Need Help Formatting An External Harddrive

[DarkSnakeKobra]

ok. make sure run firefox after. Just look at the top of the screen for it.

[DarkSnakeKobra]

You on a different computer?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

Looks like they changed something in the 10.10 version. You'll need to select run ubuntu from a usb.

[SOCIOPATH]

oh also i dont have another computer so once i go into the boot menu, i assume i eventually come back to my OS so i can come back to firefox and speak with you??

Also i am rebooting again because i forgot to ask you which option i choose once i am in the F21 boot menu. Is it the one that says IDE CD ROM or something like that which then takes me to the option to run live cd?

Oh and if you had hoped i would be n another computer while i was in the boot menu etc, i will not be so do i need further instructions from you first before i go back to the boot menu?

[SOCIOPATH]

ok i just read your newest post, so i dont have to go into the boot menu just run it from the USB?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

That is weird. Showed your name for several minutes. Forum glitch I guess. Firefox is in Ubuntu. Just look at the top of the screen and you can't miss it.

Crap! Sorry sorry. You'll need to burn it with nero. Xp doesn't support booting from a flash drive. I completely forgot. Sorry!

[DarkSnakeKobra]

Use Nero burning rom to burn the iso to a disc. Then boot and choose ide cd rom drive and run live cd. Sorry about the mess up. Haven't used xp for ages and most newer os's support that.

[SOCIOPATH]

nope no ubuntu link showing up anywhere on my firefox page

ok so i need to burn ubuntu to a disc right now? Do i need to redownload it then?

P.S. - you sure i cant do it in XP? it is showing my USB drive now as the Ubuntu symbol and it says: Install Ubuntu (H:)

[SOCIOPATH]

oh, no i dont need to redownload my bad it is still a file in my downloads. I will burn it to disc then? or try installing it from the USB?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

No I meant run firefox after you boot the disc(comes with ubuntu and you'll run with the disc)or am I misunderstanding?

Hmm I guess they must have improved it. Swore booting from usb wouldn't work on xp. Try that. If it starts asking you a bunch of questions cancel or force a shut down. Bit worried it says Install Ubuntu.

Use ether run ubuntu from usb or live cd option.

[SOCIOPATH]

hmm i wont take the risk then installing from USB. I only have DVD's to burn with right now, that be ok?? i assume i would then burn the file onto it as DVD image? Will that be the same as a cd image? i assume it will be?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

oh, no i dont need to redownload my bad it is still a file in my downloads. I will burn it to disc then? or try installing it from the USB?

Ether or. Try the usb first.

[SOCIOPATH]

oh and if i burn it as a dvd i am still going to choose the option of going through the IDE CD Rom correct?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

It'll work. Congrats! You made 50 posts and can now edit! Also a special hidden forum is now open.

[SOCIOPATH]

Update question:

Ok you sure i should try the install from the USB first? i am burning a DVD right now so i can do it that way instead from F12 if you think thats safer?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

oh and if i burn it as a dvd i am still going to choose the option of going through the IDE CD Rom correct?

That is correct. Unless it's labelled differently.

[DarkSnakeKobra]

It should work. Use the live cd option.

[SOCIOPATH]

reply to your last post. You mean i should use the USB and run the live cd option or you mean go through a disc now?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

If you burnt the disc then that's the best option.

[SOCIOPATH]

hang on, i am reburning, the burn failed lol.

[DarkSnakeKobra]

alrighty. Think we could finish this later? 2 in morning and I'm so tired. Sorry, but long day and I need sleep.

[DarkSnakeKobra]

Be back on around 7 am Central.

[SOCIOPATH]

ok burning now again. And once i reboot and boot from cd, i will then get a chance to come back onto my OS and then open firefox and continue to talk on the forums while i run throguh the process?, or it will run through firefox you meant?

[SOCIOPATH]

damn 2 for me too but i think i am so close. Any chance i could beg you for 20 more mins? otherwise i understand and we can continue later today

[Coldheart]

I see there's been quite a bit of back-and-forth going on in this thread since I left.

Buttons: is Ubuntu really necessary to format a HDD into FAT32? I'm quite sure that it can be done in Windows XP, via the My Computer context menu for the device.

Right-click --> Format --> then select FAT32. It works on the simple principle as a USB pen drive, I'm sure.

And also, you said that in XP you cannot boot from USB. You are booting from the BIOS, and booting from USB, so the hard drive and the OS installed on it does not come into the equation.

And a good program for installing Linux distros onto USB devices is UNetbootin - http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/.

I have personally used it a number of times without incident. It saves using a disc, and provided your BIOS allows you to boot from USB, it is great for getting the job done.

SOCIOPATH: What is it that you are stuck with at the moment? Perhaps I can help. Buttons was very good to have helped you for so long last night (I would have stayed longer, but it was past 3 am when I logged off), but since I'm not doing anything I will be more than happy to talk you through the process.