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Installing Ubuntu on a USB stick

Instructions for installing Ubuntu with large persistent storage size on a bootable USB stick. It has been tested with Ubuntu 17.04 and 16.04.2 LTS and a 32 GB SanDisk USB 3.0 stick.

mkusb

The installation uses mkusb which enables creation of a partition for persistent storage (casper-rw) to allow arbitrarily large space. Alternative tools such as unetbootin use a file for persistent storage and have a maximum of only 4 GB due to FAT limitations.

Requirements

  1. USB stick with 16-32 GB capacity to allow a persistant space of >8GB
  2. Ubuntu iso file from https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
  3. Parent Ubuntu to run mkusb, which can be on another USB stick

1. Install mkusb on parent

Follow the instructions at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mkusb/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mkusb mkusb-nox usb-pack-efi

2. Create bootable Ubuntu on USB stick

  1. Launch mkusb (eg click Dash and type mkusb)
  2. Choose i = Install (make a boot device)
  3. Choose p = Persistent live
  4. Select the ubuntu iso file to use as source
  5. Select the taget USB stick to create bootabel Ubuntu on
  6. Check only upefi for persistent live settings
  7. Pull slider for space for persistence choose value giving at least 10 GB (eg 50% of 32 GB USB stick). It is claimed that 100% can cause problems because there will be no space for swap files etc
  8. Select Go and say OK to all the messages

3. Boot Ubuntu with USB stick

  1. Adjust boot sequence on BIOS of PC to use USB as required
  • On Dell machines, hold F12 immediately on booting until "Preparing one-time boot menu" acknowledgement shows
  1. Choose first UEFI USB device in list
  2. Choose Run Ubuntu (persistent live) which is default
  3. Booting can require a few minutes wait with a blank screen