Persistent Xubuntu on USB stick
So you want to run Linux on USB stick. Because your laptop system is in a mess, or because you are borrowing your daughter's machine, or just because it's fun. Whatever reason, it's worth the trouble.
For Linux distribution you choose Xubuntu, because it's light enough and pretty. For a USB stick you choose just a stick. Mine is 4 GB, USB 2.0. Of course 3.0 would be faster.
In your Linux computer go to Synaptics an install unetbootin. You could also simply use Start Up Disk Creator, but that doesn't allow going for persistence any more. But with unetbootin you can get a persistent stick system with a few steps.
- Format your USB stick to FAT32 using for example gparted. Note that everything on the stick is erased permanently.
- Go to Xubuntu website and download appropriate ISO.
- Open unetbootin and install the ISO to your USB stick. Remember to define the area for usage between reboots. For example 2500 Mt. Make sure you select your USB stick and not any other drive.
- After the action your USB stick could be used for booting, but with modern UEFI computers your installation is not yet persistent. You need to edit /boot/grub/grub.cfg on your stick using your computer. Add keyword persistent to your menuentry Try Xubuntu without installing option:
linux /casper/vmlinuz.efi persistent file=/cdrom/preseed/xubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash ---
And so you are ready. Boot with your USB stick and create a new user by your name. Logout from test user and login with your new account.
muokattu viimeksi 16/11 2016
