Ubuntu

Install Ubuntu on External Hard Drive using Live CD

Asked by Pshinghal

Let me tell you my situation:
I'm using Windows XP on my comp but i want to have Ubuntu on my external 500 GB hard drive
The Hard Drive is formatted with NTFS and has some important data so i prefer not to format it.
there is no unallocated space- there are two partitions
i want to use the Live CD to install Ubuntu Feisty Fawn on the External Hard Drive
Also, I do not want to do anything with my internal hard drive

But, the external hard drive is read-only on Ubuntu (it works perfectly on windows).

Please explain in a simple manner as i am absolutely new to Linux.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Bjørn Sandåker (prognatus) said : 		#1

You should install Ubuntu on a separat partition. If you want it on the external harddisk, you should make room for the Ubuntu partition there by repartitioning that drive during installation.

Linux can read NTFS (Windows) partitions, and write to them if you install the ntfs-3g driver from Synaptic. All this must be done after install however, The preferred file system for Ubuntu Linux is ext3 and that is what the install procedure suggests.

Also, make sure you can boot from the external drive (through BIOS) before you install Ubuntu on it.

But remember to backup your data on that disk first! :)

Revision history for this message
Jayotis Diggory (jayotis-d) said : 		#2

Hard drive devices are not formated, partitions are, so what I think you are saying is that you have 2 ntfs formated partitions on one device, both with important data(maybe?). Pretty sure you need to a format a partition for the install because I don't think the install CD has the ntfs-3g driver included. I recommend moving all your data to one partition, image(backup) that data, then install on the empty partition. I also recommend going to a old computer store and buying a 5$ 5-10G hard drive to experiment with(if you have an open IDE).

"But, the external hard drive is read-only on Ubuntu (it works perfectly on windows)."
Its working perfectly in Ubuntu as well, better in fact... "The Hard Drive is formatted with NTFS and has some important data" read-only means you cant delete it ;)

Revision history for this message
pirateblanc (pirateblanc) said : 		#3

This is what i did with my external hard drive, NOTE: not usb drive. I removed my Internal HDD, like you unplug the data cord. Boot to a Ubuntu Live CD. Format the hard drive to 3 sections: ext3, swap, fat32. Follow the Ubuntu installation details and install onto your external HDD.

Note your internal HDD MUST be removed. Else this will create issues.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Pshinghal for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.