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Run Linux From external drive?

Discussion in 'Other Operating Systems' started by Old Man, Jun 5, 2024.

  1. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2023
    Messages:
    62
    Operating System:
    Windows 10
    I am not well versed in software, but I have a question. On my desktop machine, I run Win 11 64 bit. It has an SSD main drive for C of about 68 gigs. Small. But it has an additional external SSD drive of 1 TB free space. I also have an additional 1TB SSD ext drive I could plug into it that is blank and formatted ready to go.
    My question is what would I need to add to that 1 TB SSD in order to run a Linux OS on it? Is it even possible? I have a Linux OS ready to go.
    I know I could dual boot, but I don't want to get into that. Also, I could use Virtual Box, but I have not been able to get that to work properly and Oracle is of no help, so I don't want to do that either.
    The other thing I thought of too is will Linux work with my Windows modem?
    Any ideas? Thanks.
     
  2. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Messages:
    893
    Location:
    Here
    Operating System:
    Linux Based
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    I have a Asus prime Z270A MB
    CPU:
    Intel i5 Quad core
    Memory:
    Rip Jaw 32 GB
    Hard Drive:
    Samsung Evo 500 GB SS
    Graphics Card:
    Radeon R7 260X/360
    Power Supply:
    750 Watt Corsair
    The answer is yes.I am not understanding what you are trying to do. If yo want to run Linux from your external drive yes that is possible. To do that you would need to go into the bios and change the boot order to that drive. If you want to add Linux to a internal drive you would need to boot from a Linux flash drive and install it on what ever drive you want. Sorry if that is not what you are asking please post back to clarify.
     
    allheart55 (Cindy E) likes this.
  3. plodr

    plodr CHF Advisor CHF Advisers

    Joined:
    May 31, 2017
    Messages:
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    Operating System:
    Windows 7
    You should not waste a 1TB drive to run linux. Linux requires a lot less than Windows. Save that 1TB drive for file storage and/or backups of your Windows computer. You can run linux from a 16GB USB stick. I have an old version of a linux distro on a 2GB USB stick that I run from time to time to get rid of files on the desktop that can't be removed by windows programs I've tried.
     
    allheart55 (Cindy E) likes this.
  4. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2023
    Messages:
    62
    Operating System:
    Windows 10
    What I was trying to do is run Linux on my external HD I took out of another computer. But Plodr brings up a good point about not wasting a 1 TB drive just for the Linux OS. Run it from the 16 Gig USB drive. I already have the Linux OS etched onto the USB. So do I need to boot up with the USB drive in bios, or can I just plug in the USB drive and use the OS from there? I am only at the stage where I created the bootable USB drive with Linux on it. I have not tried to boot up with it or even go into it. If running from the USB drive is less complicated, I would rather do that. Thanks.
     
  5. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Messages:
    893
    Location:
    Here
    Operating System:
    Linux Based
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    I have a Asus prime Z270A MB
    CPU:
    Intel i5 Quad core
    Memory:
    Rip Jaw 32 GB
    Hard Drive:
    Samsung Evo 500 GB SS
    Graphics Card:
    Radeon R7 260X/360
    Power Supply:
    750 Watt Corsair
    OK got it yes you can plug the USB drive in and boot from that and run Linux. You may have to change the boot order to direct it to boot from your USB drive. To change the boot order you may have to go into the bios and choose your USB drive for first boot device. The setting will most likely be under boot in the bios. If you have trouble finding it post back your computers model number I will try to figure it out.
     
    allheart55 (Cindy E) and Tony D like this.
  6. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

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    Operating System:
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    OK thanks.
     
  7. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Messages:
    893
    Location:
    Here
    Operating System:
    Linux Based
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    I have a Asus prime Z270A MB
    CPU:
    Intel i5 Quad core
    Memory:
    Rip Jaw 32 GB
    Hard Drive:
    Samsung Evo 500 GB SS
    Graphics Card:
    Radeon R7 260X/360
    Power Supply:
    750 Watt Corsair
    You are welcome.
     
  8. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2023
    Messages:
    62
    Operating System:
    Windows 10
    I tried to run Linux from the ext hard drive, but I needed to make partitions, and I am not familiar with that, so I decided to just go ahead and install on my laptop and replace win11 with it. I used the Zorin distro but something bad happened. Zorin went through the normal installation process from my Ventoy USB but when Zorin asked me to restart and pull out the installation media I got the error "No Bootable Device". I know or at least I think Zorin was installed, but it won't boot up. Secure boot is off, and I checked the boot manager in bios, but Zorin does not show up. So now I do not have an OS since Zorin wiped my disk but didn't install as expected. I have retried the installation 4 times with the same result. Sums was run at installation, so I know it was all there. There is no option for boot repair in Ventoy and I can't get into Zorin and my Win11 is gone. So I am up the creek without a paddle. The only thing I have to boot from is Ventoy which contains several Linux distros and Windows. But when I try to reinstall Windows, it will not install. I have no idea what to do. Any ideas? Thanks.
     
  9. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Messages:
    893
    Location:
    Here
    Operating System:
    Linux Based
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    I have a Asus prime Z270A MB
    CPU:
    Intel i5 Quad core
    Memory:
    Rip Jaw 32 GB
    Hard Drive:
    Samsung Evo 500 GB SS
    Graphics Card:
    Radeon R7 260X/360
    Power Supply:
    750 Watt Corsair
    Is it possible to get a friend to make you a windows 11 USB install drive? I don't have a answer why Zorin didn't install I've never had that happen. Have you tried one of the other Linux distro's on your USB drive? There maybe something wrong with Ventoy since windows doesn't install either.
     
    allheart55 (Cindy E) likes this.
  10. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2023
    Messages:
    62
    Operating System:
    Windows 10
    I found an HDD Low Level Format Tool that actually forces a format when a USB refuses to be formatted. It worked, although it does take time as it goes one bit at a time. Windows was then able to put the Media Creation Tool on the USB, and I was able to boot up from that and got Windows 10 back on my laptop. I didn't put Win 12 back on because the machine is older and has a small hard drive. Thanks for your help .
     
  11. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

    Joined:
    May 8, 2017
    Messages:
    893
    Location:
    Here
    Operating System:
    Linux Based
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    I have a Asus prime Z270A MB
    CPU:
    Intel i5 Quad core
    Memory:
    Rip Jaw 32 GB
    Hard Drive:
    Samsung Evo 500 GB SS
    Graphics Card:
    Radeon R7 260X/360
    Power Supply:
    750 Watt Corsair
    You are welcome glad you got it working.
     

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