Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu but using the LXDE desktop environment in place of Ubuntu’s GNOME shell. It’s a popular choice for older machines or systems with limited resources. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Lubuntu on a USB drive, ensuring a successful installation without failures.
Installing Lubuntu on a USB drive can be done without failures by following these steps: booting from the Lubuntu Live CD/DVD, selecting the installation type as "Something else," partitioning the USB drive, installing Lubuntu with the bootloader on the USB drive, and booting from the USB drive. It’s a straightforward process that allows you to have a portable operating system.
Preparing for Installation
Before we begin, you’ll need a few things:
- A USB drive with at least 8GB of storage.
- A Lubuntu Live CD/DVD or ISO image. You can download it from the official Lubuntu website here.
- A system with internet access.
Note: It’s recommended to use Lubuntu 12.04.4 LTS or Lubuntu 13.10 ISO image, as some users have reported errors with Ubuntu 14.04 and its derivatives.
Step 1: Booting from the Lubuntu Live CD/DVD
Insert your Lubuntu Live CD/DVD into your system and boot from it. This will take you to the live session. Ensure your internet connection is working. On the desktop, you’ll find the “Installer” icon. Click on it to start the installation process.
Step 2: Selecting the Installation Type
In the installer window, you’ll be prompted to choose the installation type. Select the “Something else” option. This will allow you to access the partition table for both your hard disk and the USB drive.
Step 3: Partitioning the USB Drive
Next, you’ll need to partition your USB drive. Select the USB drive as the installation medium and delete any existing partitions. Create two new partitions: one for the root partition and one for the swap partition.
The root partition should be formatted as Linux ext4 with the mount point set as “/”. The swap partition should be a small Linux swap partition, around 1-2 GB in size. This partition is used as a temporary storage for data that is not currently in use by the system, helping with system performance and preventing boot issues after restart.
Step 4: Installing Lubuntu
After partitioning the USB drive, select the root partition and click “Next” to start the installation. Make sure to install the bootloader on the USB drive and not on your HDD device. In the partition table for the USB drive, select the USB drive from the drop-down menu to place the bootloader on it.
Note: Do not leave any free space on the USB drive, whether it’s raw free space or FAT32 formatted free space.
Step 5: Booting from the USB Drive
Once the installation is complete, you can boot from the USB drive by changing your BIOS settings or using the boot menu key (usually F12) to select the USB drive.
Additional Tips
If you want to prevent the installer from accessing your existing drives, you can remove the “gvfs” package after installing Ubuntu. This can be done by running the command sudo apt-get remove gvfs\* in a terminal window. The sudo command gives you administrative privileges, apt-get is the package handling utility, remove is the operation to be performed, and gvfs\* is the package to be removed. You can still manually access your other partitions by using the sudo mount command.
In conclusion, installing Lubuntu on a USB drive is a straightforward process if you follow the steps carefully. It allows you to carry your operating system, with all your settings and files, in your pocket and use it on any machine. Happy computing!
Yes, installing Lubuntu on a USB drive allows you to carry your operating system with you and use it on any machine that supports booting from a USB drive.
You will need a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage to install Lubuntu.
You can use either a Lubuntu Live CD/DVD or an ISO image to install Lubuntu on a USB drive. The choice depends on your preference and the availability of the media.
It is recommended to have an internet connection during the installation process as it allows for updates and additional software to be installed if needed. However, it is not absolutely necessary.
While it is possible to install Lubuntu on a USB drive using a different version, it is recommended to use Lubuntu 12.04.4 LTS or Lubuntu 13.10 ISO image to avoid potential errors reported with Ubuntu 14.04 and its derivatives.
Yes, you can still manually access your other partitions by using the sudo mount command. However, if you want to prevent the installer from accessing your existing drives, you can remove the "gvfs" package after installing Lubuntu.
To boot from the USB drive, you can change your BIOS settings to prioritize booting from the USB drive or use the boot menu key (usually F12) during startup to select the USB drive as the boot device.
The swap partition in Lubuntu installation is used as a temporary storage for data that is not currently in use by the system. It helps with system performance and prevents boot issues after restart. It is recommended to create a small Linux swap partition, around 1-2 GB in size.
