Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
Quoting Keith Powell ke...@keithg4jvx.force9.co.uk: In my previous computer (built locally and modified over the years by me), I had fitted a second IDE hard drive. The first drive had XP installed and the second had Linux installed. (I tried other distros on it, but ended up with Ubuntu). My new, rather expensive, computer has only one hard drive and that has Windows7 pre-installed with a 'rescue partition'. Now, the insurance/support policy I have on the new computer (I didn't bother with one on the old machine) states that I can't modify the computer in any way. I must get a computer repair person, which they nominate, to do any work inside the machine. Will they install a second drive for you? I don't want to try dual booting by putting Ubuntu on the same hard drive as Windows7, but would rather keep it separate. My thoughts are to install it on an external USB hard drive. Would I simply plug the drive in, boot the computer, run the liveCD and install it as I would with an internal hard drive? I have read postings about installing to a USB memory card, which seems rather complicated, needing special programs to do it. So I am wondering if installing to a hard drive would be easier. The drive would only be used with this machine. To clarify, I would like to actually install Ubuntu on the drive, not use the drive as a USB version of a liveCD. I'm sure it's do-able, as long as you can boot from USB in the BIOS and providing that Ubuntu will let you install to USB Devices (I've never tried). Kind regards, Matt -- Matthew Macdonald-Wallace matt...@truthisfreedom.org.uk http://www.truthisfreedom.org.uk/ -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
On 2 February 2010 12:36, Matthew Macdonald-Wallace matt...@truthisfreedom.org.uk wrote: Quoting Keith Powell ke...@keithg4jvx.force9.co.uk: To clarify, I would like to actually install Ubuntu on the drive, not use the drive as a USB version of a liveCD. I'm sure it's do-able, as long as you can boot from USB in the BIOS This should be trivial. Just choose the USB partitions during setup, make sure not to set up any of the internal partitions with mount points, and at the end just before Install choose to install the boot loader to the correct drive (under Advanced). Reboot, choose to boot from USB, and that should be that. I've set up three HDDs and two USB sticks this way. Jonathon -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
I've done this too. Worked fine for me. Bruce On 2 February 2010 12:57, Jonathon Fernyhough j.fernyho...@gmail.comwrote: On 2 February 2010 12:36, Matthew Macdonald-Wallace matt...@truthisfreedom.org.uk wrote: Quoting Keith Powell ke...@keithg4jvx.force9.co.uk: To clarify, I would like to actually install Ubuntu on the drive, not use the drive as a USB version of a liveCD. I'm sure it's do-able, as long as you can boot from USB in the BIOS This should be trivial. Just choose the USB partitions during setup, make sure not to set up any of the internal partitions with mount points, and at the end just before Install choose to install the boot loader to the correct drive (under Advanced). Reboot, choose to boot from USB, and that should be that. I've set up three HDDs and two USB sticks this way. Jonathon -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
On 02/02/10 12:32, Keith Powell wrote: snip / I don't want to try dual booting by putting Ubuntu on the same hard drive as Windows7, but would rather keep it separate. My thoughts are to install it on an external USB hard drive. Creating separate partitions on a physical HDD and dual booting (Which is what the Ubuntu installer can do for you) is really no different from having two separate hard disks as far as the operating systems are concerned. SO I wouldn't worry about it as long as you have sufficient space. 15GB is AMPLE for a heavily loaded Ubuntu install with still loads of space for your files etc. Would I simply plug the drive in, boot the computer, run the liveCD and install it as I would with an internal hard drive? I have read postings about installing to a USB memory card, which seems rather complicated, needing special programs to do it. So I am wondering if installing to a hard drive would be easier. The drive would only be used with this machine. Installing to a USB stick is quite easy once you have a running install of Ubuntu. The Menu: System-Administration-USB Startup Disk Creator Will do it automatically. But as you note this is actually a copy of the LiveCD although it can also can have a persistence area on the stick to store your data and changes etc. But yes, plugging in an external USB HDD and enusring you install Ubuntu to that drive will work fine too. You will probably have to change the PC's BIOS to enable you to boot from it but it isn't an unusual use-case. HTH Al -- The Open Learning Centre http://www.theopenlearningcentre.com -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
Quoting Jonathon Fernyhough j.fernyho...@gmail.com: This should be trivial. Just choose the USB partitions during setup, make sure not to set up any of the internal partitions with mount points, and at the end just before Install choose to install the boot loader to the correct drive (under Advanced). Reboot, choose to boot from USB, and that should be that. I've set up three HDDs and two USB sticks this way. Does it install Grub on the USB drive bootloader? Rob -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
Quoting Jonathon Fernyhough j.fernyho...@gmail.com: On 2 February 2010 13:20, Rob Beard r...@esdelle.co.uk wrote: Does it install Grub on the USB drive bootloader? Rob It does if you tell it to. :) At this point: http://www.23hq.com/23666/2589704_71fcf7da2c7eb3cf8c9b085bc69889c4_standard.jpg click on Advanced and you can choose where to install GRUB. Ahh interesting, that's handy to know, a friend of mine runs Ubuntu server with VMWare Server on top, and doing something like this would make a great backup for if his server goes down, I'm thinking maybe it could be used to create a working nightly backup of the VM which he can keep off site and just plug in to a machine if need be. Rob -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
