Booting Ubuntu when internal hard disk of MACBOOK PRO is corrupted
Hi friends,
i messed up with my internal hard disk of 17 inch 2009 mid macbook pro. Its corrupted flashing the unknown folder symbol during start up. I booted in single user mode but as my installation dvd is pretty old it shows a read write error while installing. I have few queries regarding it. Though i installed the ubuntu only in external hard disk i dont know how did it corrupt my internal hrd disk.
MY queries are
1) if i want to boot from my external hrd disk where UBUNTU is stored and log in into ubuntu from my macbook pro temperorily is it possible even when my internal hard disk in corrupted. If so please guide me the way to use it.
2) i have formatted my internal hard disk, is it possible to recover the previous data even after i install a new OS now on it. Which i am going to do next week. I think some data is already stored on it by my old snow leopard installation dvd which stuck in the middle of installation due to an read write error.
Awaiting your valuable guidances.
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)