topic Any way to boot from an external hard drive? in Operating System - Linux

Any way to boot from an external hard drive?

Glen Schofield — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:39:02 GMT

I'd like to install linux on an external hard drive I use with my Presario V2000 laptop. Any updated bios software out there to let me have that option?

Re: Any way to boot from an external hard drive?

Steven E. Protter — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:23:28 GMT

Shalom Glen,

http://www.smb.compaq.com/html/interactive/v2000t/model.html?jumpid=in_HP3D_3d/NBT/v2000t%7C3DCENTRAL%7Cother

HP maintains full documentation on these systems. Most laptop bios today will support booting from an external device. What type of external device is the question. It needs to be something recognized by the bios.

Many of these laptops were extremely problematic concerning needing video hardware support for Linux that was not there. Installing Linux on this system may be an adventure you don't want to take.

SEP

Re: Any way to boot from an external hard drive?

Michal Toth — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:44:55 GMT

generally, first thing is, that your bios has to recognize the external drive, then, you need to make sure, that the kernel you boot from that device knows that device (driver module staticaly build into the kernel), otherwise it won't be able to mount the root filesystem. If your driver for the disk is build as a dynamic module, than you need to use initrd for loading desired modules into ramdisk prior mounting rootfs (man initrd).

good luck

Re: Any way to boot from an external hard drive?

Glen Schofield — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:37:29 GMT

I have a Presario V2000 and it doesn't have an external drive listed in the boot menu.

Re: Any way to boot from an external hard drive?

Alpha977 — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 07:10:03 GMT

i think is better change hd on your pc, install linux on the new hd, then re-sobtitute the new hd with the original.
If your pc not support the boot via usb, i think you can try to see if exist an utility for boot, like "LILO" or Grub" but can support the boot via usb.

I think there are many of this tool.