Linux Install & setup

Create a Linux live USB

Build a trusted live USB for installs and recovery — without wiping the wrong disk.

11 min read Beginner Updated 9 Jun 2026
Linux library Start the guide

Step-by-step guide

Work through each section in order. Stop when your issue is resolved — you do not need every step for every situation.

Warning

Use a sudo-capable account, keep shell history for audit, and back up critical paths before changing boot, SSH, or package state.

What you will achieve

Build a trusted live USB for installs and recovery — without wiping the wrong disk.

1) Verify ISO checksum before writing

sha256sum ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso

2) Write USB from Ubuntu with GNOME Disks or balenaEtcher

Pick the correct target device; this operation erases the USB completely.

3) Boot test in UEFI mode

Use one-time boot menu and confirm the live session starts before relying on the stick for recovery.

iso linux live usb

Related guides

Continue with these next if you are building a fuller setup or troubleshooting path.

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Install Ubuntu Desktop (step by step)
A safe default path for installing Ubuntu Desktop on a dedicated machine — with partitioning warnings and first-boot verification.
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