Yes I realize this subject is brought up many times, I however am trying to do something a little different.
I know there are boot from flashdrive, live cd's and such. I was wondering how I would boot my Suse Linux Enterprise 10 (either server or desktop is ok) without an internal hard drive but rather using an external hard drive as my main drive.

specs of what i have:
software:
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 (both server and desktop editions)
SUSE Linux 10 standard edition (both the DVD and 6 CD set)
hardware:
Via Epia CN13000g main board (mini-ITX form factor)
the mb has integrated audio, video and processor is VIA 1.3 GHz C7
512 RAM for the mb
40GB Fantom Drive External Hard Drive
Phillips DVD writer (so my dvd's will work )
(not that it's important) Morex 3688B w/80watt psu
monitor, mouse, and keyboard

I have no internal hard drive right now (and if possible wont get one as it saves me money i don't have)

on another note this is for a senior capstone project, I could get bonus points if I get it to work without an internal hard drive (well ok not bonus points but it would impress the people grading the project)

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.

The forum rules state "do not expect others to do your homework". However, it does not prevent assistance if you have a least attempted to solve the problem and have specific question. You might want to search this website and google around a little.

technically this is not homework, it is a project. And all outside sources for this project are cited. As such I do not see a problem. If I were in college and it was for a report that would be one thing, yes I realize I worded a bit to where that is what it sounds like but this is not homework. Plus since when does homework have to be paid for by the student? ($500 for a homework assignment?).

Learning Linux is something I am trying to do, in fact I am about to talk with a contact about something else for the project. If this were indeed homework... well I wouldn't be doing it, I never do.

This is more of a personal cost saver than anything, as in if I can't get an external hard drive to work as a primary (or even just let linux install to it and boot from it) it will save me $50-$70 from having to buy a notebook hard drive.



P.S. the bonus point thing, I was being sarcastic.

Then I beg your pardon.

However, your answer is still a google away. Assuming your hardware can boot from USB. You probably need to add USB modules to the initrd.
http://en.opensuse.org/Installing_Su...rnal_USB_Drive

my boot location options are MBR and other... assuming its not mbr which wont let me continue install, I try to go with other and no matter what is typed in the box it says partition " not a recognizable boot partition or something else along those lines (in order to post this i had to turn off the computer I am trying to do this to)


I do not know what exactly it is wanting me to type in, I get up to changing the boot location and stuff but no matter what I put it still wont see it, any idea what exactly I am suppose to do?

What is the error message when you try MBR.

ok basic errors

partitioning:
No automatic proposal possible. Specify mount points manually in the 'partitioner' dialog


booting:
Because of the partitioning, the bootloader cannot be installed properly
Error: no proposal

when i go into partitioning: no disks found. try using the update cd, if available for installation (i don't have this)

clicking accept: error: the proposal contains an error that must be resolved before continuing.

If anyone knows how to get this working much appreciative I would be to that person