Live Linux environments work but similar a typical operating system but run entirely from a CD or USB stick -- the latter being the most common choice these days. Since nothing is written to the host figurer'due south local storage, when you're washed all you need to do is remove the media, reboot, and everything will be exactly as it was.

At that place are a number of uses to this, from just examination driving Linux to troubleshooting a Windows PC, or work on the go from someone else'due south estimator but running your ain Os deeply with all your personal files and settings.

At that place are basically two options when it comes to running Linux from a USB drive: from within Windows using virtualization software such as VirtualBox, or creating a boot disk. This quick guide details both methods in a few easy steps.

Running Linux from a USB bulldoze in Windows

This pick volition come in handy if you want to run a Live Linux environs but demand to retain access to Windows. Peradventure you just want to do something real quick without rebooting, or want to be able to hide the virtualized Linux instance. Our preferred weapon of selection hither is a trivial tool chosen LinuxLive USB Creator.

It's free, open-source software, and it has a built-in virtualization feature that lets you run a self contained version of VirtualBox from the USB drive. This means the host computer yous'll run Linux from doesn't need to have VirtualBox installed.

Here'south what you'll need to do:

  • Download and transfer the ISO prototype of your preferred Linux distribution to a USB bulldoze.
  • Download and install LinuxLive USB Creator.
  • Launch LiLi USB Creator and follow the straightforward steps guiding you through the process.
    • Step one. Select the USB drive where you want Linux installed.
    • Step 2. Choose the source ISO file of the Linux distribution you downloaded.
    • Footstep 3. Choose Alive Fashion.
    • Footstep 4. Go out the tertiary box checked, the other ii are upwardly to you and self-explanatory.


You volition need and internet connection to complete the procedure -- mainly to download VirtualBox if you don't take it installed. Once the process is finished, open your USB key in Windows Explorer and you should come across a binder called VirtualBox containing two executable files: VirtualizeThisKey.exe and VirtualBox.exe.

Running VirtualizeThisKey.exe will launch your Linux distribution in Windows (inside VirtualBox), whereas VirtualBox.exe opens the full VirtualBox interface.

Boot Linux from a USB drive

If yous'd rather load Linux without going through Windows commencement this is the style to go. There are a few different tools for creating bootable USB drives effectually the web just ane I'm particularly fond of is YUMI -- short for Your Universal Multiboot Installer.

This is the successor to our MultibootISO and tin be used to install more than than one distribution to run from your USB. Information technology'southward extremely elementary to use, and all files from each Linux distribution are stored within the Multiboot folder, making for a nicely organized Multiboot Drive that can still be used for other storage purposes.

  • Download the ISO paradigm of your preferred Linux distribution.
  • Download and install YUMI.
  • Launch YUMI and follow three uncomplicated steps guiding y'all through the procedure.
    • Step 1. Select the USB drive where you want Linux installed.
    • Step 2. Select the Linux distribution y'all'll exist installing from the list.
    • Footstep 3. Choose the source ISO file of the Linux distribution y'all downloaded.


Once YUMI is done you're all gear up. To kicking into Linux just plug the USB drive into the host calculator, reboot, and printing the required key during this procedure to enter the Boot Carte (commonly F10). After choosing your USB drive you should see the YUMI boot carte where you can pick the desired Linux distribution in Alive way.

You can run YUMI'south kick drive creator again to add More ISOs/distributions to your drive as needed and they'll all show upwards in this menu during boot.

Which Linux distribution should I install?

There's no unmarried right answer to that question. For a new user jumping into the world of Linux-based operating systems the amount of options bachelor tin be overwhelming. Finding the "right" distro for you tin simply be done though experience only at that place are plenty of resources online to help y'all figure it out.

Popular choices for newcomers include Ubuntu, Mint and PCLinuxOS. If you are looking for a secure operating system to take with you anywhere, you might as well want to requite Tails a effort. The latter received a lot of press recently when it was disclosed that Edward Snowden was using it to avert NSA snooping.

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