Desktop View

How to Use an Operating System from a USB Stick

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!

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].
  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;
  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;
  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].


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.
    0 Helpful?  2

EditRelated wikiHows

How to Optimize Your Netbook

How to Use Linux from a USB Stick

How to Install Damn Small Linux On a USB

Article Info

Sources and Attribution

Did this article help you?

Yes
No