The guys at PLUS LIST have put together a wiki (see below) on building a server using USB as primary boot devices.  I have successfully built 2 servers using their method.  Their method is most likely overkill for your needs but you could use it as a base for the manual install.

http://tagcose.com/wiki/InstallDebian

I have also built a couple boxes using USB drives running Ubuntu 10.04 pre UEFI boot.  As I recall it was as easy as going through the std install but choosing to manually setup the disk partitions. 

Since the box is going to be used for non - mission critical stuff you might just try the automated install using Ubuntu 12.04.  If everything is working on the USB just make a backup of the new system to a second USB using dd if/when due to swap your Initial USB get hosed.

On Apr 24, 2014 8:36 PM, "AZ Pete" <plug@cactusfamily.com> wrote:

I would probably prefer a USB. I have lots of them laying around in sizes ranging from 1Gb to  16Gb.
Any sites that explain how to install Linux to a USB drive such that the system would view it as a hard drive?
Thanks!
Peter

On 4/24/2014 4:58 PM, Stephen Partington wrote:

There are a few ways to do this, from installing to the USB as if it were a hard drive. or setting up a livecd with persistence (this would pair well with a load to ram option for the livcd)

just depends on how big a Thumb drive you have, and how much persistence you want.

On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 4:36 PM, AZ Pete <plug@cactusfamily.com> wrote:

Hi All,

I have a spare desktop computer and monitor sitting in the garage that I want to set up for my 10 year old son, but it doesn't have a hard drive. I'd rather not have to buy another hard drive (even though they are pretty cheap).

I've read somewhere that Linux can be run from a USB flash drive. Since all this PC would be used for is general web surfing and web-based flash games, I thought that this would be a viable solution. It's about a 3 year old machine so the CPU and RAM are quite adequate.

Can anyone point me to some resources on how to set this up?

This PC doesn't have USB 3.0, will USB 2.0 be fast enough?


Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter

 

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