Embracing Linux: Bootable USB Drive

How to create a bootable USB drive containing Linux Mint, so that you can try out Linux without installing it on your computer.

The Universal USB Installer shown in the video is available from:

If you enjoy this video, you may also like my guide to free PhotoShop alternatives:

And also my video on the free Inkscape vector graphics package:

[JulieAV]

When downloading I recommend finding a mirror in a time zone that is 2 to 3 am. The site will be less congested and your download will be much faster.

[Wilkie]

I love this guy. I always imagine that I'm learning computers from C-3PO.

[synthoelectro]

I really like your videos, they are intuitive, professional and friendly. I wish a lot of other channels were this comfortable to watch.

[dennissmithjr.]

Hey Chris, I have been using Linux Mint for about 3 years now. Dumped MS Windows all together. Love it and have no intentions of go back. Great video, cheers mate.

[Kevin-wokp]

Despite being a machine-code programmer many years ago, I've taken a step back over the past few years and I've become quite the Linux-phobe - even though I embrace open-source stuff. Your presentation of showing step-by-step gives me a lot of confidence to give Linux a serious go - especially when you consider it's a pluggable solution. For me, there's no better content- creator on Youtube; thanks for your time and efforts to share and educate. I'm also looking forward to seeing how you get on hooking up to the Internet and a printer in Linux - these have been my bugbears in Linux over the years. Have a great week!

[markharrisllb]

It’s very interesting seeing your first interaction with Mint knowing how much you like it now. I have it on my dual boot because I like its Grub menu. Also, although I don’t usually like excessive amounts of programs, it’s very useful when the WiFi isn’t the best in cottages in Scotland land Wales.

[joetke]

i suppose that I've already said this before: YOUR "explanations" are pretty instructive, almost complete and very helpful. Thanks a lot.

[segaprophet]

For those who are interested in giving Linux a trial period, I recommend dedicating a whole spare drive to a proper Linux install rather than doing something like virtualization within your existing OS install - not only will the performance be better, but you will avoid the temptation of being able to jump out of your virtual machine into your familiar environment and thus speed the learning process by "jumping into the deep end" so to speak. I recently did this for a week with Manjaro Linux and I learned a lot in the process.

[ry_man]

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with Linux, I've been tempted numerous times but just haven't got around to it!

[lochinvar]

You will want to show getting the boot order sorted out. This is a big stick in the mud by default which usually puts HD boot in first of the list. I change the order on all of my computers to

First device : Usb
Second device: CD/DVD
Third device: HD
That way to boot on HD I just need to have no bootable media in the usb or disc drives and it will follow through to boot on HD. If I want to boot to another, I just put in the media and turn it on.
To set boot options you need to know what the button is that you need to repeatedly tap during startup in that narrow window of time from power on to the first screen. Different computers use different keys.

[AleksandarGrozdanoski]

I beg to differ! The correct statement should be: If you've gone to Windows 10, you're probably MORE interested in Linux.

[graemecollin]

I've been running Linux exclusively at home for 10 years plus now, and Mint, in one form or another, for most of that. My main machine is currently running 17.3 Rosa (haven't seen the need or a good reason to update it to 18, yet), with Cinnamon.
Running Linux on the Surface was interesting, not so much that it was so easy to do (although I have been led to believe that the major modern Linux distros are supposed to support UEFI booting), I was more impressed that the touch screen worked "out of the box", with no need for configuring ...

[dan]

good luck on your linux mint week, it drove me up the wall, but everything worked as it should

[spikeyspoems]

The instructions in your video were so clear and concise, I was actually able to do this. Thank you!

[asdlkj]

Thank you after all these years, worked perfectly on my old HP laptop...

[elloco]

Greetings from Florida Chirs!! Never posted a comment before but I have watch all your posts. I cannot wait to watch your account of the first week using the Linux Mint. Your report will help me and many others struggling with the same dilemma.

[CrustyAbsconder]

Excellent video. I wish I had seen this video in April. Back in early May, I switched to Linux using the same method you used, but I had a few hiccups and had to learn everything the hard way. I used a program called "Rufus" instead of "Pendrive." I have no idea which works the best. However, once you have Linux Mint running there is a pre-installed tool for making USB sticks. It is under the Accessories Menu in Linux Mint. Also, there is a program easy to install via the terminal: sudo apt install gnome-boxes. Gnome-Boxes is a really awesome tool for testing distros. It cuts down on all that stuff you showed in the video. It is super easy to use, and every distro should come with it, and probably will in the future. I used Linux Mint for about a month, and after testing other distros, I found that one of the fun things about Linux is called distro-hopping. It is so easy to load a new distro, that you can easily hop around when you get bored with one. Ubuntu Gnome is a good one to play with after using Linux Mint. People who are intimidated by Linux might want to try ChaletOS or ElementaryOS. Windows users are going to be disappointed with the games on Linux, but that is going to change in the coming years. The free games that work well are: Aisleriot Solitare, Gnome Mahjongg, Taquin, Tetravex, Supertux, ExtremeTuxRacer, Neverball, NavalBattle, and Kapman.

[bradchoi]

Just did this to use with an older Nettop computer that had become painfully slow due to Windows bloat. WOW! What a difference! I may have to scrap Windows altogether on this machine, and install Linux Mint permanently.

Thank you VERY MUCH for this video!

[jeffharmed]

Thanks for sharing. Your video has opened up a BRAVE NEW WORLD and the whole experience was a self-sufficiency lesson for me. My 8 year old Samsung i7 laptop ceased functioning due to a corrupted Windows 7 OS. So I followed your video and created a bootable Linux USB flash using my wife's machine. When I plugged the bootable USB flash back into my very dead i7 laptop, Linux Cinnamon popped an "install" icon on the desktop, and offered to resuscitate my comatose laptop. I accepted and my old friend was reborn with no fuss at all, and in better shape than it has ever been.

It feels just like Thanks to the cloud, all those warnings of doom and gloom when jettisoning the old system were debunked. I recovered my personal files from my main USB flash (Note: I had made weekly backups) and I'm back in business inside 24 hours from the disaster. OK, the Linux suite of supporting software, one on one, is not as slick as MS products but it gets the job done quicker and without the overheads, exactly like Ikea versus Baroque furniture.

Many, many thanks professor!

[chrismin]

Some tips if you decide to do this:
1. Get a FAST USB Drive. Anything that's at least USB 3.0 should be OK, but it's not always the case. If the USB Drive is only 2.0 it will be dreadfully slow.
2. Don't move the OS Files in the USB. Even if you move them back to their original location it might not boot.
3. Always tick the format the drive option. It will delete all your files but you'll be sure that it works.
4. Always make a persistent file of a 200 megabytes or more. Helps a lot!