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Problem with GNU GRUB and external HDD with ubuntu

cn flag

I have installed Ubuntu in an external HDD. To do so, I formatted the external Hard Disk to ext4 and mounting point /. Then, I used that partition as boot. Now, whenever the HDD is mounted, the system boots correctly. It gives me both ubuntu and windows options. The problem is that when I unmount the Hard Disk to automatically boot windows, the GNU GRUB window pops up and I have to type the "exit" command to boot windows. Is there a way of solving this problem?

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I still don't understand why ubuntu is alongside with windows if I installed it separatelly

Thank you very much

David avatar
cn flag
Is this an EFI system?
Arnau Llort avatar
cn flag
I guess it should be. I do not remember changing this option BTW
David avatar
cn flag
So then when the machine starts it is expecting to find that physically both OS that are configured it its config file are present.
Arnau Llort avatar
cn flag
Sure! Wouldn't it be more clever to jump straigth to the next bootloader once one is not found? Is there a way to perform this?
oldfred avatar
cn flag
You can change boot order in UEFI boot menu, often f12 but varies. You really need an ESP on your external drive. Ubuntu's Ubiquity installer only installs grub to first drive, usually your internal drive. They do not want to fix this bug. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1396379 You can just add the ESP - efi system partition FAT32 with boot,esp flags on external drive & reinstall grub. You can use Boot-Repair's advanced mode or chroot. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair Then remove UEFI entry for Ubuntu that uses internal drive's ESP.
Arnau Llort avatar
cn flag
Thanks for the answer, that was exacly what I required. I have got a fully portable ubuntu now. Have a great day!!
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