boot drive

Hello
I want to boot into Ubuntu on a flash drive occasionally but usually I boot into Windows.
Should I use the F12 key each time I want Ubuntu and select USB or go to the Bios and set the boot order to USB at the top there?
I ask because I do not know what happens if the boot order is set in the Bios as to regular booting up. Most peole who use this pc will not want Ubuntu but just want Windows.
Thank you
Peter

 

Hello
I have tried pendrivelinux.com and unetbootin to install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS in a flashdrive. Each time it quickly jumps to run from usb drive before I can touch it when I set boot with F12 to usb.
Then after about ten seconds it seems to freeze. I have to hard boot.
I have formatted the 4GB stick and set it to 2 GB.
I have tried to solve this and GRUB 2 has been mentioned in some of the readings but I know nothing about it.
I do not know why I cannot intstall Ubuntu but wouldd very much like to be able to use it but not install it in my pc.
It would be handy if the pc would not boot.
Why can't the flash drive work?
Peter

 

>>By 2 GB and 4GB I mean that in unetbootin I believe, there was a place where you had to enter the size you want to allocate and I chose 2 GB out of the $GB on my stick.
Also, Thank you for the referral. I had heard about it but could not find it.

 

>>The last thing I do is to restart the pc and when black,I tap F12 and hilite the boot order to usb and hit enter.
That is the way, correct?

 

As recomended I tried both Lili and Imgburn.
The latter told me to run at 10x's to succeed.

Again. OI get a brownish page for a nanosecond then the screen becomes black with alot of data.
I have to hard boo to escape.

I really would like to use Ubuntu and am open toother ideas.
The stick and disc have failed.
Thank you
Peter

 

It seems your computer does not like Ubuntu. Perhaps you can try a different distribution of Linux such as Linux Mint which is based on Ubuntu but a slightly different interface.

If you got the black screen with lots of data then your CD or USB did boot and started Linux but it never got to the desktop because of hardware incompatibilities. You may fare better with a different version of Linux.

 

I will have to consider that.
I joined the Ubuntu forum and if they resolve this, I will report back for others.

 

>>Thank you,Plodr, for jumping in with that comment. I though it was me. I would like to have a stick in case the machine woud not start although I have other ways. But mainly, I would love to 'mess around' with another O.S.
Luckily,I think, I have finally joined the Ubuntu forum and they are looking into my case. If i find out anything that may help you, I will be sure to pass it along.
I did so much investigating and attempting that I was really getting discouraged.
I used the web, other forums, and to be honest, unless you directly install Ubuntu, I think alot of people have trouble making a stick/disc they can use to boot into Ubuntu.
Stay well,
Peter

 

>>Hi Plodr
I wanted you to know that the iso file from Ubuntu's site12.04 worked in the laptop but not on the desktop. I used a dvd-rw.
Any idea what is wrong with the desktop?
Boot in the BIOS?
Peter

 

Is the first one in the bios 'hard' or cd/dvd?
I wonder if I swithced to cd/dvd first, it would work?