Install Arch to an external hard drive?

smartboyathome · 2008-01-31 01:06:33

Hi, I looked at Arch Linux a while ago, but dismissed it because I couldn't get it to work. I would like to try it again, but this time on an external hard drive. Anyway, I would like to know how to get grub to see it is on an external hard drive, how it would install, etc. Anyway, thanks to anyone who helps.

P.S. should this guide work similarly for Arch (when modified accordingly)?

zyghom · 2008-01-31 04:51:44

it is much easier
I did it few days ago - no problems actually
The only hints:
1-depending where you connect your external usb hdd it might be 1st 2nd or even 3rd hdd in the system so /boot/grub/menu.list must be respective to this (or multiconfig)
2-same with mounting / - it is better to use mount-by-uuid than /dev/sd[x]

as for me I made multiconfig and tested on few laptops/desktops - always working

smartboyathome · 2008-01-31 21:00:14

How would I find out the UUID for the partition I am going to use while installing GRUB?

zyghom · 2008-01-31 21:05:46

ls -la /dev/disk/by-uuid

even if you start from cdrom then uuid of parition is not changing
you can also make label for partition and then /dev/disk/by-label

loosec · 2008-01-31 21:43:18

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Per … ice_naming This would explain most of the uu-id naming scheme. Quite brilliant I'd say.

verzinner · 2008-02-04 18:35:07

Hi all

I've the same problem. I install Arch on my usb-hdd and when booting - get "Root device /dev/sdc1 doesn't exist"

I used uuid too. There is same problem.

I installed ubuntu on that device too - and it's downloading normally.

Sorry, english is not my native language , but I hope you understand me.

I posted my problem in russian forums too. Our community is keeping silence

I tried:

/boot/grub/menu.lst kernel-line:

root=/dev/sdc1 --when booting "Root device /dev/sdc1 doesn't exist"
root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/XXXXXXXXX --when booting "Root device /dev/disk/by-uuid/XXXXXXXXX doesn't exist"

In /etc/fstab I change /dev/sdc1 on /dev/disk/by-uuid/XXXXXXXXX too

gorn · 2008-02-11 22:54:14

try adding root-delay (or is it rootdelay? try both) to the command line to give your usb host some time to identify the drive:

root=/dev/sdc1 rootdelay=10 root-delay=10

verzinner · 2008-02-12 10:41:13

gorn wrote:

try adding root-delay (or is it rootdelay? try both)

Yes. I tried it. There was the same result.

I found some info about it. Somebody think that I must remake initrd after install arch and add support of usb-hdd (because kernel doesn't see it ).

But I don't know how to do that.

desmopro · 2008-07-03 03:46:33

Hi ,

Is it possible to install on a Archlinux External HDD with a computer without any HDD Internal?

Sorry for my english, i am french

lilsirecho · 2008-07-03 04:01:09

If the computer bios allows USBHDD boot, there should be no problem. I assume your computer has no IDE slot, just SATA.

desmopro · 2008-07-03 04:15:28

Quite the contrary: It is my old PC in IDE and I have no HDD IDE, my external it is a SATA:)

Thank for rapid reply;)

Arch Linux

#1 2008-01-31 01:06:33

Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#2 2008-01-31 04:51:44

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#3 2008-01-31 21:00:14

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#4 2008-01-31 21:05:46

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#5 2008-01-31 21:43:18

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#6 2008-02-04 18:35:07

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#7 2008-02-11 22:54:14

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#8 2008-02-12 10:41:13

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#9 2008-07-03 03:46:33

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#10 2008-07-03 04:01:09

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

#11 2008-07-03 04:15:28

Re: Install Arch to an external hard drive?

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