Run Ubuntu Linux on a USB drive Video

Run Ubuntu Linux on a USB drive Video Transcript

>> Joshua's e-mail dozen also accosted CNET's Randall Bennett at CES asking this, "Could you guys, you Tom, make an Insider Secret on how to put Ubuntu on a JumpDrive. Oh, that's by JumpDrive you mean a USB ThumbDrive like this, then yes. That's what I'm gonna show you how to do on today's Insider Secret. ^M00:00:19 [ Music ] ^M00:00:30

>> There are lots of variations of Ubuntu and different ways to put them on a ThumbDrive. I recommend going to pendrivelinux.com for all the details. They have their own Linux distribution plus tutorials on other variants, so, have fun looking around. There are two options for putting Ubuntu on a USB drive. The persistent install is the bootable one and, as you can see, not like a horrible video. Now type CP space dash RF casper space disk 3 disk install picks pool precede space...yeah, some things are better in print. However, they also have a way to put Ubuntu 7.1 on a ThumbDrive that you can then run in windows and that's what I'm gonna show you how to do today. First, wipe out the ThumbDrive. You need at least a gigabyte of free space. Then, create a folder called QPU710. Download QPU710.EXE from pendrivelinux.com and extract it to the QPU710 directory, there you go. Then go to Ubuntu.com and download Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition for a standard computer. Put that ISO file in the QPU710 directory. Click the QPU710.VAT file. The first time, you'll need to install the QEMU Accelerator Module. I installed mine to the ThumbDrive. You can choose to install it each time you write it on a different computer, if you wish. When the Ubuntu boot screen comes up, press F6. This gives you the boot options. Type "Persistent" at the end of that boot string. Press Enter and Ubuntu will continue to boot. The persistent option allows you save most of your settings on the USB ThumbDrive and use them on your next boot. Now, you want to know a few key commands, press Control Alt to switch back and forth between the Ubuntu desktop and the host desktop. Press Control Alt F to make Ubuntu full screen and make it back in to a box. Press Control Alt 2 to switch to see the QEMU monitor and then type "Help" to get a list of QEMU commands. Then press Control Alt 1 to switch back. When you're ready to shut down, choose the Shutdown button as you would normally. When it prompts you to remove the disk press Enter. Don't remove the USB drive yet. Press Control Alt to give your cursor back to windows and close the window. If you just close the window before going through the shutoff process, it can corrupt your persistent image according pendrivelinux. Now, you have a handy little legs you can carry around your neck. Isn't that fashionable? That's it for this edition of Insider Secret. I'm Tom Merritt at CNET.com. ^M00:03:24 [ Music ]