I am trying something different:
at home I have a new desktop computer running Windows 7 (64-bit) and would like to keep it independent of Linux, so would like to install and run Ubuntu from a USB drive. I have seen many "How-to" articles about how to do this, but it doesn't seem to be working for me.

Somebody recommended that I use an Open Source utility named UNetbootin to ease this process. I have downloaded this utility and tried a couple times but the install is not working for me.

I can see the USB in Windows Explorer, so assume the USB is formatted okay (i.e. - formatting is not the issue).

I suspect the issue tripping me up is the option I selected to download. UNetbootin lists all the downloads available. There are MANY from which to choose (see attached screen image).

13.04 is the latest version, so I'd like to go with that.
My computer is 64-bit, so I am tempted to download 13.04_Live_x64.
HOWEVER, since this will be running from the USB, maybe that is incorrect after all.

Or perhaps I am going down the wrong path entirely.

Any suggestions for what I am doing wrong and how I can get past this hurdle?
What option should I download for installing to a USB?

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An easy way to do this would be to download the 64 bit Live iso file from one of the Ubuntu download mirrors. Then using unetbootin, select the "Disk Image" option and use the iso file that you downloaded to your hard drive. This will create a live usb boot of Ubuntu.

The live CD of Ubuntu will boot from the usb stick install (provided you select the usb boot option in the BIOS of your computer). You can then play with Ubuntu to your heart's content.

Unetbootin is used to create a Live CD on a flash drive which then can be used to do an actual install to an internal/external hard drive. Do you just want a Live CD on flash? or an actual install? If you followed the basic instructions on the unetbootin page, it might help if you give more details on what exactly the problem is that you are having.

If you're having trouble with Unetbootin then why not simply follow the easy instructions (with screenshots) on the Ubuntu.com official Ubuntu site?

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/deskt...ick-on-windows

Thanks, everyone, for your advice.

I have got it working now, and even gotten myself into a few misadventures already.

I got to the Ubuntu screen where it has the two buttons: "Try Ubuntu" and "Install Ubuntu."
I assume because Ubuntu will ALWAYS be run from a USB drive, the option to "Try Ubuntu" is the one to ALWAYS select.

A couple more questions:

1) I am using Ubuntu 13.04 but notice 13.10 is available. Can the update process be run as normal, considering Ubuntu is running from a USB?
Or does the whole process have to be repeated for the newer version ?

2) I was surfing with Firefox and tried to exit Firefox with hotkeys. I thought I knew the key combination by memory (Control-Alt-F4), but apparently I do not. I was kicked to the command prompt (that will teach me to trust my memory!). So I tried to run the shutdown command. It didn't recognize it until I went to the root. Is that the case for all shutdowns, you have to be the root user to execute the shutdown command? And even when it worked, the PC was still on. Linux may have shut itself down, but it forgot to turn the PC off too. Remembering that Ubuntu is running from a USB, what is the proper command to shutdown Ubuntu AND the PC?

1) 13.10 won't be released until October. At that point, you can make a new USB image with the new .iso.

2a) Ctrl+Alt+Fn keys will cycle through the various terminals. One of them (I can't remember, haven't used Ubuntu in a long time, but I think it's Ctrl+Alt+F7 or Ctrl+Alt+F8) should get you back to the GUI.

2b) The command to shut down from the terminal is 'sudo halt' and the reason it must be run as sudo/root is to keep User A from shutting down the computer while User B is trying to work.

If you see that everytime you boot Ubuntu, then what you have is a Live CD on a flash drive and not an actual install. This is a read-only filesystem although you have the option in Ubuntu to add persistence which will allow you to make some changes. I can't imagine that you would be able to upgrade it or make any major modifications.

Unetbootin is used to put a Live CD on a flash which is entirely different from an actual install to an external hard drive.
I'm not really sure what you want to do?

I suggest that you use a free virtual machine. Attach your ubuntu iso to the vm and use a filter to attach the usb. Boot the VM and install to the usb. You can attach the usb after you booted the vm also.

The unetbootin deals are not real installs and difficult to update.

Unetbootin is good for compact installs on smallish drives.

The only other safe way is to disconnect your internal hard drive and boot the real system to the cd/dvd. Don't try this with the hard drive attached is my suggestion. Too great of chance of error. You can even use any old computer, you don't need to use any modern system to install with. Just be sure it can support usb and cd boot.

Once you have the live system on a bootable flash drive, you can boot it and install to a second flash drive (assuming the second flash drive is large enough; 8GB should work fine). Running off a flash drive is significantly slower than running off a hard drive, but it is workable.