Insalling ubuntu on a usb HDD & using it on so many computers

wanas · 03-30-2010, 06:49 AM

Is it a good idea to install ubuntu linux on a usb HDD and take it every where with me and use it on so many computers ?

Mr-Bisquit · 03-30-2010, 08:04 AM

[I]f you set the machine(s) in question to boot from the external drive and put a boot menu on the drive, then no. Just be sure that you have a configuration for each machine.

snowpine · 03-30-2010, 09:29 AM

Yes, it is a good idea.

Ubuntu even includes a tool for making this drive, look in the System Menu, I think it's called Create a USB Startup Drive or similar.

jefro · 03-30-2010, 05:08 PM

Might consider a usb flash drive instead. Modern linux distros are compressed a bit. A 600M file may hold 2 gig worth of software and fit on a 1G usb flash drive with room for persistent file. You could hold plenty on an 8 gig flash drive.
See pendrivelinux.com.

GoinEasy9 · 03-31-2010, 12:45 AM

The best idea would be to create a LiveCD (on a usb stick) and enable persistence. This way you can have all the features of a LiveCD allowing it to configure itself to a whole range of hardware. Persistence will give you the ability to add apps and configure them and allow you to keep files you create when going from one machine to another.

wanas · 03-31-2010, 01:20 AM

The idea of using the usb HDD is two things:
1- The large storage, I want all my videos and music with me, because I opened an internet cafe with my friends and I need to have all my data when I'm there.
2- The speed of the HDD, I tried a full installation of ubuntu (10.04 beta 1) on my 4gb usb flash but it failed to boot I got message says "error reading partition" or something near that, then I tried unetbootin it read the usb flash but it freezes in the splash screen maybe my usb flash cant hold ubuntu inside it.