If you want to run an OS from a removable external hard drive, you put the bootloader on the external hard drive too. In his case, taking the easy option when

If you want to run an OS from a removable external hard drive, you put the bootloader on the external hard drive too. In his case, taking the easy option when he wanted a complex solution was his error. He should have selected the 'something else' option. Yes, he needed extra knowledge to pick that selection, but that is where Google is your friend. Linux is User-Friendly. But it is very selective in choosing its friends.