[Ham-Computers] Booting off of a flash drive

[jeff]

Loren Moline WA7SKT wrote:
> I know this may have been discussed before but is there a way to install an operating system on a flash drive and boot from it?

if you're talking linux, yes.  I don't have the URL, but you can search 
for usb linux and find a lot of pages.  Pendrivelinux.com comes to mind.

Be aware that some installs are persistent and some are not.  Persistent 
means any changes you make while the OS is up will be saved for the next 
boot.  I remember there being two sets of instructions for the Ubuntu 
install due to this.

My favorite distro is Ubuntu, but your decision will also depend on your 
needs, the computer's specs, and the size of your usb drive.  I've seen 
1g drives at $10 and 4g's around $34.


There is also the concept of portable apps (portableapps.com, I think). 
  These are common programs, specially coded to be small and run from a 
portable drive.  One benefit of this is that you can carry your entire 
online world with you, plugging it into any computer you come across 
(Windows only) and run whatever you want without leaving a trace on the 
host computer (don't forget antivirus).  I carry a drive with a few of 
these apps and a ton of other software I use daily.

You can also boot a pc from a repair disk or live linux distro and have 
access to data on the hard drive, even if the pc won't boot.


Good luck.