Saturday, August 26, 2017

How to make a Linux Live USB with a 2nd, Windows-readable partition for storage


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This article is a "Notes to Self" article. That means I wrote it for my own personal reference and use, with myself as the target audience during drafting, but decided to post it here because I believe it is useful to others too, and I want to reach as many people as possible, not just me. 

Ever wanted to have a bootable Linux USB flash drive with a separate, Windows-readable partition for general file storage? Here's how.

By Gabriel Staples
Written: 26-27 May 2016
Posted online: 26 Aug 2017
Updated: 26 Aug 2017

The Gist of it/The super short version:
-for the experienced Linux user
  1. Use gparted on a Linux computer to make 2 FAT32 partitions on the thumb drive. The partition created first must be for storage, while the 2nd one must be for the Linux distro you are putting on the Live USB.
  2. Use UNetbootin on a Linux computer to install your iso file for the Live USB onto the 2nd partition you just made above.
  3. Done. You can now boot from the USB thumb drive, from its 2nd partition, while its 1st partition only is readable and usable by Windows still (as well as by Linux or Mac too of course).


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