external HDD installation

vidoll · Post by **vidoll** » 11 Oct 2006, 07:08

i have an externa IDE 2.5 HDD. ssit possible to install linux (any distro) into it.. without touching the main HDD i have in my laptop. for example if i wanna use linus i just USB-lized my external HDD to my laptop. sort of a dual booting kinda thingy? thanks

sternbildchen · Post by **sternbildchen** » 11 Oct 2006, 08:02

You should check wheather your motherboard supports USB Boot or Boot from portable Drives. (or something like that ^^ ).

vidoll · Post by **vidoll** » 11 Oct 2006, 08:28

thanks but any tip on where i could get that information on my laptop?

Post by **Gogeta70** » 11 Oct 2006, 10:16

A good place to start would be in the BIOS/CMOS.

Post by **bad_brain** » 11 Oct 2006, 12:45

right, you have to check BIOS for the possibility to boot from USB, almost all newer PCs support it but I'm not sure about laptops. if it is NOT supported another option might be to to install Linux on the USB HDD but to put the boot sector on a floppy (if the laptop has a floppy drive).
a 3rd option may be a live distro.

vidoll · Post by **vidoll** » 11 Oct 2006, 20:38

thanks bad_brain. was just thinking of using DSL to boot from USB if im not able to boot from my external HDD. coz after checking my BIOS im not able to boot from external HDD. and im not really confident of flashing or upgrading the BIOS.. hehehe thanks anyways guys