i have a Dell Dimension E510 i got last august. I am trying to install Ubuntu to an Extenal HD connected via USB. The first problem i get is with the Live CD, Ubuntu only runs in Safe Graphics mode and while it does run this i take as an indicator of problems to come.

The second and more serious issue is that it just wont install. I started the installer and got to the part where it tries to partition the HD. It starts and after a minute or two says it Failed to Create Filesystem and the drive im putting it on is empty.

As a newbie to Linux but an old curmudgeon with MS, I can only suspect what is happening. You probably cannot reformat your USB external HD with another filesystem.. probably not even with Windows. I had an old W98 PC that would not write to my USB external HD although my XP machine would.
Further I suspect that external HDs are not meant to be bootable with any OS. Hmmnn.

Now that old W98 machine is now a Linux/Kubuntu machine... still have not got to the point of seeing if it will recognize an external USB HD. Am still a newbie.

Woody

the external HD was not bought that way. The HD was formerly the heart of a Gateway computer but it fritzed. So i got a HD case for about $20 and salvaged it with the network card and CD-DVD drive from the thing.

I've formatted several of my External drives in ext3, and use it for backup on my Ubuntu system, I don't think thats his issue..

When you say, "started the installer" Are you trying to install from the Live CD? Some PC's, have issues with the Live CD installer, Look for the "Alternate Install CD". This is a Text based installer(don't get scared, its still easy).

Also, believe it or not, burnspeed. Don't burn the disk at a full 52x/24x. I don't know why, but burning faster, can result in issues. First person that told me this, I thought was nuts, and I wasted 4 disks trying to install a couple distros. Burn the ISO at a slow pace, 2-4x is what I usually do. Takes a few minutes, but I've never had a burn fail.

Depending on how you want to set all this up, not all of this will apply to you, but it might help.

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/01...b-x-ubuntu-610

IGF

thx. I used the CD's my friend got mailed to him with 6.06 LTS and was trying to use Ubuntu.. not Kubuntu (just figured i would mention). So it was a LiveCD. Im gonna try later to unplug my standard HD and boot with only the external drive on and follow the instructions in the Link.

im unplugging the regular HD cause i have a student version of AutoCAD 2007, alot of music, and some other stuff which i dont want to wipe and am a bit paranoid about that.

First, whenever installing/upgrading an OS, you should always have a current backup. The chances of you hosing your XP install and its files are slim, but it could happen.

You can do that if you want.., Just remember, anytime you want to boot Linux, you'll have to change the BIOS to boot the USB hard drive first. Also, if you have a CD burner and a blank CD.. I'd download Feisty if I were you. Dapper is good, but some of the apps are begining to show their age. Feisty was just released a week ago, and is quite stable.

Another thing you can try, once you get it installed on the USB drive, you can set up a floppy disk(or Blank CD/DVD) with Grub, and have 1 setting point to Ubuntu on the usb drive, and 1 setting point to windows on the hard drive. Then just set your bios to see the floppy/optical drive first.

http://www.ubuntu.com

IGF

Whoops, I made an assumption; actually several assumptions about external HDs. This thread has taught me a lot.
W