Ubuntu installed on an external hdd startup error

I have used the method at http://www.pendrivelinux.com/installing-ubuntu-to-a-usb-hard-drive/

It involves temporarily disconnecting the computer hard drives.

The boot is then on the external hard drive. The computer has to be able to boot from USB.

Is that really necessary? I have an HP laptop and really wouldn't like to open it...

No you do not need to disconnect any drives at all.

If the system is runnning windows you can boot to the desktop environment:

http://www.dedoimedo.com/images/computers/ubuntu-8.10-create-usb-disk.jpg

I am sorry, could you rephrase that? I am failing to see the relevance here...

That's how you install it to the USB partition. Make sure you MD5 check the ISO before you burn as well as run the CD verifier

I think that is to create something similar to the live CD, and are we both talking about the 'Create a USB startup disk' menu option?

Well the install to an internal partition is similar to the live CD also. Just uses an internal rive rather than a RAM disk. What's your point?

What I mean is, it is basically a live cd on a usb. And this is getting slightly off-topic. My original question was: How can I make ubuntu load properly?

You will need to read through:

dmesg | less

as well as read:

less /var/log/Xorg.0.log

To see why the X server is not running

Did you MD5 check the ISO you used to install with?

I don't think I can access dmesg or less from busybox, which is the only thing ubuntu will boot into. Also, I used one of those free CDs from ShipIT.

sure you can

Just type the commands.

You should still verify the CD once booted to if it is from shippit

Okay, I have solved the problem by manually loading the modules for the usb drive. BUT I would like to know how to make ubuntu do this automatically on boot.

I need to load these modules on boot automatically:
usb-storage
scsi_mod
ehci_hcd
sd_mod

But, before those modules are loaded and I type 'exec init', I am using some different filesystem. One with no 'boot' or 'home' directory. And I don't know how to access it from outside, and I don't think it saves changes (persistent between boots).

Oh, and by 'solved the problem', I mean I am able to boot into the window system and use ubuntu normally IF I do the things mentioned above first every time.

gksudo gedit /etc/modules

add those lines

save the file, job done

I tried your suggestion, but to no avail. I think it has something to do with the face that in busybox, as I said there seems to be some sort of other filesystem that is not persistent between boots.

if its busybox you can use:

sudo nano /etc/modules

add the lines

press ctrl +x
press y
press enter

this will add the lines (sounds like you were unsuccessful adding the lines)

The commands 'sudo' and 'nano' are not available in busybox. Is there an alternative?

And by the way, thank you for all the help you have given me, and that includes last year.

cant remember last year. not sure dude. you could try booting to recovery root console using esc at grubload time and select recovery mode, then select root. you ca now type full commands :)

It didn't work, I can't seem to access that strange area of the disk. And if I create a file in it, then reboot, it is gone after I reboot.

If I read correctly, you have Ubuntu installed on an external hdd. First you boot into Windows and then you start Ubuntu?

If GRUB is installed on your hdd, why not set you laptop to boot from that hdd. You can change this in your BIOS. Put it as boot nr. 1. And thet your CD or internal hdd as second boot.

No, I boot into ubuntu first, and that is off topic. Thanks though...

I have opened a new question here with more information: http://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/78283

Take a look at it and if you can, try to answer it.

Problem solved! For all of you who may see this on google or something:

I followed a guide that said how to build a new initrd.img, and have ubuntu automatically load the necessary drivers at startup. The guide can be found here: http://stuporglue.org/initrd.php

And if that goes down, can be very annoying especially if you think you have finally found the answer, then please just email me at <email address hidden>, and I will send it to you.