How to Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Drive with Etcher
Start Your Ubuntu Journey
Getting started with Ubuntu is easier than you might think, and the first step is creating a bootable USB drive. This drive will allow you to either try out Ubuntu without installing it or begin the installation process on your computer. This guide shows you how to create one using a popular tool called Etcher.
What You’ll Need
- A computer to download the necessary files.
- A USB flash drive with at least 4GB of storage.
- The Ubuntu Desktop ISO file, which you can get from the official Ubuntu website.
Creating the Drive with Etcher
Etcher is a free and open-source utility that makes “flashing” an OS image to a USB drive simple. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile choice.
The steps are as follows:
- Select the Image: After launching Etcher, click “Flash from file” and choose the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded.
- Select the Target: Click “Select target.” Etcher is smart and usually only shows removable USB drives, which helps prevent you from accidentally erasing the wrong disk. Choose your USB drive from the list.
- Flash!: Click the “Flash!” button. The program will now write the Ubuntu image to your USB drive. This may require administrator privileges to write the boot data correctly.
- Complete: Once the process is finished, Etcher will display a “Flash Complete!” message.
Your USB drive is now ready! You can eject it and use it to boot any computer into Ubuntu.
This post is based from content of the book Ubuntu System adminstration guide. And the book can be found here https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mattias-Hemmingsson/author/B0FF5CQX13