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Do you want to carry around ALL your settings and not just portable applications? Do you have a netbook and would like to try another operating system? Perhaps you don't have a CD or DVD drive and would like to use another operating system. Well now you can - by booting one from a USB stick!

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EditSteps

  1. Install Microsoft Windows Vista/ Windows 7 using a USB 2.0 Flash Drive Step 8.jpg
    1
    Ensure your PC is new enough to have a BIOS that can boot from USB[1].
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  2. Format the C Drive With Windows 7 Step 1Bullet1.jpg
    2
    Get a USB stick with enough capacity for the operating system you intend to install (probably 8Gb).
  3. Recover a Dead Windows Machine Step 3Bullet6.jpg
    3
    Installing Windows XP onto USB requires tweaking[2] and third-party software.
  4. 4
    Windows users can install the following Linux distros to the USB stick from within a Windows environment;
    • Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu (since v8.10)[3]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet1.jpg
    • Fedora (since v8)[4]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet2.jpg
    • Knoppix (since v5.1)[5]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet3.jpg
    • SLAX (since v6)[6]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet4.jpg
    • PCLinuxOS MiniMe
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet5.jpg
  5. Crack Windows Passwords With Ophcrack and Rainbow Tables Step 3.jpg
    5
    Non-Windows users may have to use a PC with a CD or DVD drive then install Linux to the USB stick. The following Linux distros can be installed to USB from the Live CD environment;
    • Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu (since v8.10)[7]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet1.jpg
    • Knoppix (since v5.1)[8]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 4Bullet3.jpg
    • OpenSuse[9]
      Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 5Bullet3.jpg
  6. Use an Operating System from a USB Stick Step 6.jpg
    6
    Mac-on-Stick enables you to run Mac OS Classic 7.01[10].
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EditWarnings

  • Flash memory has a finite number of erase-write cycles. Most commercially available flash products are guaranteed to withstand around 100,000 write-erase-cycles.

EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Install Damn Small Linux On a USB

How to
Use Linux from a USB Stick

How to
Optimize Your Netbook

EditSources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/09/17/testing-your-system-for-usb-boot-compatibility/
  2. ↑ http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=157
  3. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/11/04/live-ubuntu-810-usb-persistent-install-windows/
  4. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/05/17/install-fedora-9-to-a-flash-drive-using-windows/
  5. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/01/01/usb-knoppix-510/
  6. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2006/09/20/all-in-one-usb-slaxzip/
  7. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/11/01/ubuntu-810-install-using-the-built-in-usb-installer/
  8. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/02/20/installing-usb-knoppix-51-using-linux/
  9. ↑ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/03/28/usb-suse-flash-drive-install/
  10. ↑ http://www.linuxbeacon.com/doku.php?id=minivmac

Article Info

Categories: Operating Systems

Recent edits by: Dartmouthmusic, Krystle, Maestro44

In other languages:

Deutsch: Wie man ein Betriebssystem von einem USB Stick startet, Español: Cómo utilizar un sistema operativo desde una memoria USB, Italiano: Come Usare un Sistema Operativo da una Chiavetta USB

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