Ubuntu

How to install Ubuntu on HDD (without installing bootloader or touching MBR), then load a bootloader onto keydrive and boot to ubuntu on HDD from keydrive bootloader?

Asked by GordonFJ

This is a question, and not a bug report.

I'd like the ability to use my XP machine as normal after installing Ubuntu on a new partition.

What I want is for the machine to behave just as it did before installation of Ubuntu (ie no boot loader asking which OS to boot up), and then when I feel like explicitly booting into Ubuntu, push a boot loader key drive into a USB port, restart and be presented with a boot loader or go straight to Ubuntu on that new HDD partition.

I've seen articles on how to create an emergency bootable linux installation on a key drive. But this means the OS needs to all be on the keydrive.

Is this a possible thing at all? Anyone know what steps need to be taken to do this?

Cheers
Gordon

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Ralph Janke (txwikinger) said : 		#1

If you can boot with your computer from the ley drive, then this is possible.

You would have to do the same things as if you would do it for a floppy to boot from, just with the key drive.

However, you probably can't use the ubuntu installation CD, but would have to manually install your ubuntu partition, and then manually setup grub on your key drive.

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gary7154 (garysco) said : 		#2

System info. Asus M3a32MVP Deluxe MB, 4 gig ddr2 dual channel, CD-RW, AMD Quad Core @ 2.9Mhz CPU, WD Caviar IDE 32500, also Maxtor 160gb SATA, PNY 8400GS DDR2 256mb PCIe video card...I want to install Ubuntu as the only OS for this system. I have it on cd and I already tried to install like I would with windows. I put the cd in the drive and it booted to an installation screen. It gave me about 6 choices and I entered install. (don't remember inexactly what it said) It looked like it was installing, then nothing, then it rebooted and hung up. I am obviously very new to this. Be gentle. Your help would be great. I'm excited about a new OS. Especially Linux.

Thank you all in advance,

Gary

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