how do i make a live usb stick

my bros computer has no cd rom drive and is about to meet it's demise (heaven knows what he uses it for but whatever it is, its making it show the blue screen of death every now and then

 

If the PC can boot from USB, try Moolux or study the tutorials here.

 

what would happen if i copied all of the contents of the live cd and pasted them on the usb drive

 

Nothing, you need to make the USB stick bootable first, I think.

 

oh i thought so

what is the file that makes the stick bootable

 

Moolux uses the HP formatting tool.

There are many other methods, you need to explore those earlier links and find a distro and method that is comfortable for you.

 

very easy

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

i run the knoppix bootable usb with a persistent /home

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-knoppix-510/

takes about 10 mins

(ooops - same as satrow)

 

well i am considering using ubuntu, or pclinuxos, when i make the usb stick, will a live usb act like a live cd as in, it will display a trial of the desktop before you install it

 

this is perfect then, just whenever my little brothers laptop crashes i might install it (lucky dude he has a laptop at age 12, i wish i had one when i was his age)

also he has a little acer laptop without a cd drive, will th cam at the top of the screen work after i install linux, also his friend has an asus laptop without a cd drive as well, will that cam work too

 

can't see why not,

but i would try the usb way first, just to test - or are you planning the full install

 

after i see which ditro my bro likes, then I'll consider doing the full install but if not hes stuck with the blue screen of death

can i use unetbootin to mke the live usb from the iso cd image i already have saved