Bootable USB External Drive on T41??????

[wifilinux]

I have purchased new T41 for work. I have a external encloser and my personal drive - I cant seem to get it to boot into USB external - screen goes black.

the option is in BIOS and enabled but will never boot??? Has anyone done this or purshased a CD hard drive encloser and boot from second drive there?

Thanks for you help!!!!!!!

[MobileGuru]

With the drive attached you should try booting with the F12 button to select the secondary drive. Shouldn't be a problem really.

[wifilinux]

Thanks for the tip - I got F12 boot selection window-

First there was no USB selectable just
3 - ATAPI CD/DVD
4 - IDE
5 - Legacy Hard Drives
7- PCI LAN

I entered into options - double checked and USB is Enabled - EXit and rebooted - Now hit F12 USB is selectable..?!

So now I do see it - yet when I select it still shows Black Screen with blinking cursur in left corner..

Is there a jumper setting on external needed?

Have you used the drive bay that replaces the CD Drive? Does this allow for boot instead of internal?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[nikemen]

So, I have had a similar experience, esecially with USB linux versions. I think that some USB externals are bootable and some are not. AS well, some installs are bootable externally and some are not.

anyone with a solution, it would be nice to have.

[mbrship]

Anyone is having an non-ibm usb cd drive models that can boot? Can you show us your brand or models?

Thanks!

[Roy_W]

Anyone is having an non-ibm usb cd drive models that can boot? Can you show us your brand or models?

Thanks!

I have several external USB drives and USB Keys, I can boot from several of them. None of my material is IBM made,except the Thinkpad , almost everything is of the "NonName" variety.

Essentially I use them to boot versions version of Linux. So I can without doubt say to you that Yes it does work.

Please note that if you you are trying to boot Windows, that can be a whole other ballpark. I believe that Windows refuses to boot on anything other than fixed hard drives, please someone correct me if I am wrong.

Something else to be very wary of is the manner in which you told your system that the hard drive is bootable.

: Which method did you use to setup the MBR ?
: Have you made at least one of the partitions on the drive "Active" ?
: Did you install the OS after or before making the above changes ?


Roy