Ubuntu – Install Ubuntu on external disk ,Mac OS

bootexternal-hddmacmacbook prosystem-installation

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.

Best Answer

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.

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