Install Linux on a Removable Hard Drive

SuperSadSmile · 05-10-2005, 09:04 AM

I have a removable drive. A USB Lacie Mobile Hard Disk 40 Gb.
I'd like to install a bootable linux in it. And BTW id like also to keep a FAT32 partition which can be accessed by Windows too in the normal way.

Is possible to have such a thing:
- a bootable linux in one partition
- an other partition easily accessible by Windows
- all of this in a removable hard disk

If yes, how? What distro? etc..

oneandoneis2 · 05-10-2005, 09:08 AM

Yes to all, so long as your BIOS supports booting off a USB hard drive. Or your boot loader does, if you don't mind booting to a mobile HD from your built-in HD's loader.

Shouldn't matter what distro, so go with whatever you're happiest with.

davidleroux1 · 05-10-2005, 09:11 AM

also on the same note is it possible to install on an Ipod

oneandoneis2 · 05-10-2005, 09:18 AM

Google is your friend. . .

http://www.ipodlinux.org

SuperSadSmile · 05-10-2005, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the replies in such a short notice

I was wondering: Am i forced to use a certain order in the way to do the partitioning of the mobile hard drive?
I ask this because i have already 6 Gigs of data in the only FAT 32 partition that there is now.

Can I:
- resize my current partition and free up some space
- do this resize keeping my data
- append the needed partitions for linux
- have a proper install and a good bootable linux

If I can, how would you partitionate the disk?

SuperSadSmile · 05-11-2005, 04:03 AM

Ehm, maybe this has been overlooked:

How should I partitionate the disk?

oneandoneis2 · 05-11-2005, 04:47 AM

The easiest way to do it, if possible, would be to copy the USB disk contents to your main hard drive, and then partition & format as you like. Otherwise you'll have to mess around with resizing partitions etc. There are tools that do that, but it's more work.

You partition a disk with fdisk or cfdisk or some similar tool - I like cfdisk, myself. Then you format it with mkfs utilities. And then you'll be done!