Grub Error while Booting Ubuntu

[Rajun274]

I recently installed Ubuntu onto an external hard drive from the ISO (just mounted the image, didnt burn it to a CD). After it said that the installation was done, it asked to reboot and I did. It gave me 2 choices - Windows XP or Ubuntu. After choosing Ubuntu, I get a command line that starts with "Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported." How do I get Ubuntu to work, or what should I read about? I'm very new to Linux - this is my first time using this OS. Thanks in advance.

[kr0nik]

i just googled and found Minimal BASH-like line........... [Archive] - FedoraForum.org try that and see if that is a start for you.

[edit] https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...e-line-299675/ try that one also

[D-cat]

Is your external drive USB? If so, you might not ever get it going. The reason is the BIOS only checks the USB ports for a keyboard, a mouse, and if supported, a storage device with boot code on a (v)FAT partition. If a drive meeting very specific requirements is found, it'll try to boot off that. Failing that, if it finds a KB a/o Mouse, it'll go into a "legacy devices" mode so you can use your keyboard in the pre-boot and BIOS controlled boot stages. Storage devices are not part of this mode. If none are found, it'll simply not activate the USB ports while it seeks boot code on the primary internal HDD.

Grub lacks the code to activate USB storage devices, this is typically done right before the check for new hardware in the startup sequence long after the kernel has already loaded. In fact, I'm quite surprised you get a choice for Windows or Ubuntu, since the menu list is usually stored on a Linux partition (was this a wubi install?)

It is possible to load Linux from a USB storage device, but it's not the world's easiest process. This could be relevant:
Ubuntu 8.10 Persistent Flash Drive Install from Live CD | USB Pen Drive Linux

A flash drive and a USB hard drive are no different from the computer's perspective. Considering the install you already attempted, you may need to reformat the external back into vfat (FAT32) before you run the scripts (this can be done in a linux live CD boot).