Can I install Linux on Western Digital USB external hard drive?

priyankadeven · 08-23-2004, 11:12 AM

Can I install Linux on Western Digital USB external hard drive?

I need to be able to take the same harddisk to the university.. and boot it from any machine there which has windows and usb port...

Any suggestions?

penguin4 · 08-23-2004, 11:35 AM

priyankadeven; 1st check device with http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/html. for compatibility with linux. also check with W.D. if they support linux with that device along with providing driver. always check any device compatiblity with linux.

michaelk · 08-23-2004, 12:28 PM

Futhermore, The PC BIOS has to be capable of booting from USB plus you also need to have access to the Motherboard's BIOS in order to change the boot order. Depending on the distro your wanting to install you will need to add the USB modules to the initrd or compile them into the kernel.

priyankadeven · 08-23-2004, 01:15 PM

I am installing Linux for the first time.. very new .. know absolutely nothing about it except that its supposed to be a cool OS

I tried to use CD and changed the BIOS but it does not recognize the new USB plugged hard disk.. In BIOS I have hard disk as last option while Booting..

michaelk · 08-23-2004, 01:23 PM

What distribution are you trying to install? From reading threads on the topic some installers do not recognize a USB drive.

priyankadeven · 08-23-2004, 01:23 PM

Tried to install Whitebox linux ... Used CD to boot and shows instructions and only my internal drives not the external ones.

crustydusty · 11-24-2009, 09:12 PM

look up pen drive linux on the googles. i am currently running ubuntu 9.10 off my 4gb pqi intelistick thumb drive and it runs pretty good [way better than vista off an 80gb internal HD]