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View Full Version : [ubuntu] Help installing Ubuntu on an old laptop--via USB!

brnetonboy
June 5th, 2008, 09:43 PM
My old laptop has no floppy drive. Using the optical drive causes a crash. Has no ethernet port. But it does have one usb slot!

I have heard you can install linux ONTO a usb drive: I need to install linux THROUGH a usb drive (or FROM a usb drive or VIA a usb drive). Is it possible?

thanks!
Pumalite
June 5th, 2008, 09:54 PM
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromUSB
brnetonboy
June 5th, 2008, 10:14 PM
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromUSB

Perhaps I didn't emphasize enough: I don't want to *boot* from USB, I want to *install* from USB.

While that tutorial is very helpful for when linux is *on* a usb drive, I need to install *from* a USB drive.
oilchangeguy
June 5th, 2008, 10:15 PM
My old laptop has no floppy drive. Using the optical drive causes a crash. Has no ethernet port. But it does have one usb slot!

I have heard you can install linux ONTO a usb drive: I need to install linux THROUGH a usb drive (or FROM a usb drive or VIA a usb drive). Is it possible?

thanks!

please advise the version of ubuntu you're using. and your computers specs.
Pumalite
June 5th, 2008, 10:22 PM
Sorry:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick
Your specs are relevant too.
AndyCee
June 5th, 2008, 11:38 PM
I can vouch for the UNetbootin program from Pumalite's second link, if you want to install linux FROMa USB disk TO your laptop.

In your case, you would use UNetbootin with a liveCD (or disk image - whichever you have) to create a LiveUSB (ie. a liveCD installed on your USB disk).

From there, you can install *buntu (or one of the other available distros) from your USB disk just like you would from a LiveCD.

It is also possible to install a persistent liveUSB, but that's a different story (www.pendrivelinux.com).