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Problem: The HP X2 has only one USB drive port. Need to boot and run Ubuntu from a USB and have the data persist (e.g. not just a standard LiveUSB)

Solution:

1) Have:

  • a Bootable DVD with Ubuntu on it.
  • USB DVD drive
  • USB to be destroyed
  • Powered USB hub

2) Boot with the USBHub+DVD+USB-DVD.  Do not put in the USB drive yet.

3) Select "Try Ubuntu"

4) Insert USB into USBhub and observe the /dev/XXX assigned. (In this case it was /dev/sda)

5) Click the "Install Ubuntu" icon and when it gets to selecting the drive, choose two very important options (1) Choose /dev/XXX and use the entire disk. Make sure to NOT select the drive that has windows installed on it. (2) Choose /dev/XXX for where to install the bootloader (grub).

6) When all is done, remove the DVD, disconnect the hub, and insert the USB into the machine directly. On boot you will get /dev/XXX for Ubuntu and also an option to boot into the Windows system on the drive on the HP X2.