Ubuntu on an external drive---how to?

[Kanda Kumar V]

 On Mon, 2008-06-02 at 13:33 +0530, Kanda Kumar V wrote:
> Kanda Kumar V wrote:
>
> > I'm new to ubuntu... I want to install ubuntu 8.04 on my laptop
> alongside
> > windows...
> > the problem is I can't install ubuntu into my laptop's harddisk as
> it has
> > only partition and the laptop is given to me by the employer. So i
> want to
> > install ubuntu in an external usb device (i don't even want a trace
> of
> > ubuntu in the laptop as it is given by my employer)... indeed i
> bought an
> > external drive solely for this purpose.
> >
> > I googled and even had searched in ubuntu forums about how to
> install
> > ubuntu in an external usb device... but still fails...
> >
> > Can anyone help me on this... about getting step-by-step procedure
> of
> > installing ubuntu in an external usb drive.
>
> I just took my install CD and installed to the external drive...  So
> some
> description of "still fails" is obviously important.
> --
> derek
>
> First, thanks for the response.
>
> Just to be clear:
> I've tried installing the boot loader (the grub) into /dev/sda (my
> external drive) and when i reboot after the installation finishes..
> i'm getting grub error 17.

Are you absolutely certain /dev/sda is your external drive and not the
internal drive?  Does windows still boot normally with the external usb
drive disconnected?  I personally have never seen and external usb drive
show up as /dev/sda.  How about posting a copy of
your /boot/grub/menu.lst.  I have done this several times with 7.10
without issue so it is certainly possible.

> i can't boot from my external USB device... i've set my boot priority
> in BIOS as 1. USB hdd 2.CD <http://2.cd/> drive 3.internal disk(the
windows one)...
>
> my external drive is an Western digital USB external HDD.
>


Yes windows was booting with external drive disconnected...
i'm not certain about /dev/sda... but i'm very certain about the drives....
i selected the second drive (the external one) for grub.
and also unfortunately i've formatted the hard disk just today for another
try (may be 3rd or 4th time). I'll give a go tonight and still i will give a
complete view of the installation if i end up in problems.. BTW... the
version i'm trying is 8.04...
-- 
Thanks and Regards,
V.Kanda Kumar
+919894530578
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