Hi All,
I have a notebook that has windowsXP on it. I cannot partition its drive to install Linux because the volume of the work I do is large and the drive is small(40GB). So I got an external 40GB drive on a USB port with an intention to put Linux on it. I configured my machine first boot drive as CD/DVD drive, second as USB drive and third as the local drive. On attempting to install the linux OS, the USB drive was not detected by the linux OS so I cannot do the installation.
IS it that Linux can not be install on external USB drive on the version of the Linux is the problem. If so can someone suggest the version I should use and how to proceed.

Apparently it's possible, but not always easy. From what I understand, two things you'll definitely need to do to ensure success is enable your BIOS to boot from a USB drive and install your distro in "expert" mode.

I've tried installing Fedora Core on a USB hard drive several times, even in "expert" mode, but haven't been successful yet. Nonetheless, others have had success. Try searching on the 'net for feedback on installing on a USB drive with the distro you're using.