Create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk

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In this tutorial you will learn how to create a bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk. Two methods of bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk creation will be shown. To be specific we will be creating a bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB using any existing Ubuntu Desktop or by using command line on any GNU/Linux distribution.

In this tutorial you will learn:

Create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk

Create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk

Software Requirements and Conventions Used

Software Requirements and Linux Command Line Conventions
Category Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used
System Installed Ubuntu 20.04 or upgraded Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa
Software Startup Disk Creator, ddrescue
Other Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the sudo command.
Conventions # – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk step by step instructions

How to create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB using Ubuntu Desktop

If you are an existing Ubuntu Desktop system user then the easiest way to create a bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB stick is to use Startup Disk Creator.

  1. First step is to download the Ubuntu 20.04 ISO image. Select any desired desktop flavour whether it be Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu etc.

  2. Insert your USB stick which will be used to create the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk.

    WARNING – ALL DATA WILL BE IRREVERSIBLY DELETED
    Make sure to backup any data prior creating the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk.
  3. Use the Activities menu to start the Startup Disk Creator application

    Use the Activities menu to start the Startup Disk Creator application

  4. Select the Source disk image and Disk to use. Once ready hit the Make Startup Disk button.

    Select the Source disk image and Disk to use. Once ready hit the Make Startup Disk button.

    5. Once the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk creation process is completed, remove your disk. All done.

How to create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB from command line

Another alternative way to create a bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB stick is to use the ddrescue command. The advantage of this method is that it can be used on any existing GNU/Linux distribution and does not require GUI to be available as long as the ddrescue command is available.

  1. First step is to download the Ubuntu 20.04 ISO image. Select any desired desktop flavour whether it be Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu etc.

  2. Insert your USB stick which will be used to create the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk.

    WARNING – ALL DATA WILL BE IRREVERSIBLY DELETED
    Make sure to backup any data prior creating the the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk.
  3. Install the ddrescue command: 
    DEBIAN/UBUNTU
# apt install gddrescue 
CENTOS
# yum install ddrescue
  4. Locate your USB stick block device name: 
    $ sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sdX: 7.22 GiB, 7747397632 bytes, 15131636 sectors
Disk model: DataTraveler 2.0
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x00000000
  5. Use ddrescue to create the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk.

    For example if your usb block device name is called /dev/sdX and the downloaded Ubuntu 20.04 ISO image is named focal-desktop-amd64.iso then the command to create bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk will be:

    $ sudo ddrescue focal-desktop-amd64.iso /dev/sdX --force -D

    6. Once the bootable Ubuntu 20.04 USB startup disk creation process is completed, remove your disk. All done.

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