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    Boot Loader Help

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by CalebSchmerge, Feb 8, 2007.

  1. CalebSchmerge

    CalebSchmerge Woof NBR Reviewer

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    One thing that I didn't like about dual booting Linux on my laptop was that I always had to deal with the boot loader, even though most of the time I wanted to boot to Windows. What I want to do, is to be able to set my computer to boot from a USB drive, and have the boot loader (just the boot loader) installed there, and then the actual OS on the hard drive. The reason I want to do this is that if the USB drive isn't in the computer, it will boot to windows as if Linux wasn't even there. If the USB drive is in the computer, it will bring up the boot loader (or just go to Linux, either way). Is this possible? Any suggestions on how to do this?
     
    CalebSchmerge, Feb 8, 2007
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  2. timberwolf

    timberwolf Notebook Consultant

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    Check whether the BIOS will boot an external hard drive. Also check in the BIOS to see if you change the order of bootable devices.

    If the only reason that you don't want to use the internal drive for linux is the boot loader, you can change the GRUB boot loader to boot Windows by default.
     
    timberwolf, Feb 8, 2007
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  3. CalebSchmerge

    CalebSchmerge Woof NBR Reviewer

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    I know how to do everything BIOS related, but I am curious about installing grub to the USB drive, but having my Linux partition on the internal hard drive. Having Windows as default is better, but I would still rather have the bootloader there only when I want to boot to Linux, until I use Linux as my primary OS.
     
    CalebSchmerge, Feb 8, 2007
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  4. timberwolf

    timberwolf Notebook Consultant

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    Ah, sorry. It's not a standard install option of most distros, so you'll have to be prepared to get your hands dirty, copy files and run commands from the GRUB shell. There are various HOWTOs on installing GRUB to a USB drive.
     
    timberwolf, Feb 8, 2007
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  5. geekydude

    geekydude Notebook Geek

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    Caleb, what you suggested is do-able, and I know how to do it. But I can't give you all the definite instructions without accessing your system and finding out the device numbers.

    A good alternative is to use the Windows boot loader to dual-boot between Windows and grub. This way you'll boot into Windows, and Windows will give you an option to boot into Linux (grub), but the default will be Windows. Take a look at this link for more details:

    http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux/grub-w2k-HOWTO.html
     
    geekydude, Feb 8, 2007
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  6. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    Why not edit your grub install's menu.lst and swap the Windows and Linux entries. That way, if you turn your computer on, and dont touch anything, Windows will boot. If you press a button, it will bring up the menu and you can choose Linux instead.
     
    Lysander, Feb 8, 2007
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