New computer will not allow me to install different OS on external HD

I have just replaced my broken HP DV5 laptop with a new Samsung NP350V5C-A08.
I have always run Ubuntu from an external USB hardrive, the boot order on my HP was :
a) Internal read/write optical disc player.
b) USB ports (for external drive).
c) Internal hard drive.

My Samsung ignores the Ubuntu disk and boots straight into Windows 8, I have gone into BIOS to look at the boot order but it is completely different to the HP one leaving me puzzled.

I am missing using Ubuntu and any help to download the program onto my external drive would be welcome.
Regards
Northerner

Is your new Samsung NP350V5C-A08 equipped with EFI firmware ?

There is a big difference in boot sequence when using BIOS and EFI.

BIOS boot sequence is based of boot sectors (MBR, PBR) from disk and other devices.
EFI boot sequence is based on boot manager in firmware.

Check firmware settings for boot order - if EFI/UEFI is present than see also if there is BIOS/legacy emulation so you can use "old" boot sequences too.

Only the very first steps in boot sequence are different instead of
older BIOS->MBR->PBR->boot manager
the steps are
newer EFI->firmware boot manager->company boot manager (company is Microsoft for example)

Thank you for your reply, as far as i can tell my laptop has UEFI firmware. How would I check the firmware settings and change if required.
Regards
Northerner

Firmware options can be accessed just after switching on computer - press F2 key or del key or ... you should see a message which tells how to enter firmware setup.

Then go to boot options.
You should be able to change order of boot devices (disk, USB, CD)
and you should be able to switch EFI/UEFI or BIOS/legacy mode.

BASIC RULE:
If you boot installation media the EFI way - you install the EFI way !
EFI installation for Windows goes to GPT disk.

GPT disk has a different layout than MBR disk.


If you put USB device first in boot sequence and also set BIOS/legacy mode for USB you should be able to start Ubuntu from external. (Assuming Ubuntu was installed to boot BIOS way).

And if there is nothing attached to USB boot will go to second device (assuming internal disk) and you will boot Windows.

Hope this helps.

Pressing F2 puts me into BIOS mode.
When I go into boot options I get one choice = Boot Option #1, when I select that the following two choices appear.
1/ Windows Boot Manager (PO: Hitachi HT5 ***************)'
2/ Disabled.

Regards
Northerner

PS the secure boot is enabled.
Regards
Northerner

Hi Northener,

Disable secure boot, see if other options appear - at least DVD/CD, USB devices must be available for boot and there must be the choice EFI/BIOS way.
Plenty of new firmware - no easy way to tell how it is exactly structured for setup.

Sorry to have delayed replying to the last helper, I am still unable to resolve the boot issue, I even spent 20 minutes on the phone to the Samsung helpline who finally told me to contact Microsoft. Therefore I am still in limbo unable to run Ubuntu from an external drive.
Regards
Northerner

Did you follow Boyan's last step before you abandoned his help, as he would have had it resolved by now?

More about dealing with "Secure Boot" here: MS new "Secure Boot" locked BIOS arrives

HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux - How-To Geek

Installing Linux

There’s nothing stopping computers from also shipping with Ubuntu’s certificate. Linux distributions can also publish their own certificate and ask users to install it – or ask them to disable secure boot entirely. Fedora will be paying $99 for Microsoft’s signing services, so Fedora will install on any Windows 8-certified PC with no additional configuration required. Other Linux distributions could also take this route.

Security Advantages

The traditional BIOS will boot any software. Normally, your BIOS boots the Windows boot loader or maybe a Linux boot loader, like GRUB. However, it’s possible for malware, such as a rootkit, to replace your boot loader. The rootkit could load your normal operating system with no indication that anything was wrong, staying completely invisible and undetectable on your system. The BIOS doesn’t know the different between malware and a trusted boot loader, so it allows either to boot.

Windows 8 PCs will ship with Microsoft’s certificate stored in UEFI (and possibly other certificates, depending on the manufacturer). UEFI will check the boot loader before launching it and ensure it’s signed by Microsoft – if a rootkit or another malware program does replace your boot loader, UEFI won’t allow it to boot. This prevents malware from hijacking your boot process and concealing itself from your operating system.

By seting your uEFI/BIOS firmware, to Secure Boot DISABLED, you can install
NOTE: Check your manufacturer's uEFI BIOS manual for settings.



Windows 7 x64
Linux x64
in uEFI mode.