How to put Ubuntu Linux on a flash drive and run it under Windows

The following article is going to tell you everything you need to know in order to make a USB flash drive with Ubuntu Linux installed, similar to the ones we sell here at PenLinux.com. However, there are a few things that you need to know first:

1. This method will not work with every brand of flash drive, please be aware of that fact before you start. Here at PenLinux.com it has been tested and worked on SanDisk drives.

2. This should be a no-brainer, but you will lose all data you currently have on the flash drive.

3. Depending on your computer and internet connection this could take you anywhere from a few hours to a few days.


Okay, now let's get started...

Let's start with everything you are going to need to pull this off:

- Obviously you need a USB flash drive (at least 2GB).

- You'll need a working computer running Microsoft Windows with a USB port available.

- A copy of the Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy .ISO file (it's 750MB).

- A copy of Qemu (this is the program that allows Ubuntu to actually run on Windows).

- A copy of Kqemu accelerator. This helps Qemu speed up Ubuntu.

- A copy of startubuntu.tar - This file holds two custom batch and img files.

- The HP-USB format tool to clear your USB drive.


Now it's time to start... step by step.

1. Click here and download the HP-USB format tool. Install it and format your USB drive to FAT.

2. Click here and download the Ubuntu Edgy .ISO file. Remember, this is a big file (750MB).

3. Click here and download the Qemu program. Create a folder on your flash drive and name it Qemu. Now extract the contents of the Qemu zip file to this folder on your flash drive.

4. Click here and download the Kqemu accelerator. Now create a folder inside the Qemu folder on your flash drive and name it "Kqemu". Now extract the contents of the Kqemu tar.gz file to the "Kqemu" folder you just made on the flash drive.

5. Once the Ubuntu Edgy 6.10 .ISO file is finished downloading, move it to your flash drive. Place it inside the Qemu folder.

6. Click here and download the startubuntu.tar file. Take the two files inside the startubuntu.tar file and move them to the Qemu folder on your flash drive (the same folder you just put the .ISO file).


That's it! You've just (hopefully) made a working USB flash drive with Ubuntu Linux installed on it... but wait... how do I USE it?

1. Go to the Qemu folder on your flash drive and locate the ubuntu.bat file. Double click it... this should start Ubuntu.

2a. You will soon see the Ubuntu boot screen. You have 30 seconds to make a choice... you will choose "usb" from the list, but wait! You need to do something special before hitting enter to let Ubuntu know that you want to save your settings. So, hit the "F6" key and you will see a string of words at the bottom that looks something like this: "Boot Options root=/dev/ram rw quiet splash --". The "F6" key will allow you to add a boot command at the end of this string, so type the word "persistent". The string now looks like this: "Boot Options root=/dev/ram rw quiet splash -- persistent".

2b. You will need to type the "persistent" command everytime you boot. If you forget, or choose a different boot option you will only get the default Ubuntu desktop, not the one you saved.

3. Now Ubuntu will load. Depending on your computer this could take anywhere from 1-5 minutes (maybe longer if your computer is really old).

4. To switch between Ubuntu and Windows type "ctrl+alt".

5. When shutting down Ubuntu make sure you select "shut down" and wait for the Ubuntu screen to tell you to press enter. After that, you can close the Ubuntu window. If you just unplug the drive without doing this, you could corrupt it.


Final thoughts

That's it. You now have the same basic flash drive that we sell here at PenLinux.com. Please note that we do not offer support for this tutorial, if you need help you might check out the Ubuntu Forums... or you could skip this whole thing and buy one that's guaranteed to work from us!