How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key?

Posted by badp on Ask Ubuntu See other posts from Ask Ubuntu or by badp
Published on 2010-12-11T19:20:00Z Indexed on 2011/01/31 15:33 UTC
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installation

|

usb

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11.04

If you are hurrying to reply, System ? Administration ? StartUp Disk Creator -- no, that's not what I'm talking about.

I want to try Ubuntu 11.04's Unity without touching my existing Ubuntu install.

To do this, I need to install the nVidia drivers first (sigh).

To do this, I need changes to persist a reboot.

To do this, I need to really install Ubuntu on a USB key.

How do you do that?

What I tried

I tried to make a USB key from Testdrive, then boot from it, then choose "Install Ubuntu." The installer refused to install to the installation media itself.
I tried, from my installed copy of Ubuntu:
```
sudo kvm /dev/sdb --cdrom .cache/testdrive/iso/ubuntu_natty-desktop-i386.iso
```
...but the installer didn't detect the disk properly.

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