Posted on 02/10/2023 12:59:33 PM PST by ShadowAce
Absolutely my privilege. :)
It is not so much the Linux flavor as it is the utility tool you use to make the bootable USB stick.
“Rufus” is the best tool. And it will accept whatever Linux “ISO” (Complete OS clone file) you provide. Below are the instructions. All Rufus default settings are correct for what you want. The only change would be choose “persistent partition” and move the slider all the way over to the right.
Just download a Linux ISO, I highly recommend Mint Cinnamon 20.0, then download and install the newest version of Rufus. follow the instructions below to make your test drive stick.
The Mirror from “James Madison University” has always been reliable and stable for me.
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=281
Instructions to make a test drive stick using Rufus.
https://www.ubuntudocs.com/create-bootable-ubuntu-usb-with-rufus-uefi/
That was the easy part. After your stick is made you have to change the boot order settings in the BIOS of your particular machine so that it will see and boot from “USB” or “Portable media” first before it goes and looks for the next boot devices. like your windows hard drive. If there is no bootable USB in it will just go on to boot the hard drive.
Unfortunately there is no one standard for this, and every make and model has their own set up for this. Unless... You are lucky enough to have a machine which has a “boot menu”. then you can just choose to boot from the stick when it sees it is plugged in. But this info can be found with a search on “how to boot from USB” on your particular machine. Unfortunately there is no one standard for this, and different makes and models have their own set up for this. :)
Oh, wow. Thank you so much for going through the trouble of giving such detailed and constructive input. This looks ‘way over my head. I thought I could just create the thumb drive and navigate to it to open it. Tune in tomorrow, lol!
“create the thumb drive and navigate to it to open it.”
Well the problem is twofold. First computer manufacturers always have the boot order in the BIOS as local LAN network-hard drive-CD/DVD-USB.
When the order should come from the factory as USB-CD/DVD-then hard drive or LAN. That way it looks for a bootable USB or CD first before it goes on to the hard drive.
I don’t know why they have always done that, but it sucks and makes this more complicated than it needs to be. But that is not the fault of Linux, that is the machine. and actually if you had to boot up in a windows repair/recovery USB stick or DVD you would have to also reset the boot order also. So it is nice to know how on your machine anyhow.
Second, you are starting up from when you turn the power on into a whole different Operating System. It has to power up in this alternative OS, An OS cannot be switched at will after one is already loaded up, the machine has to be told to power up into the optional OS.
Just follow it step by step. If you give it a shot please let me know. You are welcome to PM me anytime if you like. :)
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