For installing Ubuntu Linux from a USB stick, first, we need to create a bootable USB drive. Like Windows, Ubuntu can be installed from a USB flash drive and most of the people opting this method because of the lack of CD DVD ROM in the modern notebooks and computers. Moreover, handling USB drive is much convenient than CD-ROMs. Here in this step by step tutorial, we will show, how to install Ubuntu Linux from a USB memory stick. The USB memory stick sometimes also called Pen drive, USB flash drive or USB mass storage device.
Prerequisites
- Select the USB drive or stick in which you want to install the Ubuntu. From a ' Create a bootable disk using' option select an ISO image from the drop-down. Click on the CD-ROM icon to select the downloaded Ubuntu ISO image. Click on the start button to begin the Ubuntu bootable USB creation process.
- Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB stick with Etcher is an easy task to perform. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port and Launch Etcher. Click on the Select image button and locate your Ubuntu.iso file. If you downloaded the file using a web browser then it should be stored in the Downloads folder located in your user account.
Now use the syntax below to create a bootable USB stick. $ sudo ddrescue path/to/.iso /dev/sdx -force -D For example to create a Ubuntu 20.04 startup disk we executed the command below. $ sudo ddrescue ubuntu-20.04-beta-desktop-amd64.iso /dev/sdb -force -D The process takes a few minutes and your bootable USB drive will be ready in no time. If you never intend to have the drive plugged in at boot, or your system dosen't have USB drives on top of its boot order, simply deleting all the files will sufface. Otherwise simply reformat the drive to your preferred filesystem. The process of setting up a USB drive to be boot media dosen't affect its viability as a re-writable media in any.
- A USB drive of at least 4 GB to install Ubuntu. Although its depend upon, what type of Linux OS installation you want and the size of the USB drive is depends on that.
- The USB Memory stick should be blank and completely formatted
- Downloaded Ubuntu Linux ISO image
Step By Step Installation of Ubuntu from a USB Stick on Windows 10
Step 1: First of all download the open-source Linux Ubuntu ISO from the Ubuntu official website. The different flavours of Ubuntu available are Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Mythbuntu, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu GNOME, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio and Xubuntu. The installation procedure is the same for all the Ubuntu flavours but in performing this tutorial we use the standard Unity Ubuntu.
Step 2: After downloading the Ubuntu ISO, the second step is to get the Ubuntu bootable USB-creator. There are a couple of good free and open-source software options are available such as Linux Live USB Creator, Unetbootin, Rufus and Win32 Disk Imager. You can use any of them but for the tutorial, we are using the Rufus as an Ubuntu startup disk creator. Link to get the open-source Rufus USB installer.
Step 3: After downloading the Rufus install and run it.
Setting up the Rufus USB installer
- Select the USB drive or stick in which you want to install the Ubuntu.
- From a 'Create a bootable disk using' option select an ISO image from the drop-down.
- Click on the CD-ROM icon to select the downloaded Ubuntu ISO image.
- Click on the start button to begin the Ubuntu bootable USB creation process.
Step 4: After hitting the start button, the Rufus start processing the ISO image, it might ask to download two files ldlinux.sys and lidinux.bss. Click on 'Yes'.
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Step 5: Hybrid image confirmation… The Rufus detected the Ubuntu ISO images as an ISOHybrid image Live streaming flash tv. which means the same image file without any conversion can use for DVD and USB stick without any modification. Leave the pre-selected recommended option as it is and click on OK.
Make Usb Stick Bootable Ubuntu
Step 6: Next step, the Rufus will ask confirmation to destroy any data, if present in the USB memory stick. Click OK and after that, it will start the creating Ubuntu bootable USB stick or pen drive.
Start the Ubuntu Installation from USB
Step 1: Without removing the USB stick, reboot the computer and change the boot order from bios. Key to getting the boot menu depends on your motherboard model. For example, here we are using the Gigabyte and the F12 is the key to select the boot order. You can google about your motherboard model or you can also find it from the first boot screen of the computer. Normally key need to press is one of the following: F1, F2, Del, Esc, F10, F11, or F12.
Note: If the USB does not appear in the boot menu then you need to enable it from the bios.
Once the boot menu appears, select the pen drive or USB stick which we used to create the Ubuntu bootloader.
Step 2: If everything is fine, you will see the Ubuntu boot screen.
Ubuntu Bootable Cd Download
Step 3: To Install the Ubuntu select the option 'Install Ubuntu'.
Linux Bootable Usb
If you want a dual boot configuration of Ubuntu and Windows 10 then at Installation type window, select the first option 'Install Ubuntu alongside them'. It will preserve your Windows 7 or Windows 10 OS with all data and give you Operating system selection menu every time you boot the computer. This also applies to other Operating systems using an Ubuntu dual boot environment.
