How to install to boot from an external hard drive ?
Posts: 5
After using a Live CD for awhile, I decided I wanted to try install it to an external HD to have faster and easier operation. My Acer Laptop can be set to boot from an external USB device which is my second choice after the CD. I figured I can just plug in WD Passport external HD when I want to use linux and unplug it when I want to boot up Windows from the internal HD. Anyway that is my hope and plan? Will this work?
If so how can I get linux installed to external HD without installing grub to internal HD. Is it possible to get linux to boot up with installing grub on my internal HD which would be my preference, or else choose to locate it on the external HD if it is needed to boot up.
I think I have my external HD partitioned all right. I have a 12 GB boot section, / partiton of 15 GB and 1.2 GB swap. I tried to set swap up to 2 GB but I had lots of trouble with the partitioning and think I finally got it to work using a Mepis live CD. There is also 27 GB left in FAT32 which holds the Passport setup in case I want to use that. Most of this partition is empty so I thought I could also use this section to swap files between linux and Win XP too when needed. Do I need to set a mount point to access the FAT32 partition.
Now I just want to try to get some linux OS installed to see if it will boot up and run OK. I am very new at this linux stuff and need some instruction and helpful advice.
I think MEPIS should boot
Posts: 4077
I think MEPIS should boot too from USB, did you install with initrd? that might help
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Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
Why will Kubuntu boot and Mepis won't?
Posts: 5
I think MEPIS should boot too from USB, did you install with initrd? that might helpCheck out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
I just used whatever was default install procedure on Mepis Live CD. I don't know enoough about Linux yet to do anything else. I used the same procedure on Kubuntu and Puppy too. Puppy would not install, Mepis installed but wouldn't boot up, Kubuntu did install and boot up so that is what I have now. If Mepis comes up with an equally simple and effective install procedure, then I would gladly try it. I am curious thugh as to why Kubuntu distros are able to do something than no others can, install a linux program that boots from an external hard drive with no additional fiddling or changes.
It's not a fancy procedure,
Posts: 4077
It's not a fancy procedure, it's a check box that you need to check when you install GRUB. I don't know why is not checked by default (I'm sure there are some technical reasons but I don't know them).
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Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
Booting from USB external hard drive
Posts: 5
After several days I finally got linux running from my external USB hard drive (Western Digital Passport). I was able to install Mepis to it but it would not boot up. The message from grub boot loader was unable to mount boot partition.
I tried other distros but none of these would install until I tried Kubuntu. I think it is 6.06 version and it installed fine and booted up from hard drive with no tweaking. As a newbie I don't know how to do such things yet.
I am curious if anyone knows why Kubuntu booted up when Mepis wouldn't? Why would Kubuntu install when Ubuntu 6.10 wouldn't.