can i install linux onto an external drive? Portable Apps for linux

Question

my computer is a chromebook, and it has a linux beta option. I am having trouble installing linux and python onto my computer because it has limited amount of storage. Is it possible to download it all onto a usb?

Answer 1

Kirk Schafer ok, like that? thank you

Answer 2

Tony Stark [BUSY] um, to be honest idk. If it will be easiest to download onto a usb, sure. The pen drive looks like it might work. So i can use any usb, as long as its correctly formatted, and then by downloading the universal usb installer, it will have linux on it, which i could access from anywhere? not bad...

Answer 3

Paul ok, thanks for all your advice. I would install it internally, but my chromebook has limited space, so I had trouble installing it earlier. That's why I'm looking for alternative ideas. What's the benefit of a dual boot? I would still have problems with storage though I think

Answer 4

Paul I only have 1.6gb free right now, and thats after deleting all my pics and videos, so i think Ill try the pen drive and see how that works. Althouh i like the idea of a dual boot in the future. Thank you so much!

Answer 5

Just noting...a good search keyword for OS's on external media is: LiveUSB (related to LiveCD/DVD)

Live Linux on Chromebooks have mixed results but here's a reference if you go digging:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_USB

An alternative Linux distro for ChromeBooks (because it's lightweight, check the FAQ to see how much space it needs)
https://galliumos.org

And...because cache and unnecessary app data can be a big deal (caches grow into available space, which is different than _requiring_ that space, so it's useful to clear caches and see what you get back):
"Free Up Space on your Chromebook"
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1061547?hl=en

Answer 6

Thanks Kirk Schafer!

Answer 7

In addition to Tony Stark [BUSY]'s pending answer -- I assume it'll be something alive :) -- you may want to add:

"PortableApps for Linux"