Booting from USB

[Qqmike]

if push comes to shove, save a download to a usb

Yep. Just determine which USB is the USB being used to save such data (during your live session), especially if your live session is coming from another USB.

In live session
run
lsblk
study it;
insert another USB (your "data" USB) into your PC/laptop;
run
lsblk
study it;
and that should tell you which USB is which.
Or, do some-such monkey-motion to accomplish same.

[Qqmike]

And the usual related logistics (= monkey-motion) applies.

Say your live USB is sdb. In your live session (coming from the sdb USB) you insert your "data" USB, say it is sdc.
When you are done with the live session, try to safely remove sdc, using the usual "device-notifier" widget-whatever in the tray.

Fall back option: You end your live session, but for some reason you do not safely remove the data USB sdc.
You have selected "exit" from the K-Menu or whatever menu.
You wait until you see the message on the screen saying, Please remove your USB and hit return to continue.
When you see that message, you remove sdb.
You can leave your data USB, sdc, inserted.
Your PC re-boots to whatever OS you wish to boot to.
sdc is still plugged in: it shouldn't affect any of your booting because it is only a data USB, there is no MBR, EFI, or booting mechanism on it.
And then, whenever you want, you can remove that sdc, preferably by a "safely remove" action, but it is probably already safe to just pull it (unless some OS mounted it, inadvertently).

[logan01]

Um, thanks.

[Qqmike]

The subtle point is this: You really don't have to actually do anything now with any USB. Just read the above, imagine it, mentally run a simulation in your brain of you doing stuff with these USBs. That oughta do it. Even saves money, not having to buy anything. It's hot here, really hot ...

[logan01]

The subtle point is this: You really don't have to actually do anything now with any USB. Just read the above, imagine it, mentally run a simulation in your brain of you doing stuff with these USBs. That oughta do it. Even saves money, not having to buy anything. It's hot here, really hot ...

You're hitting my big button. I love visualization. If your up in the badlands, why does your "local time" show you overseas?

[Qqmike]

Fixed that!

[logan01]

Oh good. I figured it was the site and not the member time zone setting. Glad to see you're back in the U.S.