Ubuntu Install on External Drive

eipapp

If I'm installing Ubuntu onto a external HD do I load the boot loader onto my internal HD or on the external drive ?

The external HD has no other OS on it at this time. Internal is Win 7.

Thanks & Regards,

Bruce

mfillpot

You should be able to select where the bootloader will be installed in the advanced options at the end of the installation.

eipapp

I know but I'm asking which would be the better or preferred choice to load it onto the external drive or the internal drive?

Thanks,

LegacyUser

If it were me I'd put the bootloader on the external hard drive and use the bios at startup (on my 'puter it's hitting F12 a few times when the manufacturer's logo appears on my Dell) to select which drive to boot from.
But it's really a matter of personal preference.

-Robin

MikeEnIke

I would definitely put the bootloader onto the External. I had a friend who put it on the internal and it was just a pain to get it to work. Putting it on the external allows you to simply boot from the External in the BIOS

mfillpot

I agree, installing it on the internal mbr may not work if you bios does not recognize the external at boot time. By installing the bootloader on the mbr of the external HDD, you will boot into it by using the "boot external HD" option in the bios which will setup the hard drive in bios.