Windows 7 - is it possible to install win 7 from ext HD

is it possible to install win 7 from ext HD

no not via usb pendrive im asking via external hard disk drive!!!

Is the external drive USB?

yes. See scaramonga's post in this thread:

How to make your external HD bootable

Actually you can. You need to delete all data on, format it and make it bootable.

The article being pointed to there is seen at Tip: make your PDC 2008 (or any) USB hard drive a bootable Windows 7 install disk - istartedsomething

Your bios has to display the external drive when plugged as a boot option in order to see that work however. Since that applies to usb flash drives as well if you can boot from a flash drive you should also see the external hard drive in the boot device menu as well.

The flash drive method however is quite a bit more reliable since those are designed to be bootable devoces by way of usb while hard drives in an external casing are intended for storage application there. With large flash drives coming down in prices that would seem to be the best out of two there.

Another thing you can do is install slysoft virtual clone drive and mount the image. You dont need to format your computer everytime you install an OS. You can still do a clean install, it copies all the files to a temp spot before the install and then will install a fresh copy of Windows. this will prevent you from needing to burn the disk which is what I assume you really want to do and you are not dead set on just wanting to install off an external hard drive?

Some here will simply burn the iso onto a dvd-rw rather then toss each disk once the next one comes along. The usb key option was found here to be a far more reliable method since installs from rws can end up seeing too many problems.

I can imagine you would likely run into similar ones using the external hard drive rhrough the usb bus. The usb key method however sees a nice clean install every time using that option. But if you lack one of those and want to try out something new how about not using any external drive or device? Install Windows 7 Without Using Any External Device

See my post too. Hope it helps.

YES to your question. .

I usually take a "external HD" and several attachments with which to
reinstall or install or repair. The external HD with "uncompressed iso", will function in almost any manner you want. There are also several EXCELLENT programs with which you can CLONE the NEW HD external or Internal. Long time ago, at Computer Shows - many venders had NEW computers for sale, also you could ask for custom devices. Once the system was to your approval, If you want an OS installed with Legit KEY, say OEM or Retail version. ASK, I used MAXTOR CLONE my self to install a clean CLONED OS to the new internal HD via external HD. then would give the customer a Verified Sticker which he could if he chose apply to the outside of his case, just like Retail Stores do today.

As far back as Windows 3.1 currently up to today... it is possible.