What All Can You Do With a Linux Boot USB?

[TenthAveN]

Me again,

I successfully created a Linux Mint Cinnamon bootable USB (after much trial and error), and as far as personalization goes, I like it already. I was wondering what else I should try doing.

 

[Tanj]

Toss it in the bin, get some VM ware, and run both operating systems simultaneously.

 

[TenthAveN]

Toss it in the bin, get some VM ware, and run both operating systems simultaneously.

Is there a way to make the bootable USB persistent? I heard that reduces the USB’s lifespan

 

[chevyontheriver]

Me again,

I successfully created a Linux Mint Cinnamon bootable USB (after much trial and error), and as far as personalization goes, I like it already. I was wondering what else I should try doing.

If you like it, use the 'install' option. You can set up a dual boot, or blow Windows away and just use Linux, or set up the Linux as a virtual machine with Window running AND Linux at the same time. IF you do that be sure to max out your RAM in your computer. RAM is cheap.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Is there a way to make the bootable USB persistent? I heard that reduces the USB’s lifespan

I did that once, which is basically to have a large USB drive that has a live distro AND some read/write space to save files. Don't ask me how I did that right now.

So what if the USB drive doesn't last as long? Make a backup copy of the USB drive so you are ready for a failure. You should ALWAYS back up your important data because inevitably some disk will fail at just the wrong time.

 

[paul1149]

Is there a way to make the bootable USB persistent? I heard that reduces the USB’s lifespan

MX Linux has a few persistence options when you make a USB from a running instance, which it has a utility for (and that running instance can itself be on a USB).

I would play with it for a while, and if you like it (or another Linux flavor), install, either dual boot, or better, overwrite Windows if you don't need to run proprietary software.

EDIT: Also, most windows software can be run in Linux on Wine.

 

[TenthAveN]

I did that once, which is basically to have a large USB drive that has a live distro AND some read/write space to save files. Don't ask me how I did that right now.

So what if the USB drive doesn't last as long? Make a backup copy of the USB drive so you are ready for a failure. You should ALWAYS back up your important data because inevitably some disk will fail at just the wrong time.

How long did yours last?

 

[chevyontheriver]

EDIT: Also, most windows software can be run in Linux on Wine.

I met the developer of Wine. And they have a definition of Wine, of course it's a recursive definition. Here goes.

Wine Is Not Emulation.

But it does work pretty well for most things.

 

[chevyontheriver]

How long did yours last?

I tend to lose them. Or I find I really need a USB stick for work so I have to rewrite a Linux stick to transfer data or something. Now I keep a bunch of USB sticks but I had to overwrite a few times. But then I have Linux installed and have had it going since forever.

 

[paul1149]

I met the developer of Wine. And they have a definition of Wine, of course it's a recursive definition. Here goes.

Wine Is Not Emulation.

But it does work pretty well for most things.

An app being native is always better, but Wine works very well for the only prog I need it for, theWord Bible software, and for that I use it every day.

 

[adrianmonk]

I generally keep a sysresccd boot usb (and cdrom) with me in case I need to recover data or fix a partition. SystemRescue - System Rescue Homepage

 

[Gidgx]

I have linux on a USB. I think it's Debian with knome. It's called fix me stick.

 

[elytron]

Recently spent $11 for a copy of PartedMagic
Parted Magic Linux DistroWatch
So far I Secure Erase two laptop SSD drives with it. I boot from a USB thumb drive.