David,
> Hello all,
> I am newbie in this concept. I want to install a some mini-linux on a
> external USB-HDD of PC. My problem is that the mainboard BIOS doesn't
> support booting via USB.
>
> Do I need make a special floppy that does the boot process and loads
> the usb modules?
Sounds like a good plan.
Alternately, you could boot the kernel+modules from ethernet, cdrom or
from the BIOS itself (see linuxbios.org )

regards,

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| Damion de Soto --------------------------------------------------
| Software Engineer email: Damion_deSoto@au.securecomputing.com
| Secure Computing Corporation web: http://www.securecomputing.com
| fax: +61 7 3891 3630 ph: +61 7 3435 2809
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Hello,

> I am newbie in this concept. I want to install a some mini-linux on a
> external USB-HDD of PC. My problem is that the mainboard BIOS doesn't
> support booting via USB.

Then you can't boot from USB without some special arrangements.

> Do I need make a special floppy that does the boot process and loads
> the usb modules?

That may be an idea. Take a look at Damn Small - they should provide a
floppy.
It is also possible that solutions like Etherboot (www.etherboot.org) exist
for booting from USB.
Maybe this is a help to you:
http://syslinux.zytor.com/archives/2...il/006789.html

> Did anyone succeed in boot on a without BIOS-support from USB?

I didn't try, because I don't have a computer without this capability.
Either the computer can boot from USB or it doesn't have it at all :-)

Regards