Can I run programs from a boot USB?

[geronl]

My laptop has Ubuntu 12.04 and I am very happy with it. Extremely. I have a 4GB USB and I have made it into a boot USB with Ubuntu 13.04.

My question is, if I now install Windows on my HDD and use the USB when I want to use Linux, can I run programs like Open Shot and Scrivener (sort of a Word processor that helps with story/book/script writing - linux beta free until end of this year or next or something) off the USB? How would I go about doing that, wouldn't they be "zipped" on the USB?

[carl4926]

Are you saying you plan to remove 12.04 when you install winders?
And you want to make a persistent USB of 13.04?

[carl4926]

Just FYI
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent

[geronl]

I'll take a look

[geronl]

My eyes are glazed over. How about a never mind. lol

[geronl]

OK... how about partitioning the hdd? Can I do that and not lose the data I have?

[geronl]

Never mind that too. I am not going through what I just read about. It's too complicated for me and if I mess up, its all over.

[carl4926]

Never mind that too. I am not going through what I just read about. It's too complicated for me and if I mess up, its all over.

Are you sure installing windows isn't too much for your little grey cells?

[geronl]

I have have a partition apparently, the second one is called "Linux Swap" or something but appears to be empty.

Do I have to go into the BIOS and reformat the main HDD partition for Windows? Why wouldn't the Windows installation disc do that automatically?

[geronl]

Will Windows recognize a partition I make with GParted? Or will it just overwrite the whole thing when it reformats?