If I install a GRUB backup on USB flash will it affect my current system GRUB?
I want to be able to boot from HD normally but also boot from USB if something gets broken in my dual-boot setup. It should be transparent to the OSes. Are there any issues with this?
grub2 18.04
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
add a comment |
I want to be able to boot from HD normally but also boot from USB if something gets broken in my dual-boot setup. It should be transparent to the OSes. Are there any issues with this?
grub2 18.04
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
add a comment |
I want to be able to boot from HD normally but also boot from USB if something gets broken in my dual-boot setup. It should be transparent to the OSes. Are there any issues with this?
grub2 18.04
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
I want to be able to boot from HD normally but also boot from USB if something gets broken in my dual-boot setup. It should be transparent to the OSes. Are there any issues with this?
grub2 18.04
grub2 18.04
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
asked Jan 20 at 19:31
Luke PLuke P
82
82
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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If you can unplug or disconnect the internal drive, it is rather easy to install Ubuntu (or I would prefer the ultra light-weight Lubuntu) into a USB pendrive.
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
When you have that system, and know that it works, you can turn off the computer and plug in the internal drive again.
Boot into the system installed in the USB drive and run the following command
sudo update-grub
This way, the system should find the operating system(s) in the internal drive and create menu entries for them in the grub menu (of the system in the external drive).
Test that it really works by rebooting and selecting a menu entry for a system in the internal drive.
If you are booting in UEFI mode and dual boot with Windows: Please avoid booting Windows from the internal drive, while the USB drive with your new system is connected. It might destroy the USB drive's boot system.
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools likesudo update-grub).
– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
If you can unplug or disconnect the internal drive, it is rather easy to install Ubuntu (or I would prefer the ultra light-weight Lubuntu) into a USB pendrive.
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
When you have that system, and know that it works, you can turn off the computer and plug in the internal drive again.
Boot into the system installed in the USB drive and run the following command
sudo update-grub
This way, the system should find the operating system(s) in the internal drive and create menu entries for them in the grub menu (of the system in the external drive).
Test that it really works by rebooting and selecting a menu entry for a system in the internal drive.
If you are booting in UEFI mode and dual boot with Windows: Please avoid booting Windows from the internal drive, while the USB drive with your new system is connected. It might destroy the USB drive's boot system.
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools likesudo update-grub).
– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
add a comment |
If you can unplug or disconnect the internal drive, it is rather easy to install Ubuntu (or I would prefer the ultra light-weight Lubuntu) into a USB pendrive.
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
When you have that system, and know that it works, you can turn off the computer and plug in the internal drive again.
Boot into the system installed in the USB drive and run the following command
sudo update-grub
This way, the system should find the operating system(s) in the internal drive and create menu entries for them in the grub menu (of the system in the external drive).
Test that it really works by rebooting and selecting a menu entry for a system in the internal drive.
If you are booting in UEFI mode and dual boot with Windows: Please avoid booting Windows from the internal drive, while the USB drive with your new system is connected. It might destroy the USB drive's boot system.
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools likesudo update-grub).
– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
add a comment |
If you can unplug or disconnect the internal drive, it is rather easy to install Ubuntu (or I would prefer the ultra light-weight Lubuntu) into a USB pendrive.
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
When you have that system, and know that it works, you can turn off the computer and plug in the internal drive again.
Boot into the system installed in the USB drive and run the following command
sudo update-grub
This way, the system should find the operating system(s) in the internal drive and create menu entries for them in the grub menu (of the system in the external drive).
Test that it really works by rebooting and selecting a menu entry for a system in the internal drive.
If you are booting in UEFI mode and dual boot with Windows: Please avoid booting Windows from the internal drive, while the USB drive with your new system is connected. It might destroy the USB drive's boot system.
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
If you can unplug or disconnect the internal drive, it is rather easy to install Ubuntu (or I would prefer the ultra light-weight Lubuntu) into a USB pendrive.
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
- See this link, How do I install Ubuntu to a USB key? (without using Startup Disk Creator)
When you have that system, and know that it works, you can turn off the computer and plug in the internal drive again.
Boot into the system installed in the USB drive and run the following command
sudo update-grub
This way, the system should find the operating system(s) in the internal drive and create menu entries for them in the grub menu (of the system in the external drive).
Test that it really works by rebooting and selecting a menu entry for a system in the internal drive.
If you are booting in UEFI mode and dual boot with Windows: Please avoid booting Windows from the internal drive, while the USB drive with your new system is connected. It might destroy the USB drive's boot system.
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
answered Jan 20 at 19:46
sudodussudodus
24.1k32875
24.1k32875
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools likesudo update-grub).
– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
add a comment |
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools likesudo update-grub).
– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
Sounds good...I may do that. I still have the question: If I did an install of GRUB to USB from my active Ubuntu, will it supersede or bypass my current boot loader? In other words would the USB be my only means of booting?
– Luke P
Jan 20 at 20:36
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools like
sudo update-grub).– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
If you install grub to USB drive with Ubuntu (or Lubuntu), you will not install anything in your internal drive. So it is safe to do that, but be very careful (check and double-check, that you are pointing to the corrent device and file system). In UEFI mode, the system will write to the internal drive -- this is why I suggest to unplug the internal drive. -- You can do the whole thing the manual way and get a very light-weight grub system in your USB drive (but I think it is easier to have an installed system there, so that you can use the standard tools like
sudo update-grub).– sudodus
Jan 20 at 20:50
add a comment |
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