[SOLVED] install completely in ext4-formatted drive [Archive]

ak4allz

February 12th, 2011, 11:40 PM

here is my problem. i want to completely install kubuntu on a 8gb pendrive. i want to install in it completely, using the ext4 and i dont want the installation bring harm to my hdd (eg: the grub boot)..

once i boot the pendrive, i can use the linux and when i eject the drive, i can simply enter into windows without grub

i've done this before, but the grub is there and i cannot enter windows in my hdd. thanks :D

oldfred

February 13th, 2011, 12:26 AM

Not sure if I understand. Have you installed it and grub went into your hard drive not the flash drive?

Or are you worried about it doing the above and you want to be sure that it does not happen.

If already installed you have to reinstall grub to the external flash drive and install a windows boot loader to the internal drive.
How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

If installing, many recommend disconnecting the internal drive so grub will not even see it. Others suggest using the manual partitioning/manual install.

Installing Ubuntu in Hard Disk Two (or more) internal or external
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p24.html

It does not have to be encrypted:
Standard full install to flash or SSD:
Ubuntu Encrypted Flash Memory Installation
http://members.iinet.net/~herman546/p19.html
More discussion Dec 2010
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1643591

Use ext2 or ext4 without journal:
tune2fs -O ^has_journal /dev/sda1
No swap or set swapiness
After installing, change the fstab so that everything gets mounted with noatime.
change to noop i/o scheduler

You want journal to speed up system recovery if you have to do repairs or run fsck. But if partition is small then it does not take long to fsck anyway and without journal writing is reduced.

See post by C.S.Cameron to answer same question:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1686528