Building computer system from scratch

Hi everyone,
I have a computer of unknown origin. It has no harddrive. Linux was previously loaded to it from a thumb drive. This did not allow me to add network capability. I have a WD passport external hd that I would like to install Ubunto and LinusCNC on but I do not have the first idea where to begin. If I boot from the thumb drive I can not access the net to download. I have tried going to the bios and changing the boot from disc but I do not know how to get Ubunto and Linux onto the hd.

I can provide specific info... serial no. etc of the epuipment if needed.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks. I have no other choice. The machine does not have internal hd capability.

Hi

You will have to provide details.

Aside from specialist industrial boards, I have never heard of a standard motherboard that does not have either IDE or SATA ports.
It should also have PCI or ISA ports, into which could be inserted Ethernet cards, USB, SATA/IDE port cards etc to extend it.

If I boot from the thumb drive I can not access the net to download

I can only assume this means you just have the one USB port.

If this machine is a special one built for a particular purpose with very limited ports, I would advise you ditch it and buy an old corporate desktop P4,
which are dirt cheap and will have everything you need.
Check wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Latency-Test for suitable models

The more expensive alternative is to build up an Intel Atom system as per many threads on the forum.

regards

Ok, I'll make another stab at this. The machine I have was purpose built. I hesitate to mention the name because the builder has gone out of business and does not answer or return calls. The controller is in the enclosure with the cpu. I do not have documentation or info on the cpu. I do have some pix but I'm not sure they are that useful at this point. There is no cd drive and I do not have another Linux box to work from.

The machine boots from a thumb drive. I have another thumb drive with Ubuntu 10.4/LinusCNC 2.4.7 iso on it. There are other usb ports on the machine. One has a WD Passport usb hd attached to it. I was thinking I could boot from the original thumb drive and install Ubuntu w/Linus on the WD Passport hd. This would give me more storage capacitiy. I did like the like the DOM idea from andypugh but I'm trying to use what I have on hand at the moment.

I also am new to Ubuntu and the environment takes a little getting used to. If my approach is wrong I'm open for suggestions.

Thanks for the help so far.

Hi

If you want to install onto the USB HDD what you need is another computer.

Download the Live CD iso and burn it, if not already done.
Boot the other computer from the Live CD, and choose install. Plug in the USB HDD and select that drive to install to from the partitioner window.

Create a large partition for linux and a small one (1-2 GB) for a Swap partition. The large partition should be set to 'Use as /' ie root of file system and format as ext3
IMPORTANT:- On the last partitioning screen click on [Advanced] and set GRUB to be installed to the MBR of the USB HDD, or it will install on that computers primary drive, wiping you Windoze or whatever boot menu

As your other machine can obviously boot from USB, it should then boot from the USB HDD

As Andy says it may not be the fastest, but it will certainly allow more storage and a USB wireless dongle could give you networking, just make sure you research which ones work with Ubuntu 10.04, a lot are Windoze only and need drivers to do anything on that even.

regards