Install Linux from an USB-drive?

[svarreby]

I have some distros that I'd like to testdrive on one of my laptops. These distros cause a kernel panic or the installation program can't find the DVD-drive (!?!?).

Is it possible to use a USB attached drive to install these linux distros?

If YES, what commands should I execute?

[Hayl]

totally dependant on if your BIOS can boot from the USB drive or not... i would think that most hardware can not do it.

[aNoob]

Well,I have a 4-5 years old Aopen mobo and I was sure it couldn't boot from USB devices because I didn't see any option in BIOS. However last year I have updated the bios and now I get 3 more options in my boot device (USB FDD , USB HDD , USB CD) plus Zip drive.
Which makes me think that HW might be old , but with an up2date BIOS things may change.Radically.

[Hayl]

very cool