Any way to boot from an external hard drive?

[Glen Schofield]

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?

[Steven E. Protter]

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

[Michal Toth]

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

[Glen Schofield]

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

[Alpha977]

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.