Linux USB Dual Booting

[Mazin]

Originally Posted by Bill_Hancoc

I am new to linux and a considering installing it. I dont want to mess with my internal HD just because i dont want to. I dont need to access linux when i am away from my desk i mainly want to use it to learn and just mess around with. I have a DELL Inspiron 6000 with XP home on the internal HD. I recently got a very cheap HD and made it external through USB. i have a 60GB NFTS partition on it for windows file storage and the remaing 20GB are unallocated. Is it possible to install Fedora Core 3 on the 20GB partition and Boot from it when i feel like using linux. I have no intention of trying to boot on another computer only this one.

I have to comment. Fedora Core is at version 5, in case you were wondering, and as they say, Ubuntu Dapper Drake (I personally prefer Kubuntu, same thing) is much more user friendly. I have had a horrendous experience with FC4 (4 discs???!!!). Ubuntu's partitioner works great too and the new theme doesn't suck like Breezy's did.

You have to set your BIOS settings, to list USB external hard drive /before/ the internal one in the boot order. This way, your bios checks the usb for a boot record before your internal, and you can just disconnect the drive before you boot to use Windoze.

[Bill_Hancoc]

I actually got it to work thanks to the pdf that MattD sent me but now im working on getting it to connect to the internet...my problem is i dont know how to use linux so that will be a work in progress