When we install an operating system, the normal thing is to do it on the internal hard disk (or SSD) of our computer. This is the way in which we are going to be able to use it with greater reliability, with the best performance and avoid problems. However, there is also the possibility of installing an operating system directly on a USB memory, which can be very useful and, in addition, bring us a series of advantages in terms of usability. And, to carry out this task easily we can resort to a program that will allow us to do it in the simplest possible way: Universal USB Installer .
Universal USB Installer is a free and open source program whose main purpose is to allow us to download and install Windows and Linux on a USB memory stick . And all this in just 4 simple and quick steps.
Main features
Without a doubt, the main feature of this program is the large number of operating systems that are compatible with it. In addition to allowing us to copy any ISO image to a USB (even if it is not on the compatibility list), this software will make it easier for us to download any of the officially supported Linux operating systems. And all downloads will always be made from their official websites.
Among others, the distros that Universal USB Installer officially supports are the following:
| Universal USB Installer | |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu | Ubuntu Desktop Xubuntu Desktop Kubuntu Desktop Lubuntu Desktop Edubuntu Desktop Ubuntu Studio Ubuntu Server Installer Ubuntu Alternate Mythbuntu Desktop Blackbuntu |
| Linux Mint | Linux Mint |
| Debian | Debian Netinst Debian Live |
| Kali | Kali Linux |
| Backtrack | Backtrack |
| Fedora | Fedora Desktop |
| OpenSUSE | OpenSUSE 32bit OpenSUSE 64bit |
| Puppy Linux | Fatdog64 Lighthouse Puppy Lucid Puppy Precise Puppy Puppy Arcade Puppy 4.3.1 Racy Puppy Slacko Puppy Wary Puppy |
| Linux for kids | DouDouLinux Qimo 4 Kids 2.0 Sugar on a Stick |
| Live-CD Antivirus | AOSS (Malware Scanner) AVG Rescue CD Avira Antivir Rescue Disk Bitdefender Rescue CD Comodo Rescue Disk DrWeb LiveCD F-Secure Rescue CD G DATA Antivirus Kaspersky Rescue Disk Panda Safe CD Trinity Rescue Kit |
| Other programs | Falcon 4 Boot CD Hiren’s Boot CD Kon-Boot |
| Other distros | AOMEI (Disk Cloning and Backup Tool) Acronis Rescue CD Android AntiX Prevgos Archbang ArchLinux ArtistX dawn BackBox Baltix Linux BCCD BlehOS Bodhi Boot Repair Disk Carmedia CentOS Chakra Clonezilla Crunchbang DBAN 2.2.X Deft Linux Deepin Linux DRBL DSL 4.4.10 Dreamlinux Dynebolic EASUS Disk Copy EasyPeasy Elementary OS Elementary Unleashed Feather Linux Finnix Fuduntu Fusion Linux Gamedrift Gentoo GEEXBOX gNewSense GRML gOS gadgets GParted Jolicloud Kiwi KNOPPIX Kororaa KXStudio Leeenux Free LinHES Linux XP Like LPS |
| Other distros | Macbuntu Mandriva One 2011 Matriux MCNLive Toronto Meego MicroCore Netrunner Ophcrack OSGeo Live Pardus PartedMagic PCLinuxOS Pear OS Peppermint PING Pinguy OS Plasma active PLoP Linux Porteus Redo Backup Rescatux RIP Linux Linux Runt Sabayon Linux SalineOS Satux Simply MEPIS SLAX SLIT Sn0wL1nuX SOLUSOS System Rescue CD Tails Terralinux TinyCore Trisquel Uberstudent Ultimate Boot CD Ultimate Edition WifiWay WifiSlax xPUD XBMC XBMCbuntu StartOS watts R5 Zenwalk Live Zorin OS |
We will also be able to create a USB with Windows , but this will not be installed as such, instead we will simply have an installation USB, just like the one that we can create with any other program.
Finally, when creating our Live-USB with Linux we are going to be able to create a partition with persistence . This is because, generally, when we boot the system from the USB, when turning off the PC, all the data is deleted. If we have a partition with persistence we can save all kinds of data in it so that they are not erased when finished.
Create a Linux Live USB in seconds
This program does not have an interface as such, but everything is done through a kind of installation wizard, as if we were going to install the program on our computer. The first thing we will see will be the terms of use of the program, which we will have to accept before continuing.
In the next step, what we are going to see is the creation of the bootable USB . The first thing we will have to do is choose the operating system that we want to install on the USB. To do this, we display the list of compatible operating systems and look for the one that we want to install. After selecting it, we can see a link to the distro’s official website, and a button that will allow us to open the download directly.
Once we have the ISO, what we must do is load it into the program. And, immediately afterwards, choose the USB drive where we are going to install it. After doing so, we can see that a new section appears at the bottom. In it we can choose how much space we want to configure as “persistent storage”.
Then, before starting the process, we will have to check that everything is correct.
And, if so, the installation process of the selected Linux on the USB memory will begin. Now the program will start doing its own thing, from extracting the content of the ISO image to copying everything to our USB. We just have to wait for the process to end.
When it ends, we can already close the program. Our USB memory is ready to start Linux (the system we have chosen) on any PC without having to install anything else. Now, the only thing left for us to do is configure the computer that we want to start so that it does it from this USB memory. We must do this from the BIOS, or UEFI, of the computer in question. Or by pressing the F8 or F12 keys while the PC is booting to view the boot selection menu.
Download Universal USB Installer
This program is completely free and, in addition, open source. If we want to download it, we can do it without problems from this link . From this website we will also be able to download its source code, in case you want to analyze it for any reason. In addition, we will be able to run Universal USB Installer in a portable way, without installing it on the PC.
The developer has not provided the minimum or recommended requirements for this program. The truth is that, given its simplicity, any user will be able to use it. The only thing to keep in mind is that we must use Windows as the main operating system to create the bootable USB.
Alternatives to create Live-USB
Although Universal USB Installer is one of the fastest and easiest we can find, it is not the only program that will allow us to create bootable USB sticks from other operating systems, such as Windows or Linux.
Rufus
Rufus is one of the most complete programs that we can find to create bootable USB flash drives for PC. This totally free program is compatible with practically any operating system, including Linux. It offers, by default, more control over the partitions and the file system that we want to use. It also allows you to download operating systems from the program itself.
We can download Rufus from this link .
YUMI – Multiboot USB Creator
This program is also from the creators of Universal USB Installer. The main difference with it is that YUMI allows to install several operating systems in a single USB, while the previous one only allows a single system. An excellent choice for those users who are always looking to carry a Swiss Army Knife in their pocket.
We can download YUMI – Multiboot USB Creator from here .
balenaEtcher
Much simpler software, at least as far as interface is concerned. This program is designed to allow us to easily burn any disk image, especially in IMG format, to USB sticks and micro-SD memory cards. This program is open source, it is written in HTML and JavaScript, and it has advanced data validation systems that guarantee that the creation of the USB memory has been done correctly.
We can download balenaEtcher from this link .