Installing a “Complete Operating System” in a USB Drive

I have always thought that It would be nice if I could take my USB Drive with the entire OS with all my Applications and Files in it.

Is that even possible??

The Answer is Yes.

The Steps are easy and would be even easy if you have prior experience in installing an Operating System in some PC.

The Steps are Simple and as follows :

1. Get two USB Drives.

This is the first and the foremost thing and this also where I made my mistake. We need two USB Drives which are correspondingly for flashing the live OS, which can be a 8GB Drive in most cases and 16GB Drive in very few Cases, we will call this as the “Source” Drive from now on and for Installing the Actual OS, I would suggest to go with 128GB or Higher, we will call this as “Destination” Drive from now on.

2. Download the .iso file.

This is One of the important step in this process. This is because some popular Linux Flavours such as Kali Linux have a Seperate .iso file for Virtualisation. So make sure you download the correct .iso file of the Operating System.

3. Flashing the OS to Source Drive.

Now there are variety of tools for flashing the OS to a Drive. Here we are using Etcher from Balena.

Etcher Download link: https://www.balena.io/etcher/

After Downloading and Installing Etcher, Open Etcher. Now Select the .iso File by clicking “Flash from Disk” or “Select image” button. After Selcting the .iso file Click on Select Drive Button. Now Choose the Source Drive. Now Click on Flash.

This Step will take some time, so sit back and relax.

4. Installing the OS to Destination Drive.

To Start with this Step, First Shutdown the System and Plug in the Source and Destination Drives. Now Power on the System to BIOS mode.Usually this can be done by repeatedly pressing F2 key during Powering on the system.

You will end up in the BIOS screen. Turn off Secure Boot after Setting a BIOS Administrator Password.

Now Save and Exit the BIOS Screen.

This time when the System is booting, Enter into the Boot menu. This is usually done by repeatedly pressing F12 Key (atleast in my Nitro 5).

Please Note that the Key for Entering into the BIOS Mode and the Key for Entering the Boot Menu may differ depending on the system you are using.

(A Simple Google Search will reveal the same).

Now in the Boot Menu select the Source Drive.

Hurray!! You booted into your new Operating System. Once you booted into the Operating System you will be asked whether you are here to try or install the Operating System.

Obviously Click on Install. Now Instead of Full Installation click on Custom Installation. The next screen you will be asked to Choose the Drive you wish to Install the Operating System. Here, Select the Destination Drive and Complete the Installation Process.

Once you are done, Shutdown the Operating System. Remove the Source Drive. But keep the Destination Drive Connected now again turn on the System and Enter into the Boot menu. But this time select the Destination Drive. If you have done everything right. You should be booted from the Destination Drive.

That was the Whole Process of installing a complete Operating System into a Pendrive.

Hope you guys liked it!!