Boot and Run Ubuntu from a Flash Drive

Step 4 Format the Flash Drive

Now that you're in Ubuntu, it is time to format the flash drive. We will make two partitions, one for the actual Ubuntu OS, and another to automatically save your changes and settings back to the flash drive and restore them on each boot. You can also store personal data on the second partition.

Backup all your data on your flash drive before doing this. This will erase all your files on you flash drive

0. Backup the data on your flash drive.

1. Open Terminal, under Applications

2. Type in "sudo su"

3. Type in "fdisk -l", and identify which device is your flash drive. Mine was "sdb". Whenever I type "sdb", put in your flash drive identification. For example, if your flash drive was sda, and I typed "format sdb1" then you would type "format sda1".

4. Type "umount /dev/sdb1"

5. Type "fdisk /dev/sdb"

• type p to show the existing partition and d to delete it
• type p again to show any remaining partitions (if partitions exist, repeat the previous step)
• type n to make a new partition
• type p for primary partition
• type 1 to make this the first partition
• hit enter to use the default 1st cylinder
• type +750M to set the partition size
• type a to make this partition active
• type 1 to select partition 1
• type t to change the partition filesystem
• type 6 to select the fat16 file system
• type n to make another new partition
• type p for primary partition
• type 2 to make this the second partition
• hit enter to use the default cylinder
• hit enter again to use the default last cylinder
• type w to write the new partition table

6. Type "umount /dev/sdb1", then "umount /dev/sdb2".

7. Type "mkfs.vfat -F 16 -n Ubuntu /dev/sdb1". This formats the first partition.

8. Next, type "mkfs.ext2 -b 4096 -L casper-rw /dev/sdb2", to format the second partition.

9. Exit terminal, then unplug your flash drive.

Comments

[henry9419]

ok i have a problem when i try to enter +750M to set the partition size it just says value out of range and gives me the option to try again? but this time i just hit enter and set it to the default of 749 but the other steps are messing up...Please help me!!! Thanks!!!

[leon-geyer]

did you remember to put the M? I had your answer when I forgot it