both for desktop use and server use.
The Prerequisites
What do you require for the complete installation of Ubuntu on a USB flash drive? The following three things are a must before you get into the process to install Ubuntu on flash drive.
- The first thing you require is obviously an external USB hard drive. Make sure that it is empty. For those who are actually worrying about the performance of the device, you can go for a 3.0 port. It is because it is faster, even faster than the maximum rate of transfer of any SSD.
- The second thing you need here is Ubuntu Linus bootable USB drive. It is actually not that complicated, rather, it is quite simple to build up.
- The third requirement here is a Windows system Repair Disc. this is basically a bootable USB drive with Windows recovery tools that is actually too simple to be created by you. Or, what you can do is get a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM for the installation of Windows. Using another promotional flash drive is also valid in this process.
Another important thing you need to remember here is that you will have to create a backup for all the important files and documents, photos, videos, and other very important documents before you start with the process of installation of Ubuntu on a USB flash drive.
This is very necessary as you are going to make legit changes on your device and therefore, you need to be very careful.
Let us Get with the Steps to Install Ubuntu on a Portable USB Flash Drive
The whole method is divided into two sections for your better understanding. The first section deals with the formatting and developing the partitions on the portable USB flash drive. The second section is all about the installation steps of Ubuntu.
Getting into the First Section or the First Phase – Splitting up the USB Flash Drive
The first step here is to insert the Ubuntu USB drive or CD followed by booting your computer device into it. What you need to do here next is to go for the “Try Ubuntu” option.
Then, your device will start into the Ubuntu live desktop domain. Now, go to the left dock panel, click on the application button and click on it.
You will find this option from the bottom of the window. Now, look for GParted and click on it to open.
Now, insert your portable USB flash drive into your device.
The step I am going to mention in this part is the most important one. It is that you have to pay strong attention to your drives. Get sure about the fact that you are going for the flash drive (sdb) that has the required capacity to hold data.
If you, by any chance, pick up the wrong device the data on your PC will be getting destroyed easily and that is for sure.
Go to the right side of the GParted window and select your USB that you will get from the drop-down menu.
Now, you have to clear the partitions on the USB drive. Complete this task by right-clicking on your USB. Followed by this choose the Format and then select the cleared option that you will get at the bottom of the list.
The next step is to click on the apply button that looks like a green right mark. The apply button is located right on the topmost panel. After clicking on the apply button you will get a notification that will alert you about losing data while doing the format on the USB. well, you will be clicking on the Apply button.
The last and the final step for this section is to click on the Close button. Now, we will head into the following section where the game will actually begin.
Now that you have clicked on the Close button, close the GParted application.
Getting into the Second Phase – Installing Ubuntu on a Portable flash Drive
Your portable USB flash drive is ready for the installation of Ubuntu on it. Let us get started with the second section of the installation process.
For your comfort, I will give a step by step detail on the whole process. So be patient and get started with the installing.
Step 1
You have to click on the icon that says “Install Ubuntu.” A welcome screen will pop up on the screen of your computer.
Step 2
Wait for a few seconds and you will the installation is getting started with the welcoming screen that I have already mentioned in the first step in this section. Then, click on the Continue button that will lead us to the next step.
Step 3
Here you will be given a list of keyboard layout options. Choose the language followed by clicking on the Continue button.
Step 4
In this step, you have to opt for the ‘Normal Installation’ option followed by clicking the continue button again leading us to the following step.
Step 5
The installation type window appears on the screen. Here, you have to opt for the ‘Something else’ option and then click on the Continue button.
Step 6
What you have to do now is very important and that is selecting the USB flash drive after this, you will go for making the partitions.
Step 7
In this step, you will have to pick up the new partition table button. Now that you have chosen the new partition table, press on the plus sign for adding the following next three partitions.
- The FAT32 partition
- Fix the size of the partition.
- The next thing you need to do here is set the mount point to /any_name.
- The EXT4 partition
- The minimum size of this partition you have to set here is 4 GB.
- You need to set the mount point to /.
- The Swap partition
- In case your computer device is having enough RAM, you can easily dispense with this section and you will not be requiring the hibernation property.
Step 8
Pick up the USB Flash Drive from the “Device for boot loader installation” section.
Step 9
Now, it is the time for the installation of Ubuntu on your portable USB flash drive. Let the installation get accomplished.
Step 10
After the installation of Ubuntu is complete on your USB flash drive, you will get a notification window which will provide you two options – ‘Continue Testing’ and ‘Restart Now’. Click on the Restart Now button.
And, done! Your portable USB flash drive is installed and now you can boot your device with the help of this portable drive and enjoy the brand new Ubuntu environment.
Concluding Section
Finally, it is time to end this article. Hopefully, this helped you with the steps to install Ubuntu to USB flash drive.
Now, you will also be able to install Ubuntu from USB flash drive on your device for that you have to know how to install Ubuntu from USB.
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