linux usb HD install

The SMU · 07-22-2003, 01:13 PM

Here might be an interesting question...

I have a USB hard drive, and I'd like to install linux on it. What i would liek to do is be able to plug it in and reboot whatever system (i have a few) i'm on into my linux system. Is that possible? does that make sense to anyone else besides me? Thanks!

Pcghost · 07-22-2003, 01:24 PM

Sure it makes sense. The only catch I can see is making sure the machine involved can boot to USB. Other than that the install is done in the normal way, just selecting sda0 as the drive to install on (or whatever your machine calls the drive).

The SMU · 07-22-2003, 01:33 PM

K, thanks!

Quote:

Originally posted by Pcghost
making sure the machine involved can boot to USB.

Hmm...ok, then how do i tell that, just open up the BIOS on startup and see if it does, i assume? And what if theres no option to do that, am I S.O.L.?

Pcghost · 07-22-2003, 02:06 PM

I think if the BIOS doesn't support it you may be SOL. Or maybe there is an upgrade to the BIOS that includes the support. Worth checking into anyway. Good luck.

The SMU · 07-22-2003, 02:27 PM

Is there maybe a way that i can make a boot disk thatll boot to my usb drive? then id just need the ability to boot from floppies in the BIOS, but would the floppy be able to see the usb drive if, say, i already had a few HD's on the computer i'm trying to boot, but the one i used to make the boot floppy had (for example) the F: drive open?

Pcghost · 07-22-2003, 02:40 PM

I think it may be possible, but I might be wrong. The catch there is whether USB-Mass Storage support can be enabled from a boot floppy. I would run a whole bunch of Google/Linux searches on that one.