Install Ubuntu on external disk ,Mac OS

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Solution 1

I've just created a similar configuration on my Mac Mini (OS X Mavericks and Windows 7 on internal SSD, Ubuntu on external drive). Here's what you'll have to do:

  • create back up images of the OS X and Windows partition (optional but strongly recommended)
  • create a bootable USB stick with the ubuntu installer
  • holding down the option key, boot from the ubuntu installer stick
  • install ubuntu to the external hard disk
  • On reboot (I had to force the shutdown by pressing and holding the power button, as it seemed to have stalled some time after clicking reboot), hold down the option key to boot into OS X
  • download and install Refind boot manager
  • edit the refind configuration file /efi/refind/refind.conf (the line you're looking for starts with scanfor) and make sure hdbios is included in the list
  • on reboot, you should now be greeted with a menu containing a ubuntu, Mac and Windows logo (you can press esc to refresh the list, as external drives can take some time to show up; you can configure refind to pause befaure showing hte menu)

Hope this helps.

Greg.

Solution 2

My experience:

Use your Windows 7, install Linux Live USB Creator (LiLi USB Creator). Install Lili, use your old USB memory stick 4+ GB. Lili will do all the work - extract files on your USB memory stick and make it bootable. Restart your PC and choos Boot device. Boot from USB, start Ubuntu installation and don't forget to choose your external disk for installation...

And that's it!

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Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

  • Fabby
    Fabby over 1 year

    The Problem I have is how to install Ubuntu in a very tricky environment: My computer is a Macbook Pro (bought in 2013). My current OS is Mac OS and Windows 7 in bootcamp. Since my Mac Pro only has a 256 GB HDD, I would like to install Ubuntu on an external disk, so I went ahead and bought a USB3.0 Portable Hard Disk, which has 500GB space.

    How should I proceed to install Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS on an external HDD and boot it from there?

    I would like to avoid to install it in a virtual machine.

  • Matt Timbrook
    Matt Timbrook over 10 years
    Macs use the EFI, there is no BIOS.
  • Gregory Van Vooren
    Gregory Van Vooren over 10 years
    For the record: I installed Ubuntu 13.10 this way, but I'ld be surprised if the same mo wouldn't work for 12.04.
  • amrx
    amrx over 7 years
    What is this about ? Please read the OP question and modify yours accordingly. Thank you.
  • Bennett McElwee
    Bennett McElwee about 3 years
    This might be useful for Windows users, but the OP specified Mac OS...