linux on usb hdd

[fat_basterd21]

Well I have seen linux on many things but I wonder if there is a full distrobution that can be installed to a usb hdd... And what would be the best distro for a total n0ob..

[Rob Pomeroy]

You can install Linux on a 1.44MB floppy disk, so yes.  It won't do much, but can be useful for troubleshooting.

Linspire is a good newbie-friendly distro, but since it is so radically different from many other distributions, I would recommend staying away from if you really want to aim for a more "normal" Linux experience.  A lot of people are having success with Ubuntu, which generally sets itself up pretty well.  Alternatively, Fedora and OpenSuse are good choices.

[SilentAssasin64]

I second Ubuntu.  I use it at home and I'm loving it.  I've used many other distros and Ubuntu is by far the best one I've used.

[Raptor]

I would have kept using Linux Ubuntu if it wasn't such a complete pain in the *censored* about my LCD screen which I wasn't able to set up.

It forced me to go back to Windows.  

[Rob Pomeroy]

Operator error.

[fat_basterd21]

Cool i saw somewhere that SuSe 9.1 was good for beginners so I got that and also came across ubuntu... I haven't installed either but I will try ubuntu... thanx every1 if there is anyone else that can add something feel free...

[Raptor]

Operator error.

Oh, sure, some day I'll have enough patience. But Linux wasn't being very clear on what it wanted to know and how I should fill it in. It assumed I had a CRT monitor.

[fat_basterd21]

Yea and windows is... Anyway I have another question... will I be able to use linux on different computers once it is on the usb hdd or does it need to be installed on the computer to use it... I know the live versions automatically configure everything but does a full install...

[Rob Pomeroy]

Let me answer your question with a question: if you put a full install of Windows on a USB key, do you think you could boot absolutely any computer with it?  Linux is somewhat similar, although it can do a better job at times, at spotting and configuring newly removed or installed hardware.  You need something like a live CD because that runs through all the detection routines.  Why not just copy a live CD in its entirety to a USB key?  Might work on systems that can boot from USB devices...

[fat_basterd21]

ok how exactly would I do that

[Rob Pomeroy]

Try drag and drop...

[fat_basterd21]

Well I chose to use knoppix because it configures to my network easier... but when I try to boot from usb it gives me >Grub I dont know how to boot from here...

[Rob Pomeroy]

What happens if you just hit enter?

[fat_basterd21]

IDK?

[fat_basterd21]

Yea when I press enter it just gives me >Grub again... I've had this happen when I do an install sometimes... Is there a command or does this mean bad news?