3 Ways to Create Bootable Ubuntu USB Startup Disk

Ubuntu is a popular operating system based on Linux kernel. It is known for its security, stability, and ease of use. One of easiest ways to try out Ubuntu is by creating a bootable USB startup disk. In this article, we will discuss three ways to create a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk.

Using Rufus on Windows

Rufus is a free and open-source tool that can be used to create bootable USB disks. It is available for Windows and is very easy to use. Here are steps to create a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk using Rufus on Windows −

• Step 1 − Download Ubuntu ISO image from official website

• Step 2 − Download Rufus from official website and install it on your Windows machine.

• Step 3 − Insert a USB flash drive with a minimum capacity of 2GB.

• Step 4 − Open Rufus and select USB flash drive you want to use.

• Step 5 − Under “Boot selection” section, click on “Select” button and choose Ubuntu ISO image you downloaded earlier.

• Step 6 − Under “Partition scheme” section, select “MBR” if your computer is using BIOS or “GPT” if it is using UEFI.

• Step 7 − Under “File system” section, select “FAT32”.

• Step 8 − Click on “Start” button and wait for Rufus to create bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk.

Once process is complete, you can remove USB flash drive from your computer and use it to boot into Ubuntu.

Using Etcher on macOS

Etcher is a free and open-source tool that can be used to create bootable USB disks. It is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Here are steps to create a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk using Etcher on macOS −

• Step 1 − Download Ubuntu ISO image from official website.

• Step 2 − Download Etcher from official website and install it on your macOS machine.

• Step 3 − Insert a USB flash drive with a minimum capacity of 2GB.

• Step 4 − Open Etcher and select Ubuntu ISO image you downloaded earlier.

• Step 5 − Select USB flash drive you want to use.

• Step 6 − Click on “Flash!” button and wait for Etcher to create bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk.

Once process is complete, you can remove USB flash drive from your computer and use it to boot into Ubuntu.

Using dd Command on Linux

If you are using a Linux machine, you can use dd command to create a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk. Here are steps to create a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk using dd command on Linux −

• Step 1 − Download Ubuntu ISO image from official website.

• Step 2 − Insert a USB flash drive with a minimum capacity of 2GB.

• Step 3 − Open terminal and type following command to check name of USB flash drive −

sudo fdisk -l

• Step 4 − Identify name of USB flash drive from list of devices. It should be something like “/dev/sdb” or “/dev/sdc”.

• Step 5 − Unmount USB flash drive by typing following command −

sudo umount /dev/sdb1

Replace “/dev/sdb1” with name of USB flash drive you identified earlier.

• Step 6 − Type following command to write Ubuntu ISO image to USB flash drive:

sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/ubuntu-xx.xx-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdb conv=f

Replace “/path/to/ubuntu-xx.xx-desktop-amd64.iso” with path to Ubuntu ISO image you downloaded earlier and “/dev/sdb” with name of USB flash drive you identified earlier.

• Step 7 − Wait for dd command to complete. This may take a few minutes.

Once process is complete, you can remove USB flash drive from your Linux machine and use it to boot into Ubuntu.

Tips for creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk

• Make sure you have downloaded correct Ubuntu ISO image for your system architecture. If your computer uses a 64-bit processor, download 64-bit version of Ubuntu. If your computer uses a 32-bit processor, download 32-bit version of Ubuntu.

• Make sure USB flash drive you are using has a minimum capacity of 2GB.

• Always back up your important data before creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk.

• Make sure to follow instructions carefully when creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk. Any mistakes could result in data loss or damage to your computer.

Here are some additional tips to consider when creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk −

• Verify integrity of Ubuntu ISO image before creating bootable USB startup disk. This can be done by checking SHA256 checksum provided on official Ubuntu website.

• Use a high-quality USB flash drive for creating bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk. Cheaper or older USB flash drives may have lower data transfer rates or may be more prone to failure.

• If you encounter any issues during process of creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk, try using a different tool or method to create bootable USB. Some tools or methods may work better with certain hardware configurations.

• Test bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk on a different computer or in a virtual machine before attempting to boot it on your main computer. This can help you identify any issues or compatibility problems before you potentially disrupt your main computer's operating system.

In addition, it's important to keep in mind that creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk does not automatically mean that Ubuntu will work flawlessly on your computer. There may still be compatibility issues or driver problems that need to be addressed. It's also important to be aware of potential risks of booting into a different operating system, such as risk of data loss or malware infections.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk is a great way to try out Ubuntu without installing it on your computer. In this article, we discussed three ways to create a bootable Ubuntu USB startup disk: using Rufus on Windows, using Etcher on macOS, and using dd command on Linux. Make sure to follow tips we provided to ensure a smooth and successful process.