Frequently Asked Questions

Does the computer I use this on need to have Microsoft Windows installed?

Yes. We created our pen drives this way for multiple reasons. First, some computers won't boot from a usb drive, so what good is an OS on a pen drive if you can't boot to it? Second, almost any PC you come across will have Microsoft Windows installed. Even most people who use Linux duel boot Windows (again, we said most). Third, sometimes it's just down right rude to reboot someone's computer. With a PenLinux drive you will never have to reboot.

Can I make changes to the Ubuntu system on a PenLinux drive and will they be saved?

Of course! That's one of the greatest things about them! Any changes you make will be saved. If you install new software, it will be there the next time you load the drive. We accomplish this by making use of Ubuntu's persistent mode (this is why we use Ubuntu 6.10, newer versions of Ubuntu don't have a working persistent mode at this time).

Is it fast? I tried a LiveCD once and it was SLOOOW.

The boot time is normally going to be a little slower than a liveCD, but once it loads it's normally a little faster than a liveCD. It's nothing to worry about... it's definitely fast enough :)

What about PC requirements?

You will need a computer running Windows with at least 256MB of RAM (the more RAM the better).

How much space is free on the drive? How much space does the Ubuntu install take up?

Ubuntu takes up 750MB. The other 1GB+ (depending on what size you buy) is a separate partition which is used to store your files and install new programs.

In that case, if I like it can I install it to my hard drive?

You sure can. Just navigate to your flash drive and find the ubuntu.iso file, copy it to your Windows desktop and burn it to a CD. Then reboot your computer using the newly burnt CD and install away.

What if I no longer want to use the pen drive as a Linux Desktop, can it be used as a normal usb flash drive?

Yep. Just format it and use it as a normal flash drive.

Why did you pick Ubuntu? I want one with [insert distro here].

Well, Ubuntu works out of the box for most people. It's persistent mode allows you to save your changes... and their support is second to none. Just check out their forum: www.ubuntu.com

Can I upgrade the Ubuntu 6.10 version on the pen drive to the latest Ubuntu release?

NO. You could do it, but you would break the persistent mode that allows you to save changes. If and when the fine people at Ubuntu fix the problems with persistent mode and the newer versions, we will use the newer versions... but again, at this time please do not upgrade Ubuntu if you want to be able to save changes.