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brkroot
Asked: 2019-03-18 06:58:53 +0800 CST

How to Install Ubuntu on MicroSD

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I bought MicroSD SanDisk PRO V30 A2 128 GB to which I would like to install Ubuntu 18.04 (is it possible to install linux on it?)

Currently I have Ubuntu 18.04 on a USB (SanDisk 32GB). I also have Windows 10 on the eMMC drive (only 32GB)

So now, Ubuntu doesn't read the new microSD. I tried on Windows 10 and reads it and found out there is only two options to be formated to: NTFS and exFAT.

What should I do to make this MicroSD be compatible with Ubuntu so I can install it.

boot partitioning usb micro-sd

4 Answers

  1. In most cases the running operating system will see and read an SD card. But it is 'more difficult' for the computer's early stages during boot, the UEFI/BIOS system, to see the SD card and be able to boot from it.

    • Most computers can boot from an SD card, which is connected via a USB adapter. But some computers and adapters are not compatible for booting.
    • Some computers (far from all) can boot from an SD card, which is connected via a built-in slot (typical in laptops).

    If you fail to boot from your SD card, you can try with an[other] USB adapter, but you have better chances to succeed, if you get a fast USB 3 pendrive with at least 16 GB according to this link,

    help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick#Notes_about_speed

    When installing, it is easiest to

    • Create a live USB drive by cloning from the Ubuntu iso file to a USB pendrive, which can be small and cheap, for example a USB 2 drive with 4 GB.

    • Disconnect the internal drive.

      • It is often but not always possible to do via a UEFI/BIOS menu.
      • You can try to unplug it physically
      • If none of these methods work, you can borrow another computer for this task, a computer, where you can disconnect the internal drive.

    • It may also work if you

      • check the flags on EFI system partition of the internal drive (in linux with the tool gparted, in Windows there are also tools for it).
      • Make a note on a paper
      • Remove the flags on EFI system partition of the internal drive

      • ... and after the installation is finished, restore the flags according to the note on paper

      • But I have never used this method, and cannot guarantee that it will not damage the internal drive. Therefore you had better make a fresh backup of the operating system in that drive (Windows) before following this route.

    • 4

  2. Use usb mico sd Card reader, and plug in to usb ports , So you can boot to your sd card

    And format your mico sd card to fat32 ,I try it in all format , only fat32 and ext format can run live usb stable

    This is my tip use universal usb for making live Ubuntu usb

    I hope i can answer your questions

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  3. As far as I know it should be as installing on a normal partition of your disk. You have an USB which is your live USB, and you have an SD card which is your "partition".

    1. Boot from the USB with ubuntu installed like normal (while the SD card is plugged in too).
    2. When you get to the install screen of Ubuntu and you need to chose how to install, chose "something else".
    3. Now you will arrive at a screen with a lot of partitions, look for you SD card, right click and click "change". Chose file system as ext4.
    4. You should now be able to click install.
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  4. You need to format the SD card with either guiformat (which is a simple no install exe) or SD Card Formatter from the SD Card Association. Your problem is that you can't format FAT32 on a SD card that's over 32gb on windows natively. Lot's of info about using SD cards on the RaspberryPi sites.

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