Booting with USB Thumb Drives

With many newer computers (desktops and laptops), you may need to do some adjustments to BIOS settings to be able to boot with USB thumb drive! See below.

We suggest to start with this one (for specific models - see below): Generic Legacy USB Booting Instructions
-DELL Legacy USB Booting Instructions
-HP Legacy USB Booting Instructions
-Intel Legacy USB Booting Instructions
-SONY Legacy USB Booting Instructions
-Lenovo Legacy Boot Instructions

      This is a bootable USB thumb drive with the most recognizable and user-friendly Linux Operating System – Ubuntu! Comes in 32 bit and 64 bit, including Ubuntu Server! Ubuntu includes software for everyday computing - Office Suite, Web Browsers, Video, Photo Editing, Multimedia, Games and so much more! Includes lifetime free updates and multi-language support. Install or Run directly from USB alongside Windows or Apple MAC OS X Live!

      Includes Ubuntu Server edition for anyone building/maintaining servers!

Linux Operating Systems Included (PC and Apple MAC bootable):
• Linux Ubuntu Desktop
• Linux Ubuntu Server

System requirements:
• PC Computer (any brand) with USB 2.0 / 3.0 port which can boot with USB drive

   *** Sometimes you may need to adjust your BIOS settings to allow booting with USB!

• Bootable USB ability only needed for bootable tools
• NO internet connection required, everything you need is on the USB drive!

INSTRUCTIONS: How to boot with USB drive:

(it may sometimes not boot or give errors when trying to boot into utilities, in such case, please shut down the computer, then try booting with USB again)

Apple MAC / Macintosh

• Turn on the computer and immediately hold Option / Alt key, then select: “EFI”



PC / Windows

• Restart your computer and wait for that first screen to pop up. Often, it'll say something like "Press F12 to Choose Boot Device" somewhere on the screen. Start tapping that key. If for any reason it won’t work – restart your PC and try again.


• Please note, for different computer brands, there may be different key for triggering the boot medium: The key is usually "F1," F2," F10," "Del" or "Esc.", here is the list of common brands and the corresponding boot menu keys:

    >> ACER: Esc, F9, F12

    >> Apple: Option / Alt key

    >> ASUS: Esc, F8

    >> COMPAQ: Esc, F9

    >> DELL: F12

    >> EMACHINES: F12

    >> HP: Esc, F9

    >> INTEL: F10

    >> IBM LENOVO: F12 (or Fn+F12), F10, F8

    >> NEC: F5

    >> PACKARD BELL: F8

    >> SAMSUNG: Esc, F12

    >> SONY: F10, F11

    >> TOSHIBA: F12



• Once the menu comes up, select the USB option and press Enter.

    It may show: “Press any key to boot from USB” during which you have several seconds to press any key to continue - please observe the computer screen if it asks for it.

    Once it boots to the main menu, select Linux Distributions -> to install/run live Ubuntu Operating Systems or select System Tools -> to run Boot Repair Disk.

You can install Linux alongside Windows (Please note: Sometimes you need to Shrink the C:\ drive for some unallocated space in Windows first, before you can install Linux alongside! You can find instructions on how to do it HERE) and Apple MAC OS X (there is some advanced knowledge required to actually install Linux alongside Apple MAC OS X, but you can easily use it live (Desktop version only, Server – you have to install!) with the USB plugged in)! You can also install as many operating systems as you want. With multiple operating systems – at the initial boot it will give you a menu where you can select which operating system you want to boot. (You can as well erase the hard drive and install each OS as the only one)

More INFO about Linux Ubuntu HERE!