Ubuntu 7.10 USB Boot

[Off]

So, after reading the other thread I installed Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy on my USB thumbdrive. I love it. I have it on a Fat32 file system so that I can still use all of the storage space in Windows. My U3 partition and software still works (I skipped the step were you format the USB Stick).

It boots, I select Ubuntu (USB Persistent Mode) and it loads. It looks great and works fast, just like a normal Hard Drive.

Now, I have that stupid "Install" icon on my desktop. I delete it, reboot and its there again. Which gets me thinking, this is not persistent mode and my changes are not "automatically" being saved as the tutorial said it would.

Is persistent mode broken? Did I miss something that I need to activate? I'm logging in via root every time.

[Jordan]

Did you create the casper-rw partition? It sounds like you did not. Create a new user once you boot into the USB Stick and the "install" icon will disappear under that user.

[Off]

Ok, I went back and redid it all making sure I added the casper-rw partition. It works now. I have another problem. After a couple of boots it seems that the Linux partition becomes corrupt. Has anyone experience this problem?

[TotalPenguin]

So you have to partition your USB drive?????

[Jordan]

Yes, but it is easy. I kept my U3 partition and my main Fat32 partition. I just resized them and created a new EXT3 partition (750mb).

@Off - I'm having the same problem. Seems that these installs don't work for long.

[TotalPenguin]

Doesn't seem like it's worth the trouble... if it gets corrupt.

But do you see any errors when it gets corrupted? Or it just does not boot?

[Jordan]

Its not much trouble, takes about 10 minutes to install. But I get various errors each time. They seem random and I'm not sure what causes them.

[cutiger95]

Alright so my excitement is now dowsed for installing ubuntu on a pen drive. But hey maybe the errors will go away with later versions. Who knows.

One additional thing. Are there any good tutorials out and about for doing this, I may give it a try on an old 4 gig stick that I have laying around.

[Jordan]

It is very possible it is just my USB pendrive and my constant messing with it as to why it keeps getting corrupt.

Check here for tutorials: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

[LinuxBomber]

When you say partition a USB pendrive, you mean as an actual HDD?

When you plug it in you will see to separate drives in 'My Computer'? (If plugged on a Windows XP machine)