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I'd like to install Ubuntu (Desktop or netbook edition, preferably latest version), onto a laptop using a small USB stick. (480 MB free space.)

How can I do this?

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Why dont you shift the question to Ubuntu forum.<askubuntu.com/>; Hope you will get great response. – Sen Jan 3 '11 at 10:30
Sorry, I didn't know that one existed. – Bravax Jan 3 '11 at 11:27
Don't be sorry, it's on-topic here too – Michael Mrozek♦ Jan 4 '11 at 15:05

2 Answers

up vote 7 down vote accepted

There is a dedicated article on this:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

In brief:

  • Download the ISO.
  • Download UnetBootin http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
  • Burn the ISO to your USB using UnetBootin. Your USB will become a liveUSB from which you can boot.
  • Boot the system using USB and choose Install.
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Sorry, that page requires a minimum of a 1GB USB stick, I need to run the installer from one with 480MB, so a minimal install which then downloads anything else. – Bravax Jan 3 '11 at 10:07
3  
That is not a problem. There are always Mini ISO available for this purpose. You can download for Ubuntu on this page: help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/MinimalCD – Madhur Ahuja Jan 3 '11 at 10:14
Those instructions require a CD, can I create a bootable USB drive in the same manner as the normal Ubuntu install? I'll look into that... – Bravax Jan 3 '11 at 10:32
Yes, you can ... – Madhur Ahuja Jan 3 '11 at 10:35
You can create a bootable USB from any bootable ISO image. You can even make an ISO from a disc, then use that ISO too. – invert Jan 3 '11 at 14:25
up vote 3 down vote

You can install a command line (CLI) Ubuntu using the Alternate Install or Mini iso (which should fit on your 512mb stick)

Then install Crunchbang using the alternate method: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/26/crunchbang-linux-81001-alternative-installation/

You could also try the Lite version of CrunchBang, which is less than 512mb.

You could use Unetbootin to prepare the USB stick.

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Naming of products in technology is just awful. Thanks for your answer though. – Bravax Jan 3 '11 at 12:06
Out of curiosity, what do you find awful about it? If it's not commercial then it's not product-spamming. – invert Jan 3 '11 at 14:27
@wez: Even I had the same question to Bravax. Was there any problem in my answer? – Sen Jan 3 '11 at 14:38
No, your answer was perfectly fine, I've up voted it, I can only accept one as the answer though. It's not your answer which was horrible it was the crunchbag, unetbootin, etc that i dislike. – Bravax Jan 3 '11 at 16:47

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