{"id":63727,"date":"2024-04-23T08:30:34","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T07:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/"},"modified":"2024-04-23T08:30:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T07:30:34","slug":"install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Install Linux on USB stick, Portable Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Install Linux portably on a USB stick.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Windows can be installed portably as <a href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/17988\/windows-11-auf-usb-stick-einrichten-mit-windows-to-go\/\">Windows ToGo<\/a>. This allows the Windows system to be used portably, even on other computers.<\/p>\n<p>Linux can also be installed on a USB stick. This works directly, as Linux basically does not care what type of data carrier it is installed on. In the example, we are using Linux Mint, but other Linux distributions also work.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#The_preparation_two_USB_sticks\" >The preparation, two USB sticks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#Disconnect_the_hard_drive\" >Disconnect the hard drive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#Creating_a_Linux_USB_stick_with_Rufus\" >Creating a Linux USB stick with Rufus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#Installing_Linux_booting_the_installation\" >Installing Linux, booting the installation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#Installing_Linux_Mint\" >Installing Linux Mint<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#Starting_the_portable_Linux\" >Starting the portable Linux<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/63727\/install-linux-on-usb-stick-portable-linux\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_preparation_two_USB_sticks\"><\/span>The preparation, two USB sticks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with the USB sticks, we need two USB sticks. One as a Linux installation medium and one on which we install the Linux. Ideally, the USB stick should be large and fast enough for the target so that the Linux runs smoothly.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"379\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_1-300x190.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disconnect_the_hard_drive\"><\/span>Disconnect the hard drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We carry out the installation on a desktop computer. We recommend disconnecting the hard drive. This will prevent Linux from installing a boot loader on the hard drive and changing the boot of the original system.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"372\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_2-300x186.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Creating_a_Linux_USB_stick_with_Rufus\"><\/span>Creating a Linux USB stick with Rufus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now download the Linux ISO file. To create the USB stick, we use <a href=\"http:\/\/rufus.ie\/de\/\">Rufus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"318\" height=\"102\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_3.png 318w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_3-300x96.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We start Rufus, select the USB stick and ISO file and start the process.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"580\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_4.png 482w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_4-249x300.png 249w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 482px) 100vw, 482px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There are two queries, one for the creation type, here we select the DD mode. Then we are asked to confirm that all data on the stick will be deleted.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Installing_Linux_booting_the_installation\"><\/span>Installing Linux, booting the installation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now we start the installation. We connect both USB sticks to the computer and start it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"405\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_5.jpg 600w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_5-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now we call up the boot menu, on my Dell computer we do this with the F12 key. In my case, a warning appears that no hard drive is installed, but we can ignore this.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"395\" height=\"113\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_6.jpg 395w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_6-300x86.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The boot menu appears. Here we now boot from the USB stick that we have just created.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"749\" height=\"265\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_7.jpg 749w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_7-300x106.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Grub menu should now appear. Either confirm briefly or wait until Linux starts automatically.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"532\" height=\"157\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_8.jpg 532w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_8-300x89.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Linux will now start and our USB stick should also appear here. Important: do not eject it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"371\" height=\"266\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_9.jpg 371w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_9-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_9-350x250.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Installing_Linux_Mint\"><\/span>Installing Linux Mint<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We now start the installation. I will not go into all the steps of the installation here. Simply carry out the first standard steps. You may be prompted to confirm that partitions on the USB stick are mounted. This refers to our target USB stick. Instinctively you would think that it makes sense to eject it, but in this case Linux cannot be installed on the stick.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"594\" height=\"203\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_10.jpg 594w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_10-300x103.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The installation then begins. In the standard case, we simply select &#8220;Erase disk&#8221; or &#8220;Erase hard drive&#8221;. However, we should only do this if we have disconnected the internal hard drives.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_11.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"569\" height=\"271\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_11.jpg 569w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_11-300x143.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, we can take a closer look at the partitioning to see whether the correct data carrier has been selected.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_12.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"684\" height=\"414\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_12.jpg 684w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_12-300x182.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If everything fits, we start the installation. You will be prompted again for confirmation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_13.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"613\" height=\"263\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_13.jpg 613w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_13-300x129.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 613px) 100vw, 613px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The installation is now complete.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_14.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"481\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_14.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_14-300x231.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once the installation is complete, we can remove the installation stick and restart the computer.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Starting_the_portable_Linux\"><\/span>Starting the portable Linux<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We can now connect the Linux to the target computer and start it via the boot menu.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"679\" height=\"392\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_15.jpg 679w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/linux_usb_15-300x173.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Our Linux should then start as if it were installed on an internal hard drive. During tests, the Linux system worked without any problems on various computers, such as my Thinkpad, my desktop or even my netbook. Only the company laptop did not work.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A portable Linux is a practical thing. Similar to Windows ToGo, we can create a portable working environment here. With the exception of one computer, booting worked without any problems. However, it should be noted that a USB stick is not quite as &#8220;data-safe&#8221; as a hard drive. A regular backup is therefore essential.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Install Linux portably on a USB stick.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1555],"tags":[3230,2443,1682,2795,1559,1619],"class_list":["post-63727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-software-en","tag-instructions-en","tag-linux-en-2","tag-linux-en","tag-manual","tag-tutorial-en","tag-usb-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63727"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63727\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}