Install from USB, to USB

[pokepal101]

So here's what I want to achieve: a bootable Ubuntu USB. Hard-drive style. No live-USB shenanigans.
The 'problem' is I only have the one USB to spare, and I really don't want to have to burn a CD/DVD (I'm just that cheap).

So my problem is this: Is there a way I can install (not live-USB-ify) Ubuntu to my USB, without

access to another USB
access to an existing Ubuntu installation
installing Ubuntu to my computer
burning a CD/DVD


I was thinking something along the lines of:

create two partitions on the USB
turn the first partition into a live-USB
install Ubuntu to the second partition (by booting off of the live-USB partition)
delete the first partition and resize the second (now only) partition

but I'm open to other methods as well.

[Irihapeti]

In theory, your proposed method could get you as far as deleting the first partition on your USB.

Then, though, you'll need to move the beginning of your non-live partition to use the space left by the first partion. I've tried that a few times - occasionally it works, but more often than not it gets hopelessly messed up. Even if it works, it takes ages to do, and that means it's more vulnerable to the power going off or something like that. In any case, you'd need to boot off something other than your USB so as to be able to resize the partition - someone else's Ubuntu install, for example.

It's going to be much easier to just install directly from a liveCD. You may find that you can use a rewritable DVD or CD for your live system, which means that you can re-use your disk afterwards. I've had no trouble with them, though I'm not speaking for everybody.