Doubts installing Ubuntu in a USB memory drive

[mmmbopzombie]

Hi everybody,

Well, I hope you can help me with this doubt, I have read some threads in the internet but I think I need your help.

I want to install Ubuntu in a USB Flash driver (Kingston DataTraveler100 16 GB)

The reason for this is for maintenance purposes, for example, in case one of my OS gets corrupted and therefore it is not booting and of course... I want my files backed up.

I know that to boot from it I must setup my bios to run from a USB drive.

But I have some doubts, by installing Ubuntu on a USB flash drive, it won't load files on my current Hard Drives when starting it?

Is it possible to install applications in this Ubuntu USB version?

My computer is:
Motherboard ASUS Maximus Formula
Processor Intel QuadCore Q6600
Memory 4 GB DDR2 800 Mhz corsair
Hard Drives 2 x 500 GB SATA II and 1 TB SATA II
Video ATI EAH3850 512 MB
And I have installed Vista Ultimate SP1 (x64) and XP Pro SP3 (x86)

I suppose that for compatibility issues, I'll install the x86 version of Ubuntu.

So... If someone can help me with this doubts, I'd really appreciate it.

Also, the most important.. is there any guide on how to do this? (Install Ubuntu on my USB flash drive)

Thanks :)

[Archmage]

You should install the package usb-creator and ready a live-cd-iso.

It needs a little configuration, but you can than do everything on your harddrive.