Easy Full Install USB that Boots both BIOS and UEFI

Question

I need a method of creating a Full install USB that boots both BIOS and UEFI.

Full install USB's have advantages over Persistent USB's as shown here: Running live usb on 2 different PC's

I want to be able to carry my customized Ubuntu 20.04 OS around with me and boot it off any x86-64 computer that meets Ubuntu minimum spec's.

I have seen a few methods of creating a Full install USB, but they are either not simple or do not boot BIOS and UEFI. The use of an image file seems like the best method.

Answer 1

Install Ubuntu from a Pre-built Image File.

This is another version of sudodus answer in step by step format.

If working in Windows:

• Download Image File: dd_unb_ubuntu-20.04_15GB_2020-06-26.img.xz from mkusb Index of /isos/linux-tools/uefi-n-bios at https://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/uefi-n-bios/?C=M;O=D Download Link: https://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/uefi-n-bios/dd_unb_ubuntu-20.04_15GB_2020-06-26.img.xz Link to MD5SUM's: https://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/uefi-n-bios/md5sum.txt.asc

• Download Rufus*: https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v3.11/rufus-3.11.exe

• Etcher may also be used to flash the image: https://www.balena.io/etcher/

• Double click Rufus .exe file.

• Select USB drive as Target drive in Rufus.

• Select above Image File in Rufus.

• Click Rufus start button.

• Wait for flashing to complete... Done.

• Password is "changeme", change it

The USB drive should boot on almost any modern X86-64 computer.

Thanks to sudodus for the image file.

In Windows it may be necessary to install 7Zip before proceeding. Rufus and Etcher will use it when working with the .xz image: https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z1900-x64.exe

If working in Ubuntu: you can use mkusb, Disks or Etcher to flash the USB drive. If using mkusb, select option "c" Cloning iso file... for flashing the image to disk. P7zip may be needed to extract the .xz image with Disks or Etcher.