Flashdrive installs via Live CD Category

USB Kubuntu 8.04 Persistent Linux installation via the Live CD. Kubuntu is a derivative of Ubuntu based on the KDE desktop environment. In the following tutorial we cover the process of installing Kubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron to a USB flash drive via a running Kubuntu 8 Live CD. Similar to the Ubuntu 8.04 persistent install, the casper persistence feature is being utilized to enable a user to save and restore changes on subsequent boots.

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STUX is a Linux distribution based on a combination of Slackware Linux 11.0 for packages and Knoppix 5.0.1 for kernel, modules and scripts. Like many Linux distro's today, it includes automatic hardware detection, and supports a vast majority of graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. STUX also includes Apache and PHP for those who like to dabble with serving. As Mark, a Pendrivelinux subscriber pointed out, STUX includes a USB installer script which makes USB installation from the STUX Live CD a snap.

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USB Ubuntu 8.04 Persistent install via the Live CD. This tutorial will enable a user to install Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron to a USB flash drive via a running Ubuntu 8 Live CD. The process is similar to the Live CD install via Windows with the exception that you will be performing the process entirely from Ubuntu. This process uses a few less steps, thus could be performed in less time. In addition the persistence feature is being used to save and restore changes on subsequent boots.

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This tutorial covers the process of installing Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) to an external USB Hard drive. It is possible to install Ubuntu 8.04 to a 4GB+ flash drive using this method as we did, however, due to the additional read/write cycles that occur on a full blown install, the life of your flash drive may be slightly reduced. This simple tutorial utilizes the Install script that is included with Ubuntu 8.04 making it easy to run and test the latest offering of Ubuntu without installing to a fixed internal system disk.
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This tutorial covers the process of installing SUSE Linux to a USB flash drive using the OpenSUSE Live CD. This tutorial works much like the install to an External USB Hard drive with the exception that the user is performing a full OpenSUSE install to a USB flash drive. The process does differ slightly! This tutorial was made possible due to a custom Portable SUSE script created and provided by James Rhodes. Please note that due to the limited number of write functions a flash drive can handle before going bad, you may reduce the life of your flash drive by performing this installation.

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This tutorial covers the process of installing Pendrivelinux 2008 (a remaster created from MCNLive) to a USB flash drive using an existing Linux host computer. Pendrivelinux 2008 allows it's user to save "ALL" changes back to the USB device via a persistent loop image. Changes are saved and restored via a loop file that resides on the USB device by booting "Boot with Persistent changes" boot option.

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The following tutorial covers the process of installing PCLinuxOS MiniMe 2008 to a USB flash pendrive via the intuitive Make LiveUSB installer that is included with the Live CD. Although the MakeLiveUSB script is not perfect, it does get most of the job done. However, there are some additional steps necessary to make your Portable PCLinuxOS MiniMe work properly.

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The following tutorial covers the process of installing NimbleX to a portable USB flash drive, pendrive, USB stick or thumbdrive. Much like SLAX, NimbleX is a tiny Slackware based release (less than 200MB) that was designed to fit on a 8cm CD. The screenshots and tutorial was put together and submitted by Georgescu Ciprian.

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USB Ubuntu 7.10 install from Linux: This tutorial enables you to install, boot and run Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) from a USB flash drive. In addition to installing Ubuntu to a USB device and then booting Ubuntu from the memory stick, this tutorial will enable you to automatically save your changes and settings back to the thumb drive and further restore them on each boot using a second "casper-rw" persistent partition. The tutorial was written for those already familiar with working from Ubuntu or another Linux desktop environment. If you do not have access to or prefer not to use a Windows computer, this Ubuntu Linux on a stick tutorial is for you.

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USB Ubuntu 7.04 install from Linux This tutorial enables you to install, boot and run Ubuntu Linux 7.04 from USB "and save your changes back to the stick". When booting Ubuntu in persistent mode, it uses a "casper-rw" partition to save your changes back to the drive, restoring them on each boot. The tutorial was written for those already somewhat familiar with working from Ubuntu or another Linux desktop environment. If you do not have access to or prefer not to use a Windows computer, this Ubuntu Linux on a stick tutorial is for you.

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The Pendrivelinux team has put together a USB Pen Drive Linux package based purely on Debian Linux. The USB Linux package is currently available in .img format. Installation is simple and just requires copying the .img to a USB device and then creating a live-rw partition if you wish to store your changes. We think you will find this personalized USB Linux version easy to install, navigate and use.

Credits extend to the Debian-Live team for creating Live-Helper script used in this project. (Aicrom) Márcio Santos for the custom Penguin artwork, Theme-Graphics thanks to Carlos

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This tutorial covers the process of installing PCLinuxOS MiniMe to a USB flash thumb drive from within a Linux operating environment. PCLinuxOS ranks as our second favorite Distro, trailing just behind Ubuntu. For this tutorial, we are booting from the PCLinuxOS MiniMe CD and using this as the installation platform, however, the installation procedure will work from other environments as well.

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The following tutorial will show you how to install Knoppix 5.1.1 to a USB flash pen drive. It is also possible to use the persistent feature after completing this tutorial allowing you to save changes back to the stick. Knoppix is a fully featured Linux distribution based on Debain. It was created by Klaus Knopper. Knoppix has always been feature packed, including hundreds of useful tools and applications not included by default with most other Live Linux distributions.

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USB Ubuntu install from Linux This tutorial enables you to install, boot and run Ubuntu Linux from USB. When booting Ubuntu in persistent mode, it uses a "casper-rw" partition to save your changes back to the drive, restoring them on each boot. The tutorial is similar to the USB Ubuntu installation tutorial for Windows users with the exception that it was written with a Linux user in mind. If your already working from a Ubuntu Linux desktop environment and do not have access to or prefer not to use a Windows computer, this tutorial is for you.

Ubuntu® is registered trademark of Canonical ltd.

Note: This tutorial is based on Ubuntu 6.10. In Ubuntu 7.04, the persistent feature is currently broken. If your planning to save your changes use 6.10 as suggested here.

Update: Use this NEW Linux tutorial for USB Ubuntu 7.04

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MCNLive is a live CD based purely on Mandriva Linux and was designed for use with most common desktop and notebook computers. Like Mandriva, MCNLive comes with almost every essential tool including networking utilities, internet tools, multimedia software, graphical tools and office applications. Just about everything the average Linux computer user might need can be found in MCNLive. Another great feature is the included easy to use graphical installer that allows a user to install MCNLive to a USB device. There is even an installer to install to an internal hard disk.

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In this simple USB Puppy Linux tutorial we illustrate how to easily install Puppy linux on a USB flash pen drive using the Universal installer included on the Puppy Linux CD. Puppy is a unique Linux compilation that is super small, yet contains many useful tools and utilities. Most versions of Puppy Linux will fit on even a 128MB USB stick. Making it great to install to those older tiny thumb drives you might have sitting around.

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