Boot Via Usb ?

Hello folks,

I want to set up a Dual-OS Computer with W2k and Linux. The W2k parte is already running and I decided to put Linux on an external USB2.0-HD.

But is it possible to boot Linux from a external USB-HD ?

Answers'd be nice.

Thanks
Child

If your BIOS allows booting from an external device...from what I've heard, yes. If it doesn't, I believe it can still be done with a combination of putting some things on an internal bootable device and some on the external drive. I'm not sure about the details though on either option. Maybe someone else knows more...

Hi Child I'm also new to Linux but I have tried the same thing you are asking about, a few different ways.I have listed 2 of the options that might be of some help to you. Some of the experienced Linux users in this Forum might have better solutions than my one but being new my self I have tryed a few things and these 2 have worked for me.

First off if possible try and avoid using a HD on USB 2.0 with most Bios there is a option to boot from it, but running a operating system from USB 2.0 it's not the best idea they are only good for storage. I have found them to be very slow and sluggish, that was also the feed back I have read on other Forums from people that have tried it.

One thing you can do is buy a HD Rack and installed it into one of your CD drive bays, set it to your EDI 2 cable and set your Bios to boot 1st from HDD-1 the HD in you Rack and then second Boot option as HDD-0 your main drive. After you have installed Linux onto the HD in your rack when ever you want to use Linux all you do is put your HD in the rack and it will boot Linux and if you remove you HD from the Rack, when you boot it will go and Boot your main operating system. this way you can keep different operating systems on separate HDs and don't need to use a Boot loader. I you have several HD's you can install different systems and put the HD in your Rack the system you want to use.

There is another Option but it's more difficult to set up. There is a program called "Smart Boot Manager" I got it off a CD that came with one of the Linux Magazines ( Linux Format UK ), you put the image 'sbootmgr.dsk' on a floppy and set your Bios to boot first from a floppy when it boots it's looks like a Bios setup screen and you can select to boot from fd ,CD, HD0, HD1, HD2, with this option you don't need a Drive Rack and if you want to Boot from your other HD just but the floppy into your drive when you boot and select the HD you want to Boot from you don't need to keep resetting your Bios to Boot from your other HD. I have 2 HD's and on the 1st I have SuSE and Mandrake on the 2 nd Fedora Core and Xandros 2. If I want to Boot my second HD I put the Floppy in and if I want to use my 1st HD Boot normally.
hope it helps.

Originally posted by Code XYZ@Oct 15 2004, 21:45
There is another Option but it's more difficult to set up. There is a program called "Smart Boot Manager" I got it off a CD that came with one of the Linux Magazines ( Linux Format UK ), you put the image 'sbootmgr.dsk' on a floppy and set your Bios to boot first from a floppy when it boots it's looks like a Bios* setup screen and you can select to boot from fd ,CD, HD0, HD1, HD2, with this option you don't need a Drive Rack and if you want to Boot from your other HD just but the floppy into your drive when you boot and select the HD you want to Boot from you don't need to keep resetting your Bios to Boot from your other HD. I have 2 HD's and on the 1st I have SuSE and Mandrake on the 2 nd Fedora Core and Xandros 2. If I want to Boot my second HD I put the Floppy in and if I want to use my 1st HD Boot normally.
hope it helps.

If you have an Asus motherboard you can actually use their hidden feature, hidding <esc> during boot up brings up a menue just like you mentioned, it lets you boot from whatever is listed, usually all harddrives, cd'drives, floppy, and so on.
I am not sure if the latest ASUS boards still have it but I used to have a CUSL2, P4S533 and a P4S800D-E and they all had that feature.