[Discuss] Installing LINUX OS on USB Stick or external USB HD

[Murray Strome]

I know many have done this and hope someone can point me to the best way to do it.

I have successfully installed a "Live" version of Zorin OS 8 on a USB stick, and I have used the "Create Disk" utility to create a bootable "Persistent" version on another one. However, these are both very much like a Live DVD, not a normal installation with users, passwords, etc.  I imagine that I could create users and passwords, but just like a Live DVD, it is pretty slow.

I know I could also create something like a Live USB installation using Pendrivelinux, but from past experience it is more like just a persistent Live CD.

I know I could just install it on an external hard drive, but I would want it to have it's own GRUB boot loader (showing only the the one on the HD) and not show anything about it on the HD on my computer.

What I would like is a full installation that behaves pretty much like it does from my HD.

Can anyone point me to a suitable link to some instructions as to how to do this?

Thanks 

Murray