Installing Ubuntu as 2nd OS

[Nils Kassube]

Derek Broughton wrote:
> Nils Kassube wrote:
> > I don't think it depends on the disk. If the BIOS can boot from USB,
> > any USB disk or USB stick should work. At least with my desktop and
> > laptop it worked with a noname USB stick.
>
> Well, as I just said to Peter, I installed Linux on a cheap external
> USB for my father-in-law, and it was a waste of time.  You need
> something fairly reliable.

Sure, it should be reliable, and I don't question your observation with 
that one drive. But why would an unreliable external drive not boot? I 
would suppose it would boot sometimes and fail sometimes, but isn't that 
the same for the rest of the operation? Why would the first track with 
the boot sector be different from the rest?


Nils