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I use a Windows XP system with pentium 4 processor. Recently I've downloaded Ubuntu 14.04, copied it onto 4GB pendrive and now I wish to install it onto an external HDD (my passport 500GB) so that I can use Ubuntu while my family can use still use the Windows. When I tried to boot the OS from pendrive, cursor kept blinking and saying that: boot from CD/DVD. I tried it many times, but it doesn't work. What should I do now?

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  • Hi can you check whether you have enabled USB booting and also make sure you have installed GRUB on that external hard disk.
    – BDRSuite
    Jan 19, 2015 at 16:34

1 Answer 1

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The following steps will make it easiest for you and the entire family:

  1. Hook up the external HDD you're going to install Ubuntu on.
  2. Go to the BIOS and set the following boot priority:
    1. CD/DVD-ROM
    2. External HDD
    3. Internal HDD
  3. Boot a live CD, and follow the instructions from the Ubuntu.com site

Now your system is set up and:

  1. If anyone of your family boots the computer, they'll boot into XP
  2. if you hook up the HDD to the computer before booting, it'll boot Ubuntu

Why not booting from USB? Apparently you've never done this before and USB disks are recognised as "hard disks" under Ubuntu. More chance of failure. (but feel free to use the following correct instructions to put Ubuntu on a USB stick anyway and not listen to my advice)

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  • nd as you're a reputation 1 user: If this all works, don't forget to click the grey check-mark under the "0" at the left of this text, which means "yes, this answer is valid"! ;-)
    – Fabby
    Jan 21, 2015 at 13:33

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