It is normal to see a computer with its respective operating system. However, this way is not the only way to use a computerbecause even when the hard disk is not working, it can be used through this peculiar technique.
The mystery is using live USBs, too known as Live-USB. This is probably the first time you’ve heard of an operating system that can be installed on a removable drive, but even if it’s new to you, It is a technique that takes time among experts.
So that you are nourished and learn everything about installing these systems on USB, we have written this special article for you. Here we will teach you from its basic conceptuntil its classification Knowing is power!
What is a Live-USB and what is this type of removable device for?
Live-USB devices are a type of removable memorywhich contains an operating system that runs from it and as if it were an OS installed from a hard drive. The name in Spanish means live USB, this refers to the fact that you do not need to install an operating system on a hard drive for it to run. This is the big difference with the Booted USB. Most of the operating systems that come with the Live distribution, they are from linux.
There are also some Windows ones, but are not entirely recommended since they contain many failures in their operation. A Live OS works like a normal operating system, with the difference that the documents that you save in it during use (logged in session), they will be removed and the system will remain as newly installedalthough there are some exceptions. Nevertheless, this is not the only application or detail of this OS Livesince there are other interesting options that we will explain.
Types of Live-USB How are these types of removable disks classified?
The Live-USB They are classified according to the type of distribution use.
If you want to know a little about the classifications of these OS, in the following list we will show you what are their characteristics and conditions of these distros:
Slackware-based
- Wolvix: it can be used from a removable memory of 500 MB and is integrated with a management program known as Wolvix Control Panel and Xfce. The latter is a window manager.
- : This wonderful Live operating system can be installed on a 128 MB USB and has a large number of utilities for basic OS use.
- linux look: its weight is a little greater than the previous ones, requiring a 1 GB USB for its installation and it has an excellent range of tools.
- : Also known as the Network Auditor, you need at least 2 GB of USB storage to install it.
Debian-based
- sidux: This distro has a fairly clean and easy-to-use interface. Being a Debian distribution, it is guaranteed to work on almost all computers, even those where the hardware is newly released.
- ICABIAN: the number of programs and tools that are included in this distro allows you to enjoy a complete system. The great detail of this is the permission to save your files without being deleted when you close the session.
- : It can not only be installed on USB, but also on other removable disks such as DVD and SD. Known for its anonymous and secure browsing, thanks to the Tor utility.
Based on PC Linux OS
is another of Linux distributions that can be installed on USB not larger than 3 GB storage, like its derivatives. This operating system is based on the Mandriva structure and which is why it is considered one of the best SO Live.
Next, we will show you the four derivatives of this operating system:
- TinyMe: it requires a removable memory of 400 MB and is integrated with a powerful window manager, known as KDE.
- PC Fluxbox OS: its architecture is based on TinyMe, but a bit lighter. The window manager of this OS is called Fluxbox and it does not have many features to guarantee good performance.
- MiniME: it uses at least 900 MB memory and integrates with the KDE window manager. Like the previous OS, it has a fairly fast information processing speed.
- PC Linux OS Big Daddy: It is a variant of MiniME, although with a larger series of programs that improves the control panel and window manager. For this reason, its uncompressed weight is greater than 2 GB.
What are the requirements to create a Live-USB?
If we want to install or create a Live-USB, you must take into account a small list of essential requirements for the process to be completely successful:
- Computer with an operating system, preferably linux.
- flash drive greater than 2 GB, Although it depends on the operating system that is installed.
- another flash drive that we will use to turn it into a persistent Live-USB.
- A stable internet connection.
- A selected distro for Live-USB.
Uses of Live-USB What can I do with a device of this type?
As we discussed at the beginning of this article, Live-USBs have many uses.
Next, we will explain each of them:
Test USB for Linux
If you don’t want to have a Linux operating system on your computer, you can make use of the USB-Live to test this great system. USB-Lives are a perfect alternative for check the great virtues offered by Linux distributions or to learn how is the process in it.
file recovery
If the operating system you are using has some bugsand you need retrieve records or folders stored on the internal drive, you can use a USB-Live and recover them. Well it is true, that previously we mentioned that the USB-Live they auto format every time you log out, however, you should know that there are some exceptions.
If you use one of these operating systems that we mentioned earlier in the Live-USB classification, by simply dragging the folder/file and dropping it in the new location, this being the removable memory, you can save all the information you are handling. For this you can also make use of great toolssuch as TestDisk and the great Trinity Rescue.
Find and solve hardware problems
All operating systems have problems in the configuration or accumulation of errors. These, when not taken into account, can cause system crashes for what is needed solve these problems. The fastest solution for this type of work is to use a USB-Livesince it can run with an operating system and find each other’s mistakes.
Search for virus threats
Most of the that infect Windows systems, they can’t run on Linux. For this reason, the fastest way to remove an infection is to use a USB-Live from any Linux distro. The process consists of constantly transferring files and deleting those that you know are infected. However, if you think this process is quite complicated, you can make use of programs like ClamAV, BitDefender or AVGwho do all the work for you.
recover passwords
If you have forgotten the password of our Windows, and you can’t find how to solve the problem, with the simple use of a USB-Live we can solve the problem. The process consists in the insertion of the flash drive and run Linux system. Then we install chntpw so that proceed password recovery.
Browse anonymously
Thanks to the fact that they exist some of the distros that don’t save no files or data on the USB-Live, you can surf the internet leaving no trace of searches or activities in the browser.
OS installation types on Live-USB Compressed or Complete? Which is better?
In this last section, we will explain the differences that exist between an OS installation on Live-USB, compressed and complete.
We will also show you some of its advantages and disadvantages that will help you decide which is the most convenient for you:
compressed
Compressed OS installations on Live-USBs they are easy to make and its compressed format allows you to enjoy a series of applications and tools, occupying a small space. Updating this type of installation is very easy. so much that can be compared to copy & paste of a file. You can characterize this installation as being one of the few that take up a minimal amount of spacewhere the minimum is 50MB.
On the other hand, the counterpart of this installation is that it is considered very difficult to install other software that is not originalor update app individually since they can generate some denials. Just as you can find installations with little space, there are also ones that take up more disk space, generally range from 700 MB to 4 GB. Also, it is considered almost flash memory write impossible since most of these OS can only be read.
There are few distributions of this type of installation that allow the saving of data, without being deleted when closing the system. being these the negative qualities of the compressed type. Despite the disadvantages that are presented, it can be do file updates in bulk, i.e. from the Kernel or another. Like install drivers of updated devices.
Like everything, whenever there are positive details, there are also negative ones:
- Install or update software. Only the tools determined by the system can be used.
- Create files or folders. Although there are some exceptions.
- Also unable to install linux from removable disk (USB) on the disk of our computer.
complete
Unlike the previous type of installation, with the complete you can update apps. The process is very simple and you don’t need to have high knowledge in computer science to do it. These updates include distributions that we have installed on our USB. Other features that you can appreciate of this system, is the full encryption. Also, if you want to customize you don’t need much effortsince window managers and applications have this function.
base facilities in general they are at least 200 MB, but there are some such small exceptions which occupy 40 MB and thanks to the possibility of saving applications and files, they can grow in size. As for its disadvantage, cannot solve extended tasks or complex, since it causes a collapse of the system. But It is something solvable if we use devices with large spaces storage, greater than or equal to 32 GB.
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