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I currently have an external hard drive that is partitioned to 3 parts:

  • dev/sdb1 - Files
  • dev/sdb2 - Kubuntu 11.10
  • dev/sdb3 - linux-swap

I'm using GRUB on my built-in HDD in order to boot dev/sdb2. I might bring this external hard drive with me when I'm traveling. Is it possible for me to install a bootloader onto this drive to boot Kubuntu 11.10 so I don't have to carry my computer with me? If so, how? I appreciate any suggestions or answers.

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1 Answer 1

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Boot up your Kubuntu, and install grub in it (in /dev/sdb). Then go to /etc/fstab and edit the file so that all sdb's are sda.

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  • I'm sorry, but can you explain what you mean by "all sdb's are sda"? And also, my OS is not on the first partition, and that's the main problem because my BIOS complains "Missing Operating System" when I select my external HDD on boot.
    – Francis Lau
    Jan 24, 2012 at 3:23
  • I've heard that I can't do this because the BIOS checks the first sector of the HDD for this and my OS is on the second partition of the drive.
    – Francis Lau
    Jan 24, 2012 at 3:26
  • when you open the file /etc/fstab you'll see 'sdb' in multiple places. Change that to 'sda'. If you install GRUB on /dev/sdb (not on /dev/sdb1, etc.) then you should not see the missing OS error.
    – Baha
    Jan 24, 2012 at 3:36
  • ok, i'll try that tomorrow. please keep in mind my actual os is on the second partition, and the first partition of my HDD is only for storage. i'll be installing grub on the second partition and i'll change the fstab too. thanks.
    – Francis Lau
    Jan 24, 2012 at 4:16
  • Thanks again, Baha, but when I opened the fstab file, I couldn't find any "sdb"s anywhere. Here's the link to my fstab file: (francis-fac.zapto.org/fstab). Please take a look. Thanks!
    – Francis Lau
    Jan 24, 2012 at 21:52

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