Running openSUSE 10.2 on usb external drive
 

Hi all!!!

This is a first time post from a very new linux user regarding startup problems I am having with suse on a Seagate FreeAgent 80 Gb usb drive.

I already have Windows XP Pro dual booting with Mandriva on my laptop and that setup is working just fine. I don't want to alter that at all.

As I am new to Linux and still in discovery mode, I want to install SUSE and maybe later Ubuntu on the usb hard drive so I can play around with the distros a bit.

I have installed suse on the usb hdd after pulling the internal hdd from the laptop I am using. BTW, the laptop is a Dell I6400 just a couple months old. I also changed the BIOS settings appropriately - CD,
usb, hdd...

The problem I am having is that, as long as I start suse with the internal hdd removed it opens up perfectly. When I install the internal hdd, the startup fails. It appears that it is freezing while trying to read the swap partition.

Since it does work without the internal hdd installed, I am sure it is something minor(I hope so anyways!!!) but I am so new I need a little help...

Anyone have any ideas?

thanx in advance...

Linux Boot Files Must Represent All Attached Drives At Boot Time
 

First, I suggest you read my post on loading SuSE 10.0 on a Dell D610 Laptop:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=426099

Next, take a look at my setup for booting SuSE 10.2 from an external USB hard drive on a desktop setup.

This is my MENU.LST File on the USB hard Drive

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu Jul 12 22:37:42 CDT 2007
default 0
timeout 30
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

title openSUSE 10.2 - 2.6.18.8-0.5
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.8-0.5-default root=/dev/sdb2 vga=0x317 resume=/dev/sdb1 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.8-0.5-default

title Failsafe -- openSUSE 10.2 - 2.6.18.8-0.5
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.8-0.5-default root=/dev/sdb2 vga=normal showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume edd=off
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.8-0.5-default

title SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 - 2.6.16.46-0.14
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.16.46-0.14-default root=/dev/sda3 vga=0x317 resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.16.46-0.14-default

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader (hd1,0)+1
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader (fd0)+1

Next Look At my DEVICE.MAP file:

(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd0) /dev/sdb
(hd1) /dev/sda

Last is my FSTAB file:

/dev/sdb2 / ext3 acl,user_xattr 1 1
/dev/sdb3 /Software vfat users,gid=users,umask=0002,utf8=true 0 0
/dev/sda1 /Windows ufsd users,gid=users,umask=0002,nls=utf8 1 1
/dev/sda3 /SLED10 ext3 acl,user_xattr 1 1
/dev/sdb1 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/hda /media/dvd udf,iso9660 ro,user,noauto 1 1
/dev/hdb /media/dvdrw udf,iso9660 ro,user,noauto 1 1
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs noauto 0 0
usbfs /proc/bus/usb usbfs noauto 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy auto noauto,user,sync 0 0

When you boot from a Hard Drive, it becomes HD0. Drive/Partition designations like SDAx or SDBx change based on the actual drives connected at boot time. Removing an internal drive can make an external sdb drive into sda. All of your configuration files must represent how the system will come up with all intended drives attached.

Thank You,

thanx for your feedback...

I used the install dvd that came with the package I purchased so I do have the cd's as well. Would you suggest I use those to reinstall according to your tips?

Also, would you reformat the hard drive to wipe it clean before starting the install?

I have read elsewhere that it might be wise to create partitions before the install process but I didn't feel comfortable with that so mostly, because I am so new to Linux, I just went with whatever the defaults were that SUSE presented.

Use Linux Boot CD to Modify installed Config FIles
 

Since your install works when the internal hard drive is gone, you need to boot from the installation CD, but use the rescue mode to modify your configuration files. You would do this WITH the internal hard drive installed.

You will most likely find all references to drive sdax, where x is the partition to be your external hard drive. You need to change sdax to sdbx, leaving the partition number unchanged. This must occur in menu.lst, device.map and fstab. My article on installing SuSE 10.0 on a Dell D610 talks about how to do this.

Remember that I do NOT know the actual drive designations that will come up on your system when you install your internal hard drive. Further, SuSE 10.2 does not have the same install verbage as 10.0.

If you want to install SuSE 10.2 on an external USB hard drive, there are several things you must figure out on your own and make those changes manually. Also, in your BIOS setup of the laptop, you must place the USB drive ahead of the internal drive to actually boot from the external hard drive.

Good Luck,

thanx for your reply - sorry for not responding sooner (work, life, etc)...

Anyway, in your last reply you mentioned there are "several things I have to figure out on my own" and make the appropriate changes. What are those "several things"? I believe I understand the required changes I need to make to the specific configuration - menu.lst, device.map, and fstab. Are there other changes I need to make?

Please keep in mind that I am new to linux - perhaps this is too much of an undertaking for my experience level?

Drive and Partition naming and Assignment at Boot Time using Linux
 

The number one thing to Learn is: Drive and Partition naming and Assignment at Boot Time using Linux and your computer's specific BIOS operation as well as your actual drive configuration

The number Two thing to Learn: How to preserve existing partitions and booting operating systems such as Windows after the installation of Linux

The number Three thing to Learn: How to install and configure your favorite hardware devices under Linux such as sound cards, video cards and TV cards and perhaps high speed network cards etc

The number Four thing to Learn: How to activate multimedia operation in Linux for formats such as MP3 music files and the ability to play DVD's.

The list can go on and each person has their own list of priorities but I think you get the picture. If I had anything else to add it would be to find a good Windows backup program and use it before installing Linux when you are trying to setup a multi-booting system with Linux and Windows. I use Norton Ghost which works very well even though I no longer like any of their other software very much.

Thank You,