1  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 

  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 
Ubuntu is a type of Linux operating system that caters towards new users. For various reasons,
many users will find it useful to make a version of Ubuntu that can be booted from a flash drive.

What is Linux?
You are no doubt familiar with Windows operating
systems. These are the most common operating
systems in the world. After Windows, the Mac
operating systems are the most common. In a distant
third are Linux-based operating systems.

Though most people are unfamiliar with Linux, operating systems based off
of Linux have many advantages. Almost all versions of Linux-based
operating systems are completely free. Furthermore, Linux falls under
the GNU General Public License, which explicitly declares that users
are free to run, copy, distribute, study, change, develop, and improve
the software. Windows and Mac operating systems, in comparison,
are party to copyright restrictions that limit what users are able to do
with the software. This is where the “free and open” Linux
philosophy comes from.
Tux, the mascot of Linux

What is Ubuntu?
A common problem with Linux is the steep
learning curve. Many distributions of
Linux are difficult to install as well as use.
Ubuntu is special distribution of Linux that
attempts to fix this problem by focusing on
usability and ease of installation. It is the
easiest way for new users to get into the
Linux world.
The Ubuntu Desktop
2  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Why not boot from a CD/DVD?

CD/DVD drives are becoming less
popular. Many computer users have not
touched a CD/DVD in years. This is in
part because flash drives are smaller,
cheaper, easier to use, and hold more
information than CD/DVDs. Also, some
ultra-portable laptops only have USB
ports because excluding the CD/DVD
drives saves space.

For these reasons, I am going to show you how to make an Ubuntu bootable flash
If  a  flash  drive  is 
drive. This consists of downloading the necessary files, reformatting the flash
bootable,  you  can  load 
drive, and running UNetbootin. Once the Ubuntu bootable flash drive is made, an  operating  system 
you can install the Ubuntu Linux operating system from it. from  it.  This  word 
comes  from  the  term 
bootstrapping,  which  is 
the  process  of  loading 
*Note: This guide is written for Microsoft Windows as most users who switch the operating system.  

to Ubuntu were previously Windows users. This guide is also written for users
of the Mozilla Firefox web browser. 

Items:
• A flash drive with at least one gigabyte of memory.
• The computer to which you wish to install Ubuntu.
• A computer with an internet connection.

*Note: The computer with the internet connection can be the same computer to
which you are installing Ubuntu.
3  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Part 1: Download UNetbootin An .iso file is an archive 

file.  It  contains  the 
information to install as 
well  as  metadata  like 
UNetbootin is a program that takes a Linux operating system .iso and turns it boot  codes  and  data 
structures.    Information 
into a bootable file on a flash drive. It is extremely convenient because it you  burn  to  a  DVD 
does all the work for you. would be in .iso format.

Step 1: Go to the UNetbootin website by

typing “http://UNetbootin.sourceforge.net/”
into your browser’s address bar.

Step 2: Click on the “Download (for

Windows)” button at the top of the page. It
should be the button on the left.

Note: After you click the button a

window similar to the one on the right
should appear.

Step 3: Save the file to your desktop.

We will come back to this file later.
4  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Part 2: Download Ubuntu

Step 1: Go to the Ubuntu website by typing

“http://www.ubuntu.com/” into your browser’s address
bar.
Note: The version of Ubuntu on the website
should be the latest stable version of Ubuntu.
At the time of writing, 9.10 is the latest
version. 

Step 2: Click on the “Download Ubuntu 9.10” button.

Note: You will be directed to a new

webpage. It should look like the
one on the right. 

Step 3: At this new page, select your country from the

drop down bar titled “Download location.”

Step 4: Click “Begin download.”

Note: You will be asked to

save an .iso file. This will
take several minutes.

Step 5: Save this to your desktop.

5  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Part 3: Reformat Flash Drive 

The FAT32 file system is 
the  most  basic  type  of 
file  system.    It  is  slow, 
but  can  be  read  by  all 
In order to boot from a flash drive, your flash drive must be formatted to operating systems. 
the FAT32 file system. Though this is a common file system, your flash
drive may not be formatted this way. Just to be sure, we will reformat it.

WARNING: You will lose all the information on your flash drive if you reformat it.
Remove valuable data and store it elsewhere before proceeding.

Step 1: Open the startup menu and click on run.

Step 2: Type “diskpart” into the run window command

line and press enter.

Note: A terminal window like the one on

the right should pop up.
6  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Step 3: Type the “list disk” into the terminal and

then press enter.

Note: Something like the picture to the

right should appear

Step 4: Identify your flash drive. The size listed should match the size of your flash drive. In my
case, disk 5 is my flash drive.

WARNING: Do not select your hard drive instead of your flash drive. Doing so could
result in complete system failure!

Step 5: Now run the following commands in

sequence. As before, press enter to execute
the command.
Note: The format command will take several
minutes to complete. Also, larger flash
drives take longer to reformat.

1. select disk (insert your disk number here)

2. clean
3. create partition primary
4. select partition 1
5. active
6. format fs=fat32
7. assign
8. exit

Your flash drive is now formatted and ready to go!

7  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Part 4: Run UNetbootin 

Step 1: Go back to your desktop and

double click on UNetbootin.exe.

Note: The interface to the

right should appear

Step 2: Click on the “Diskimage” circle and then the

“…” button.

Note: A window like the one

to the right should appear

Step 3: Navigate to your desktop and select the

.iso Ubuntu file you just downloaded.
8  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

WARNING: Do not select the “Show All Drives (Use with Care)” option. If you are
unfamiliar with this option you may cause a system failure.

Step 4: Now select your flash drive and click “OK.”

Note: Your flash drive may

not be in the “E:\” slot. In
fact, you may have multiple
flash drives. Choose one.

Note: UNetbootin should

now be creating your
bootable flash drive. This
will take several minutes.

After UNetbootin is done running, your

bootable flash drive is complete!
9  Making an Ubuntu Bootable Flash Drive 
 

Part 5: Boot from the Flash Drive 

Note: I have not included
specific instructions on how to
Now that you have run UNetbootin, you can boot the Linux
do this because the process is
operating system from this flash drive. In order to do this,
different for every computer.
you must tell the computer to boot from the flash drive instead
If you wish to learn how, help
of the hard drive when it starts up. This is done by entering the is available online.
BIOS and changing the proper settings.

Note: If done correctly, the

image to the right should
appear after the computer
starts up.

Note: After you choose

default, the Ubuntu
environment should load up.
It will look like the desktop
to the left. The “Install
Ubuntu 9.10” icon will begin
the permanent installation
process.

Congratulations! You have successfully made an Ubuntu bootable flash drive. You are now one
step closer to becoming a true Linux user.