How to Put Ubuntu Linux on a Flash Drive and Run it Under Windows

Imagine if there was a way to take any computer running Windows switch to your Linux desktop with the click of a button... You click an icon and there's your Linux desktop, your wallpaper, your mp3's... all without ever rebooting. And when your finished with Linux, click shutdown and you return to your Windows desktop. Well, that's exactly what I'm going to show you how to do!

The following article is going to teach you everything you need to know in order to make a working USB flash drive with Ubuntu Linux installed, similar to the ones sold at PenLinux.com. However, there are a few things that you should to know first:

1. This method will not work with every brand of flash drive, please be aware of that fact before you start. I tested this method on a SanDisk 2GB cruzer drive.

2. This should be a no-brainer, but you will lose all data you currently have on the flash drive.

3. Depending on your computer and internet connection this could take you anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Okay, now let's get started...

Let's start with everything you are going to need to pull this off:

- Obviously you need a USB flash drive (at least 2GB).

- You'll need a working computer running Microsoft Windows with a USB port available.

- A copy of the Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy .ISO file (it's 750MB).

- A copy of Qemu (this is the program that allows Ubuntu to actually run on Windows).

- A copy of Kqemu accelerator. This helps Qemu speed up Ubuntu.

- A copy of startubuntu.tar - This file holds two custom batch and img files.

- The HP-USB format tool to clear your USB drive.

Now it's time to start... step by step.

1. Download the HP-USB format tool. Install it and format your USB drive to FAT or FAT32. (http://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp27001-27500/SP27213.exe)

2. Download the Ubuntu Edgy .ISO file. Remember, this is a big file (750MB). (http://releases.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso)

3. Download the Qemu program. Create a folder on your flash drive and name it Qemu. Now extract the contents of the Qemu zip file to this folder on your flash drive. (http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/%7Ekazuw/qemu-win/qemu-0.9.0-windows.zip)