USB Boot Vs Dual Boot

Why would anyone want to run 2 or more operating systems on 1 machine?

1. To be able to do more using 2 different operating systems?
2. To be able to work around the restrictions imposed by the IT department?
3. To keep private data private?

Yes all that and probably more reasons that will allow mobile workers to unlock the potential of the machine that they carry around with them while on the move.

Whatever the reason you probably have one since you are still reading this.

I am going to concentrate on the possible ways of doing just that: running another operating system on top of the one that has been preinstalled on your PC.

There are at least 4 ways of doing that and each has its advantages and disadvantages. So here is the list:

- Dual boot
- Virtual Machine
- Live CD
- Boot from a USB key or another USB media

1) Dual Boot is probably the most "ancient" practice of them all.

Advantages: provides full access to bare metal

Disadvantages: set up may be tricky, requires repartitioning of the local HD which goes against the IT department policies

2) Virtual Machine is one of the latest and hottest technologies.

Advantages: can run more than 2 operating systems at the same time

Disadvantages: in a locked down environment admin rights are necessary to install Virtualization software, no direct access to the computer hardware

3) Live CD has been around for a while and is a good way of starting another operating system without any intrusion on the one preinstalled.

Advantages: every PC has a CD (DVD) - ROM and booting from it is usually allowed

Disadvantages: while using the operating system if any data needs to be saved - need write access to the local hard drive on the laptop, burning data back onto the CD/DVD is not possible.

4) Which brings us to the topic of this article: booting from USB

Now this is relatively new and has been used by geeks mainly so far but there is no reason why this should not become main stream.

Advantages: full access to bare metal, no footprint on the preinstalled operating system, personal data can be stored directly on booting media (USB key), data can be encrypted to protect against possible loss of the media

Disadvantages: IT can disable USB boot function, a small item such as a USB key can be easily lost or misplaced, but with the current prices on these the loss is not really a big deal and the data should be regularly backed up in a safe place and possibly encrypted for security.

It is not absolutely necessary to boot into another operating system for personal data protection.

There is a possibility to run applications from USB flash media such as a Web Browser and an e-mail client, this way all the browsing history, e-mails and other personal data stays on the key and will not be accessible to your IT department.

Some more tips on the subject are available from http://usb-flash-boot.blogspot.com maintained by the author.

Just another geek.
Please visit my blog
http://usb-flash-boot.blogspot.com

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