Bootable USB - Linux Problems (Ubuntu)

[spurtniq]

I spend a LOT of time reinstalling Linux.

Part of it may be because I'm currently working with Lucid Lynx
which is currently coming out of Beta (Release Candidate just
released). Part of it is because of what I'm finding out about
install options.

I've been using Fat32 on anywhere from a 4 GB drive up to
a 16GB drive. The options are always the same - up to 4GB
total (from Live CD - Startup Creator Disk). In reading about
this, I find it's because, while a Partition can be much larger,
File size limits are 4GB using Fat 32.

And I don't seem to have an option of using something other
than Fat32. I've seen some information on NTFS, but not
a bootable NTFS USB and as I understand it, there's some
tradeoffs in using NTFS as well.

There's Swiss Army Knife software out there which allows for
Fat32 formats considerably larger than 4GB, but, of no use
if such a partition is not recognized as a bootable partition.
And it may involve some kind of work around which would
only complicate rather than streamline the process. Haven't
heard of anyone using this method.

Basic question is, with a 4GB limit, when I add in ALL
software sources then do something simple like customize Firefox,
add Google Chrome, and then Update / Upgrade my system for
example, adding VLC 1.0.1 pre and Nautilus Elementary 2.30,
before I'm done, my system has maxed out its available space,
bombed out, system trashed, won't reboot, reformat, reinstall.

What's the best possible method of properly configuring a USB
boot to avoid these problems. Awfully frustrating to have ALL
this space available and keep bumping up against these limitations.

It's as though my USB drive has been put on a diet and had it's
available space stapled at 4GB. No matter what I do I keep
bumping up against it.

What are my best options???

Anyone?

[coopstah13]

if you use the USB solely for linux, then you should have no problem using ext3 filesystem on it instead of fat

[twoHats]

I agree with coopstah13, but if you (for some reason) need to keep the MS file system, you could put (say) /usr on a different partition on the pendrive and edit /etc/fstab to mount it.

[spurtniq]

Thanx all.

Figured out how to boot the USB from ext3.

Only problem is, it now loads from the Dual Boot system
(I think it's "GRUB") menu off the laptop's HD.

What's the best way to configure it as a standalone
boot?

Thanx