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Installing Linux Ubuntu on Ext HDD.

ceecookie
6 Apr 07, 15:41

How do i go on about installing Ubuntu on my ext HDD?
I noticed that in my BIOS i could boot from USB ext HDD,so i decided to "try" Linux on it to see how it works.I installed the Ubuntu installation file for Intel processors,specifically the file named "ubuntu-6.06.1-desktop-i386" and then burned it to a cd as the website stated.

(I assumed that there would be a menu after loading the disc that ask where to be installed)

But when i selected Boot From CD-drive/DVD-RW in my BOOT list,it didint load at all and Windows loaded instead,only to be interrupted by BSODs and "Windows didnt load properly" when i tried again and again.Seems not the way to install.

Anyone can help me to install Linux on ext HDD w/o affecting current OS on internal HDD?

mayi?
ndmmxiaomayi
6 Apr 07, 23:29

I'm afraid Ubuntu doesn't have this option to boot via external devices. The only devices that work properly are flash drives.

A few distros can boot via flash drives. Xubuntu, Damn Small Linux, Puppy Linux are the few. Puppy Linux is recommended for newbies.

Since you have burned it to a CD, you have to boot via CD and installed it on a hard disk, not external ones. Windows don't support booting via external devices except the CD/DVD.

Your hard disk needs at least 3 partitions, one for Windows, one for Linux, one for Linux swap partition (aka virtual RAM in Linux). If you don't have at least 3, there are 3 options.

1st method:

1. Boot to XP CD.
2. Follow the prompts till you reach the partitioning.
3. Delete all partitions and create 3 or more new partitions.
4. Continue to install Windows.
5. Done, boot to Ubuntu CD.
6. When you reach the stage you need to partition, don't do anything to ext1. That's Windows.
7. Check all other partitions and tick Format and install.

2nd method:

1. Just boot to Ubuntu CD and use it. It won't be installed, take time to play with it.

3rd method:

1. Get a distro that supports booting from flash drives. Puppy Linux is recommended.
ceecookie
7 Apr 07, 11:48

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:
I'm afraid Ubuntu doesn't have this option to boot via external devices. The only devices that work properly are flash drives.

A few distros can boot via flash drives. Xubuntu, Damn Small Linux, Puppy Linux are the few. Puppy Linux is recommended for newbies.

Since you have burned it to a CD, you have to boot via CD and installed it on a hard disk, not external ones. Windows don't support booting via external devices except the CD/DVD.

Your hard disk needs at least 3 partitions, one for Windows, one for Linux, one for Linux swap partition (aka virtual RAM in Linux). If you don't have at least 3, there are 3 options.

1st method:

1. Boot to XP CD.
2. Follow the prompts till you reach the partitioning.
3. Delete all partitions and create 3 or more new partitions.
4. Continue to install Windows.
5. Done, boot to Ubuntu CD.
6. When you reach the stage you need to partition, don't do anything to ext1. That's Windows.
7. Check all other partitions and tick Format and install.

2nd method:

1. Just boot to Ubuntu CD and use it. It won't be installed, take time to play with it.

3rd method:

1. Get a distro that supports booting from flash drives. Puppy Linux is recommended.
If i want to go by 2nd method to try Linux,how do i make the CD readable?
Coz when i downloaded the file,i just burned it to a cd using window burner.
But neither my pc or laptop could boot from the Ubuntu CD,when selected in the BOOT first menu.
ndmmxiaomayi
7 Apr 07, 11:52

Originally posted by ceecookie:
If i want to go by 2nd method to try Linux,how do i make the CD readable?
Coz when i downloaded the file,i just burned it to a cd using window burner.
But neither my pc or laptop could boot from the Ubuntu CD,when selected in the BOOT first menu.
You never burn properly...

Use BurnCDCC. It will burn the files correctly. When done, the Ubuntu CD will automatically run, you will see some files there.