Linux Community Magazine

Linux flash drive is a live USB that can be used to boot a host controller or personal computer with Linux. It is one of the preferable methods for booting your computer because of its faster execution. Linux is an operating system which is used mainly by big companies as it is more secured and has proved to be a very practical weapon in favor of multitasking. Before making USB drive bootable one should check the system compatibility for the booting via USB. In order to prove its compatibility, one can install memtest86+ onto the USB and set the bios priority to USB as well. If memtest86+ screen appears on rebooting the system then it is compatible with bootable USB otherwise not. Most of the systems pass this test.

There are many constructive methods to make a USB drive bootable. It can easily be done through command prompt but it is little complicated for the people who do not know computer that well. To help those people out, many software applications are available in the market.

Hierarchical procedures to do the job by one of the best software named- UNetbootin is given below:

1) Download UNetbootin from Internet. Plug in the USB drive into the corresponding port of your system. Please make sure that the UNetbootin window is closed at that time.

2) After that open UNetbootin from the icon on desktop.

3) Tick execute by navigating through properties>preferences to make it executable.

4) Browse the ISO image of Linux available and click ok.

5) If you are not having ISO image of Linux available then there is no need to worry. UNetbootin can do the job for you. It means you can download Linux image from internet by the use of UNetbootin. After that one can proceed by browsing the image followed by hitting the cursor on ok. 6) Process will begin just after that and do everything else automatically till the USB Linux flash drive is created.

The method explained above is one of the best methods because it is very user friendly and there is no need to for the user to have a big intellect of computer. Anyone can follow the above steps in hierarchy to make the USB flash drive bootable for Linux operating system efficiently. Now your bootable USB drive is ready for use. Proceed with the following simple steps in hierarchy to install Linux through USB:

1. Plug in your Linux Flash Drive in the corresponding port and restart the computer.

2. Before the start of currently installed operating system, start hitting F8.

3. A DOS window will appear on which there will be a tab named boot. Make a click on that and change the priority order and set it to USB on first priority.

4. Click on save and exit.

5. Processor will automatically detect operating system in USB drive and operating system set up screen will appear.

6. Enter the serial number of the operating system.

7. After installation is completed, computer will be restarted.

8. Install the drivers and computer will be ready for use.