Install Linux on USB drive?

[Kamil]

A quick Google only resulted in me trying a couple options and having all my work deleted each time, so I figured I'd try to get more direct interaction going on.

 

I'm required to run a Unix-based operating system for one of my college courses, but I don't want to replace Windows or add a separate internal drive just for that, so I was hoping it was possible to install a version of Linux on a USB drive I own and run it directly off of that. It's not high capacity or fast (16 GB), but the time I tried to install Ubuntu it said it only required ~4 GB (before it offered me a choice of what drive to install to and didn't show the USB drive) so I don't think that's necessarily the problem. The instructions I found on Ubuntu's website resulted in a bootable "Try Linux" version, but it doesn't save any of my work and as I said the "install" option it gave didn't allow installing it onto the drive itself. The only thing I can think that might help is that the software used to get to that state had an extra setting marked as "Optional" that I ignored, but I think it mentioned "Persistent"... which doesn't sound very optional for my purposes.

 

So, can anybody help me? I don't really care about which version of Linux is used, and I'm also open to any other suggestions if there's a good way to emulate the relevant parts (seems unlikely since the course is supposed to involve OS-level commands) or a better virtual machine option than I've tried before.

[theelitegamer]

Which version of Linux do you want?

[WarlockTheWise]

A quick Google only resulted in me trying a couple options and having all my work deleted each time, so I figured I'd try to get more direct interaction going on.

 

I'm required to run a Unix-based operating system for one of my college courses, but I don't want to replace Windows or add a separate internal drive just for that, so I was hoping it was possible to install a version of Linux on a USB drive I own and run it directly off of that. It's not high capacity or fast (16 GB), but the time I tried to install Ubuntu it said it only required ~4 GB (before it offered me a choice of what drive to install to and didn't show the USB drive) so I don't think that's necessarily the problem. The instructions I found on Ubuntu's website resulted in a bootable "Try Linux" version, but it doesn't save any of my work and as I said the "install" option it gave didn't allow installing it onto the drive itself. The only thing I can think that might help is that the software used to get to that state had an extra setting marked as "Optional" that I ignored, but I think it mentioned "Persistent"... which doesn't sound very optional for my purposes.

 

So, can anybody help me? I don't really care about which version of Linux is used, and I'm also open to any other suggestions if there's a good way to emulate the relevant parts (seems unlikely since the course is supposed to involve OS-level commands) or a better virtual machine option than I've tried before.

Do you need performance?, if not you could set up a virtual machine.

 

otherwise try pendrivelinux

[qwertywarrior]

just use virtual box

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

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[Kamil]

Pendrivelinux is what I used, it only provided the "try Linux" and "Install to other drive" when I booted from it. I'll try redoing it with the persistent space (Though I really don't see why they called it "optional") but following the provided directions for it is what got me to this point in the first place.

 

As to other things, I've tried VirtualBox and while I don't exactly need TONS of performance the way I had it setup (admittedly, probably not the ideal way since I didn't try many things) was just too useless, and I really don't care what version I use if there's some other option that will somehow make this easier; otherwise I'll stick with Ubuntu since I've already found the things I need in it.

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

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[Kamil]

Using the persistent file option has worked, though I keep getting some kind of generic "something went wrong" message with no details or way to get details whenever I boot. Got my assignment done though.

Thanks for the help everybody!