Ubuntu on an external drive---how to?

[James Takac]

Hi Guys

On Monday 02 June 2008 19:05:29 Kanda Kumar V wrote:
>  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...



Seems grub is having probs finding the partition to mount. Maybe the following 
link may be of help.

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/14606

or maybe need to restore/reinstall grub so might try

http://www.sorgonet.com/linux/grubrestore/

Hope these are of help

James