Use of externl hard drive for Linux/Xp

[eeepcxandros]

I have just got a new eeepc with 40GB storage running linux xandros and I also have a 30GB Windows XP desktop. I am thinkng of buying an external hard drive. What I would want to do is make 3 partitions on it. One for the xp, one for the xandros and one for files. I would want to put the whole system of each on their partition. My question is: is this possible and would I be able to run either systems on a computer without completely erasing the hard drive of the computer?

[yancek]

It's definitely possible. Are you planning to leave any OS on the internal drive? If not, then you will need to change the boot order in BIOS to boot from the external drive first and have it plugged in all the time. If you are planning to use just the external, install windows on its partition first then xandros. I'm not familiar w/xandros but I assume it uses Grub as a bootloader and Grub usually detects other OS's installed. I'm not sure why you are worried about erasing the internal hardrive? You obviously don't need to do that but could do it accidentally if you're not familiar w/Linux or Grub naming conventions and partitioning.