On 2 February 2010 12:32, Keith Powell ke...@keithg4jvx.force9.co.uk wrote: In my previous computer (built locally and modified over the years by me), I had fitted a second IDE hard drive. The first drive had XP installed and the second had Linux installed. (I tried other distros on it, but ended up with Ubuntu). My new, rather expensive, computer has only one hard drive and that has Windows7 pre-installed with a 'rescue partition'. Now, the insurance/support policy I have on the new computer (I didn't bother with one on the old machine) states that I can't modify the computer in any way. I must get a computer repair person, which they nominate, to do any work inside the machine. I don't want to try dual booting by putting Ubuntu on the same hard drive as Windows7, but would rather keep it separate. My thoughts are to install it on an external USB hard drive. Would I simply plug the drive in, boot the computer, run the liveCD and install it as I would with an internal hard drive? I have read postings about installing to a USB memory card, which seems rather complicated, needing special programs to do it. So I am wondering if installing to a hard drive would be easier. The drive would only be used with this machine. To clarify, I would like to actually install Ubuntu on the drive, not use the drive as a USB version of a liveCD. Many thanks for any advice. Cheers Keith -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ I have an external hard drive with ubuntu on it. I can plug it into any PC which has a BIOS which will allow you to boot up from USB (which is any 21st Century BIOS, I think). I can then use Ubuntu on a machine with Vista on it, and be productive rather than waiting ages to boot Vista up and try anything else on it. Using a computer with 2 USB sockets, you can have the ubuntu install on a usb pen drive, and install straight onto a USB external hard disk. Regards, Andy. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
On 2 February 2010 17:27, Tony Pursell a...@princeswalk.fsnet.co.uk wrote: I have seen people with problems on Launchpad Answers. If GRUB is on the USB drive you will always need the USB drive attached to boot BOTH Ubuntu and Windows 7. If you have no way to put back the original MBR, you will have problems if, for instance, you want to sell/pass the laptop over to someone as a Windows 7 only machine. If you can just rely on the machine's own boot menu to choose between booting the internal drive or the USB drive, you should be OK. No, wait! Installing GRUB on the USB drive *will not* overwrite the MBR (and Windows 7 bootloader) on the internal drive! However, installing GRUB on the USB drive /may/ pick up the Windows 7 installation on the internal drive*, so when you boot from the USB drive you can pick whether to start Ubuntu from the USB drive or Windows from the internal drive. Starting the PC without the USB drive attached (or choosing to boot from the internal drive first via F8 or whatever) will boot Windows from the internal drive normally. *this should only happen if the Windows 7 drive is mounted; you can always remove it from the USB drive's GRUB menu afterwards. Jonathon -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
On 2 February 2010 17:57, Tony Pursell a...@princeswalk.fsnet.co.uk wrote: It all depends on how you do it. A standard dual boot installation will overwrite the MBR with GRUB's MBR that points to the partition with GRUB on it. As I said, if you rely on the machines own boot menu, you are OK. Its all about which drive's MBR is used for GRUB. Ah, wait, I see what you mean. Installing GRUB to the MBR on the internal drive with the actual executables (/boot/grub/...) on the USB drive will mean it fails to find the files needed if the USB drive isn't plugged in... I did that once! It was fun. -.- I'm just trying to make sure Rob doesn't get into the pickle I've seen other get into. Fair enough; pickles are only nice with cheese. Jonathon -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Installing on a USB drive
Jonathon Fernyhough wrote: On 2 February 2010 17:27, Tony Pursell a...@princeswalk.fsnet.co.uk wrote: I have seen people with problems on Launchpad Answers. If GRUB is on the USB drive you will always need the USB drive attached to boot BOTH Ubuntu and Windows 7. If you have no way to put back the original MBR, you will have problems if, for instance, you want to sell/pass the laptop over to someone as a Windows 7 only machine. If you can just rely on the machine's own boot menu to choose between booting the internal drive or the USB drive, you should be OK. No, wait! Installing GRUB on the USB drive *will not* overwrite the MBR (and Windows 7 bootloader) on the internal drive! However, installing GRUB on the USB drive /may/ pick up the Windows 7 installation on the internal drive*, so when you boot from the USB drive you can pick whether to start Ubuntu from the USB drive or Windows from the internal drive. Starting the PC without the USB drive attached (or choosing to boot from the internal drive first via F8 or whatever) will boot Windows from the internal drive normally. *this should only happen if the Windows 7 drive is mounted; you can always remove it from the USB drive's GRUB menu afterwards. Jonathon Tony and Jonathon. I don't know about a USB hard drive, and can only say what happened with my two IDE drives. Grub was always installed on the Linux drive, never on the Windows drive. In fact, to play safe, I unplugged the Windows drive when I installed Linux. If all drives were connected, when I pressed F8 on boot up, then all drives showed on the boot menu. If one or more drives were unplugged, then just the remaining drives were on the menu. I found that not having one or more drives connected, didn't affect the remaining drives. I could select them as usual. Cheers Keith -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
