[mdlug] Ubuntu install USB Thumb Drive recommended

[Gib]

Build your own.  I use Rufus on Windows.  I've also used the  dd command on
Linux.

Here are instructions from ChatGPT. Just use any thumb drive.

Creating a *bootable Linux thumb drive* is a common way to install or try
out a Linux distribution. Here's a step-by-step guide for Windows, macOS,
and Linux.
------------------------------
🔧 What You Need

   1.

   A USB drive (at least 4GB, 8GB+ recommended)
   2.

   A Linux ISO file (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, etc.)
   -

      Download from the official site (e.g., ubuntu.com
      <https://ubuntu.com/download>)
      3.

   A tool to create the bootable USB (see options below)

------------------------------
🪟 On Windows ✅ Using *Rufus* (recommended)

   1.

   *Download Rufus* from https://rufus.ie/
   2.

   Insert your USB drive.
   3.

   Launch Rufus.
   4.

   Under *Device*, select your USB drive.
   5.

   Under *Boot selection*, click *Select* and choose your Linux ISO.
   6.

   Leave other settings as default or:
   -

      *Partition scheme*: MBR (for legacy BIOS) or GPT (for UEFI)
      7.

   Click *Start*.
   8.

   Select "Write in ISO Image mode (Recommended)" if prompted.
   9.

   Confirm any warnings and wait for it to finish.

------------------------------
🍎 On macOS ✅ Using *balenaEtcher*

   1.

   Download *balenaEtcher* from https://www.balena.io/etcher/
   2.

   Open Etcher.
   3.

   Click "Flash from file" and select your ISO.
   4.

   Insert your USB and select it as the target.
   5.

   Click "Flash!" and enter your password if prompted.

------------------------------
🐧 On Linux ✅ Using *dd* (command-line tool – careful!)

⚠️ Be extremely cautious with dd. A small mistake can wipe your hard drive.


   1.

   Insert USB and find its path:

   lsblk

   Identify your USB (e.g., /dev/sdb).
   2.

   Write ISO to USB:

   sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/linux.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress oflag=sync

   Replace /dev/sdX with your actual USB device (not a partition like
   /dev/sdX1).
   3.

   Wait until it's done, then safely eject:

   sync


------------------------------
✅ After Creation: Booting from USB

   1.

   Insert the USB into your target computer.
   2.

   Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing *F2*, *F12*, *Del*, or
   *Esc* during startup).
   3.

   Select the USB drive as the boot device.
   4.

   Boot into the Linux live session or installer.


On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM Jay <jjn at nuge.com> wrote:

> Greetings LUGers,
>     Anyone have a favotite source for an install Thumb Drive for an Ubuntu
> workstation.   I have a solid-state Windows-10 PC that I'd like to install
> Ubuntu over the top of (not dual boot).
>
>     Amazon has many selections of Thumb Drives that do this.  I had a bad
> experience with one, then found a *better* stick.  But that was 10 years
> ago, and things change rather quickly, so what is your best current
> recommendation???
>
>     This is what I'm looking at ordering:
>
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087NJP411?smid=A35DQ99LC66IPR&th=1
>
>
>        --- Jay
>
>
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