Detailed (newbie) instructions? - was [Re: running Ubuntu off USB stick and retaining settings?]

[Richard Owlett]

Nils Kassube wrote:
> stan wrote:
>> How can I set up a USB stick so that I can boot my machine into
>> Ubuntu off of it, and preserve setings changes I amke while running
>> fo the next reboot?
>
> You can install Ubuntu to the USB stick like an installation on the
> harddisk. Then your settings should be preserved over reboots. But make
> a backup of your data on the USB stick first, because you should format
> it with ext2/3/4 during the installation. An advantage over a live USB
> system is update the system and that you can also install additional
> packages and if needed.
>
>
> Nils
>

I tried to do that a few months ago and got lost.
My desktop now has Maverick in a dual boot with WinXP Pro (file 
system is NTFS) as my primary OS. I found instructions for an 
older version (8.x???) that implied it could be done. But as a 
NEWBIE I need instructions that explicitly state that they are 
suitable for the version I'm using. What I've got now is whatever 
happens when you use a live cd to create a dual boot situation.

What I want is a USB with all OS, program, and data files.
I'd like to be able to carry it from machine to machine.
One of the target machines disk is FAT32. There will be some data 
files which will reside on only one of the machines.

Is my question clear enough?
TIA