Trying to boot Debian 8.3 from external HD
 

I installed Debian 8.3 on an external HD (2014, rarely used), but my Samsung R60 laptop is having trouble booting from it. I put it first in boot order in BIOS but it always says "not installed" even if I wait a while hoping it will get recognized (works on my other laptop). Also, it is not deselected with Shift+1. The laptop is on and the light is flashing normally.

So I thought maybe the Motherboard Drivers are not up to date (laptop is from 2010, though). However, if I start from a LiveCD, the HD DOES get recognized once Gnome starts (doesn't this mean the Motherboard drivers must be OK?).

Can anyone suggest how I can boot from this HD?

Have you tried pressing Esc at the BIOS screen? Or F2 or F12, or whatever your laptop uses? Does BIOS show the external HDD? I'm not clear on exactly what you've done, or what happens at boot, nor how you're selecting the drive.

Hi! Yes, I used F2 on my laptop to access the BIOS boot priority list, and set the USB-HD to first, but still, it doesn't recognize the USB-HD.

Perhaps it's a different option in the BIOS? (although 'USB-HD' seems natural). You may have to toy with any other USB selections.
Also, have you tries using different USB ports?

you may need to see if your BIOS is up to date, flashing it with the latest BIOS may help.

too, also try getting super grub2 burn it to a usb stick, plug it in and see if your Samsung R60 laptop will boot that, if it does, then have your external hdd plugged into one usb port, the SuperGrub2 Plugged into the other one, then boot it, or let it boot up grub2 first to remove the BIOS from getting confused to which USB-HDD to try and boot, then plug in your external HDD, give it a moment to spin up, then run the supergrub2, and let it search for your external hdd on the other ubs port, if it sees it then it will add it to the list of all of the kernels. then select it and see if it will boot it up that way.

this too would tell me that it is your BIOS that is not seeing your external hdd you're trying to use for whatever its reasons, mostly because it is a crapy BIOS . look into seeing if their is a newer BIOS that is specify for that one you can flash which may fix it.

http://www.supergrubdisk.org/

you do (must) have a kernel and grub installed on your external hdd yes?

Sometimes setting the boot priority isn't enough. You can select the boot drive manually if you press Esc (on most systems) at the bios screen. You should get a popup with all known drives, and you can select the external drive.

Hi

So if you trying to boot from external drive where is grub installed?
maybe post the grub.cfg file.

What are you dual booting with? Windows or another linux. If another linux try updating grub to see if it finds it.

Post fstab and what drives are there which drive do you want to boot.

If more than 2 drives maybe disconnect the others just leave sda and external drive to uncomplicate matters.

@ Spiky: here's Grub.cfg



#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
font="/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=-1
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=5
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
insmod png
if background_image /grub/.background_cache.png; then
set color_normal=white/black
set color_highlight=black/white
else
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-a6c7snip' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfc77snip
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-686-pae ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-686-pae root=/dev/mapper/hostname--vg-root ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.16.0-4-686-pae
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-a6c7e9d0-edsnip6' {
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-686-pae' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.16.0-4-686-pae-advanced-a6c7snip' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-686-pae ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-686-pae root=/dev/mapper/hostname--vg-root ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.16.0-4-686-pae
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-686-pae (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.16.0-4-686-pae-recovery-a6c7snip' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-686-pae ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-686-pae root=/dev/mapper/hostname--vg-root ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.16.0-4-686-pae
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-586' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.16.0-4-586-advanced-a6c7snip' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-586 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-586 root=/dev/mapper/hostname--vg-root ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.16.0-4-586
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-586 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.16.0-4-586-recovery-a6c7snip' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-586 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-586 root=/dev/mapper/hostname--vg-root ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-3.16.0-4-586
}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
linux16 /memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
linux16 /memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, experimental multiboot)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
multiboot /memtest86+_multiboot.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200, experimental multiboot)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-ieee1275='ieee1275//sas/disk@0,msdos1' --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 45cfcsnip
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 45cfcsnip
fi
multiboot /memtest86+_multiboot.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

I still say just boot it with supergrub2 and be done with it, or go from their actually

I have had problems along these lines before. I've found that USB drives don't tend to be listed as such but, instead, turn up in the general list of hard drives on a lot of machines.

Wow, you've completely ignored everyone else's posts!

Unsubscribed. :)

So grub is'nt showing up?
what distro is installed on sda

Hello HiggsBoson (cool Username, BTW). No, I am not ignoring any posts, I have just been at work all day and am not online much because my system won't boot. I have to switch to a LiveCD and stop trying things to come onto this forum. I enormously appreciate suggestions, but cannot respond as quickly as I would if my system were actually working!
I am writing a list of things to try and am going offline to try them. Thanks for your contributions.

Please don't go ... keep us posted :D

Well, so far:

I used ESC to access the startup disks in a different way, but still my external HD with Debian 8.3 is not getting recognized.

Rescatux doesn't boot, strangely. Will try burning another CD later (as well as supergrub2).

The Debian LiveCD strangely doesn't have the fstab command. The external HD is the only HD connected (I removed the internal).

I looked for ways to disable "fast boot," "OS Mode Selection" and "secure boot" which samsung PCs apparently have, but there are no options for that either in Windows or BIOS, so I guess my PC is too old.

What partially worked was BW-userx's suggestion of plugging in two drives with Debian installed (old damaged 7.4 and newly installed 8.3). That enabled me to get to Grub for the first time, but only works when both drives are connected at startup (insert emoticon for total confusion).


Current Plan:
Keep trying to get Rescatux and SuperGrub2 CD's to boot to try them.
Reinstall Debian 8.3 to external HD.