Can I install an operating system on an external hard drive?

Question

linux

I have a laptop. It has two operating systems - Ubuntu and Windows. I want to buy an external hard drive, install some kind of Linux operating system there and connect, for example, to a laptop through this new external hard drive, and not remove the old hard drive from the laptop to a new one. Is it possible to do this directly via USB? if so, how can this be done? And what is the best disk?

Answer 1

If the bios allows you to download, then of course you can.
If you connect an external drive via USB 3.0, then you can take an SSD. And it is so debatable that it will be much better, although access to small files will fly, compared to the HDD.
And isn't it easier to burn a live CD on a USB flash drive and run it anywhere?
Here, of course, it all depends on the task.

Answer 2

Can I install an operating system on an external hard drive?

It is possible, but difficult.
But you need to understand that it will work noticeably slower than SATA.

Answer 3

And what is the best disk?

a fast flash drive like SanDisk Extreme PRO SDCZ880-128G-G46
if cheaper, then an SSD drive with a USB interface

Answer 4

Do not take a flash drive, journaled systems (NTFS / ext4) will kill it quickly.
Runs reasonably well, testing a 2.5 drive on a 5400 with PCMark for three hours revealed a ~10% performance loss on USB 3.0 vs internal Sata.
If you take an SSD, keep in mind that few external boxes are able to TRIM.
For an SSD, this is important.

Answer 5

The vast majority of linux systems work from external boot devices. There are those who prefer exclusively external drives, such as Kodachi. Personally, I have Kali loaded from a flash drive. If we talk about small pulp, then Windows pe

Answer 6

In 99% of what is possible, I did this with my mother in 2004, booted from a Windows 7 flash drive, it started for 40 minutes with me, and the start opened after 30 seconds of current.