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Asked: 2024-09-27T07:51:19+05:30 In:

How can I set up a USB drive with multiple partitions that is also capable of booting Ubuntu?

Hey everyone, I need some help figuring out how to set up a USB drive that has multiple partitions and can boot Ubuntu. I’ve been tinkering around with this for a while, and it’s proving to be a bit of a challenge. I’ve got this USB drive that I really want to use as a multi-boot tool, but I’m not entirely sure how to go about partitioning it correctly.

So here’s my situation: I want to create a USB drive that not only boots Ubuntu but also has space for a couple of other tools or operating systems—maybe a lightweight distro or some recovery tools. I’ve read that you can do this with GParted or even some command-line tools, but honestly, that just adds a layer of complexity that I’m not sure if I’m ready to tackle.

What I’m specifically struggling with is how to properly partition the drive. I want to make sure that the Ubuntu partition is bootable, but I also want the other partitions to be accessible without screwing anything up. I’ve tried creating partitions with different file systems (like FAT32 for compatibility), but it seems like there’s some kind of issue whenever I try booting from it.

Do I need to format the drive a certain way first? And what about the bootable part—how do I make sure that the Ubuntu partition is set up to boot correctly? I’ve heard something about using something called ‘syslinux’ or ‘grub’, but it’s all feeling a bit overwhelming.

If anyone has gone through this process before or knows of a good resource, I’d love to get some tips or step-by-step guidance. There are so many tutorials out there, but nothing seems to directly address what I’m trying to do. I just want to be able to plug in this USB and have it boot up into the system I need without any headaches. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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    2 Answers



    1. USB Drive Multi-Boot Setup Help

      Setting Up a Multi-Boot USB Drive for Ubuntu

      Sounds like you’re diving into something pretty cool! Here’s a simple guide to help you through the process.

      1. Preparing Your USB Drive

      • Backup Data: Make sure to back up any important data on your USB drive because the process will erase it.
      • Format the Drive: Use GParted (or a similar tool) to format the entire USB drive to FAT32. This will help with compatibility.

      2. Partitioning the Drive

      • Create Partitions:
        1. First partition for Ubuntu – Size can vary, but 4GB is typically enough.
        2. Second partition for another distro or tools – Based on your needs, maybe 2GB to 4GB.
        3. Leave some space (like around 4GB) as a third partition for extra tools if you need it.

      3. Making the Ubuntu Partition Bootable

      • Install Ubuntu: Use something like the Startup Disk Creator on Ubuntu to install Ubuntu onto your designated partition.
      • Bootloader Setup: Install GRUB onto the USB drive. You can do this by booting from the live USB, opening a terminal, and running: 
        sudo grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sdX

        Replace sdX with your USB drive (check with lsblk).

      4. Configure GRUB

      • Add entries for your other partitions by editing the grub.cfg file found in the /boot/grub/ directory. You’ll want to specify the partitions and kernels for the OS tools you’ve set up.

      5. Testing the USB Drive

      • Reboot your computer and select the USB drive as the boot device.
      • Check if all the partitions are showing up and functional. If something doesn’t work, don’t hesitate to redo the format and reboot!

      Additional Tips

      • If things go wrong, remember you can always reformat the drive and try again.
      • You might also look into using tools like YUMI or Rufus for easier multi-boot setups.

      Good luck! Just take it step by step, and you’ll get there. It’s all about trial and error at this point!


    2. To set up a USB drive with multiple partitions that can boot Ubuntu along with additional tools or operating systems, you’ll first need to partition the drive correctly using a tool like GParted. Start by launching GParted and selecting your USB drive. Create a primary partition for Ubuntu, preferably formatted as ext4, which is optimal for Linux systems. This partition should be at least 8GB in size, but you might want to allocate more depending on your needs. Leave some space unallocated for other operating systems, then create additional partitions as needed. For recovery tools or lightweight distros, you can create another partition formatted as FAT32, ensuring wide compatibility. Remember to apply the changes before proceeding.

      After partitioning, you can create a bootable Ubuntu drive using applications like Rufus or Etcher, which can write the ISO to your ext4 partition. If you’re working with the command line, you would need to employ tools like ‘dd’ or ‘grub-install’ to configure the bootloader correctly. If you choose to use ‘syslinux’ or ‘grub’, make sure to install it to the USB drive’s boot sector and make it aware of the partitions you created. For grub, you will need a configuration file (grub.cfg) that specifies the boot options for each operating system. Make sure the USB drive’s boot priority is set correctly in your BIOS/UEFI settings for the best results when plugging in the drive to boot into your desired system.

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