How to Install Linux from a USB Drive

Installing Linux from a USB drive is a straightforward process that can be completed with minimal technical expertise. In this article, we will guide you through the steps required to create a bootable Linux installation media using a USB drive.

To begin, you will need an Ubuntu installation ISO image, which you can download from the official Ubuntu website. Once you have obtained the ISO image, you can use it to create a bootable USB drive.

The first step is to identify the device name of your USB drive. To do this, open a terminal and run the command `lsblk`. This will list all the devices connected to your computer, including your USB drive. Look for the device that was not listed in the previous lsblk output; this is likely to be your USB drive.

Next, you will need to use the dd command to copy the ISO image to your USB drive. The command we are going to issue to dd is as follows: `sudo dd bs=4M if=Downloads/ of=/dev/sdb conv=fdatasync`. In our example, this is `/dev/sdb`, but regardless of how it is named on your computer, the device that was not in the previous lsblk listing must be the USB drive. The identifier we need to use is the one representing the drive, not either of the partitions.

Once you have completed these steps, simply insert the resulting USB drive into any computer and boot from the USB device. If you want to be able to save changes and data, you will need to create a bootable USB drive with persistent storage. Each time you boot into Ubuntu from this USB drive, it will be a fresh instance of Ubuntu.

To use the USB drive as an installation medium, simply insert it into the computer you want to install Linux on and restart the machine. Your computer should automatically detect the USB drive and present you with the option to install Ubuntu.

Creating a bootable USB drive provides the same experience to the user as an Ubuntu Live DVD. For example, Ubuntu Linux has two built-in methods for creating a bootable USB drive. By following these steps, you can create a bootable Linux installation media that allows you to try out the popular Unix-like operating system without making changes to your computer.

In conclusion, installing Linux from a USB drive is a simple process that requires minimal technical expertise. By following these steps, you can create a bootable Linux installation media and start exploring the world of Linux without having to make any permanent changes to your computer.

How to install linux from a usb drive