Use Linux on a flash drive inside of Windows.

[dimre01]

Today, I'm gonna show you guys how to run Ubuntu in Windows on a flash drive.
First of all, you'll need a flash drive with at least 1 gig of free space.

Step 1: Format your flash drive. If you have important data on it, be sure to back it up somewhere else!
Step 2:On the flash drive, create a new folder called "QPU710" without quotations.
Step 3: Download QPU710.exe
Step 4:Run the file you just downloaded and extract the contents to the QPU710 folder.
Step 5: Download the Ubuntu7.10.iso file and move it to the folder.
Step 6:When that's done, go in the folder then double click QPU710.bat file to start booting Ubuntu.
Step 7:At the boot menu (the first screen you see), press F6 to enter a custom boot option and type "persistent" (no quotations) at the end of all that text and press enter so that Ubuntu saves your settings onto your flash drive.

That's it! You are now running Ubuntu version 7.10 from a flash drive in Windows.

Commands

Click within the Qemu Window to use the Ubuntu desktop
Press Ctrl+Alt to switch to and from the Host desktop
Press Ctrl+Alt+F to toggle full screen on or off
Press Ctrl+Alt+2 to switch to the Qemu Monitor (and type help for command list)
Press Ctrl+Alt+1 to switch from Qemu Monitor back to Linux

IMPORTANT NOTE: When you want to stop using Ubuntu, click the Shut Down button, and when it asks you to remove the disk and press enter, PRESS ENTER ONLY. REMOVING THE FLASH DRIVE WHILE UBUNTU OR THE "REMOVE DISK" SCREEN IS RUNNING WILL CORRUPT YOUR DATA.

[fear frantic]

ima try that out since the linux on my flashdrive pissed me of (it got corrupted, maybe cause my flashdrive went thorugh the wash)
will it work on a extrernal harddrive?

[dimre01]

Here's how to do it on a Ext. Hard drive.

Full install Prerequisites:

* 8 GB + USB hard drive (note "rotating platter" we aren't talking about a flash drive here)
* Backup any information on your USB hard drive (device will be formatted during the install process)
* Ubuntu ISO (Ubuntu 7.04 was used in this tutorial) however 7.10 should work as well
* CD Burner

Installing Ubuntu to an external USB hard drive:

1. IMPORTANT: Ensure that all internal hard drives are disconnected from your computer during the install (pull your SATA or IDE cables)
2. Download the Ubuntu 7.04 ISO, burn it to a CD and restart your computer from the live CD
3. Once the Ubuntu Live system is up and running, navigate to System-> Preferences-> Removable Drives and Media and uncheck the following options:

Mount removable drives when hot-plugged
Mount removable media when inserted
Browse removable media when inserted

4. Click the install Ubuntu icon from the desktop to begin the installation
5. At step four Prepare disk space, select the Guided-use entire disk option and elect to install to your USB hard drive:

Prepare disk space - Full Ubuntu external hard drive install
6. When the installation has finished, select the option to restart-now
7. Boot into your system BIOS or Boot Menu and elect to boot from your USB Hard drive.

If all goes well, you should now be booting into a full installation of Ubuntu from your portable USB device.

[themaceisback]

dude is there a way to get full fledged linux on the pen drive within windows, or am i just stuck w/ the live cd?

[dimre01]

that is full fledged linux. it's just like using a virtual machine.