If you don't have a CD writer or want to try Linux on a machine that doesn't have a CD reader -- such as an ultra-portable laptop -- you might find yourself stuck. The solution is to download UNetbootin (the Universal Netboot Installer) and create your own bootable images on a USB drive.

Coming in a variety of download packages for both Linux and Windows, UNetbootin simplifies the process of creating live-booting USB drives for a huge variety of distributions. (It can also install to local hard disk drives.) With no interim CD required, UNetbootin works directly from the .ISO image file. All you have to do is tell it which distribution and release number you want from a couple of drop-down lists. It'll handle everything from Arch Linux to Zenwalk, or you can customise the Kernel, Initrd and Boot Options settings manually.


Simply select the distribution, release number, image file and USB drive
to use, and UNetbootin will build a bootable distribution on it.

Just getting rid of the need to burn a CD for every distribution I want to try makes UNetbootin an essential tool in my ever-expanding Linux toolbox.


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