Guide to Automatically Boot Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon from a USB Drive

How to Automatically Boot Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon from a USB Drive

Introduction

With the versatility and accessibility of Linux Mint, many users prefer to run it from a USB drive rather than an internal hard drive. This guide will walk you through the steps to automatically boot Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon from a USB drive without going through the BIOS menu each time. This is particularly useful for users who want a quick and easy boot process. However, it's also important to note that installing Linux Mint on a partition of your hard drive can provide better performance, security, and space utilization.

Boot Manager Settings

To automatically boot from a USB drive, you need to adjust the boot manager settings in your BIOS. The process is straightforward and involves moving the USB drive option to the top of the boot priority list.

Step 1: Open Boot Preference

First, you will need to open the boot manager settings. This is usually found in the BIOS or UEFI settings, which can be accessed by pressing a specific key during startup, such as F2, F10, or Del.

Step 2: Move USB Drive to Top Priority

Once in the boot manager settings, you will see a list of available boot options. Note the position of your USB drive, which should be the USB Drive or External Storage entry. Move this entry to the top of the list before your primary hard drive. This ensures that the USB drive is the first to be checked when the system boots.

Step 3: Save and Exit

After moving the USB drive to the top priority, save your changes and exit the BIOS settings. Your changes will take effect the next time you boot your computer.

Boot from USB Drive

To test if the USB drive is now set as the primary boot device, plug in the USB drive and reboot your computer. The system should automatically boot from the USB drive without needing to enter the BIOS settings. If this does not happen, double-check the BIOS settings to ensure the USB drive is at the top of the boot priority list.

Possible Issues

1. BIOS Doesn’t Support Booting from USB

If your BIOS or UEFI does not support booting from a USB drive, you will need to create a bootable DVD instead. This can be done by burning the Linux Mint ISO to a DVD using a DVD burning software on another computer or using a USB drive that is recognized for booting, such as a flash drive formatted as FAT32 and then used for creating a bootable DVD.

2. USB Booting Doesn't Work

If after moving the USB drive to the top priority in the boot manager and rebooting, the system still doesn't boot from the USB drive, ensure that:

The USB drive is properly connected and recognized by the system. The BIOS boot manager settings are correctly set to prioritize the USB drive. The USB drive is formatted correctly and contains a bootable Linux Mint ISO file.

Problems with booting from USB can also be caused by software incompatibility or hardware issues. In such cases, it may be necessary to use a different USB drive or USB port.

Suggested Alternatives

Install Linux Mint on a Partition

While booting from a USB drive offers convenience, installing Linux Mint on a partition of your hard drive offers several advantages:

Better Performance: An installed system generally runs faster than one that is booted from an external device. Security: An installed system can be more secure as it has direct access to the system's resources. Space Management: Installing Linux Mint on a partition allows for more efficient use of your hard drive space.

Installing Linux Mint on a partition can be a more complex process, but most Linux distributions, including Linux Mint, provide easy-to-follow instructions for this task.

Conclusion

Automatically booting Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon from a USB drive is a straightforward process that can offer a variety of advantages. However, it's important to consider the trade-offs and potential issues involved. Installing Linux Mint on a partition may be a better long-term solution if you want to avoid frequent USB drive issues and achieve better system performance and security.

Keywords

Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon Desktop Boot from USB

For further information and support, consult the official Linux Mint documentation or seek advice from the Linux Mint community forums.