Windows 7: boot win 7 directly from external HDD because internal HDD failure...

Hello., is it possible to boot windows directly from external HDD, not internal disk? (i have WD 500G) (because my internal disk is damaged..)
If this is possible, i decided to install win 7 in the external HDD. can you assist me please..
thank you.

Sorry NO, internal disk only.
But you could remove HD from the caddy.

Is it a usb connected HD you want to install onto?

If so, is it usb2 or 3 ?

it is a USB type. USB2.0 can it be done anyway??

in this case, should i just replace the HD with a new one? maybe at the end of this month.

Yes, people have doing it for years.

I understand performance is better from usb3, because usb 2 is pretty slow.

If you want to run a windows installation permanently, then use an internal HD.

Installing to a usb drive is really best for small scale deployment, or if you need to use something to repair a sick pc - but you may as well use winpe for that.

Theo is mistaken - he has probably read numerous times that it can't be done and is just repeating what he read. That is how these things take on a life of their own.

The internet is full of misconceptions, myths and downright tosh.

Computer forums are no exception.

indeed... i've read somewhere else about this issue.
ok, then, if it is possible, maybe i should give it a try. thanks

Hi there

I'd be quite interested on how you can get a PROPER (Not a WINPE type of installation) Windows version to run from an external HDD or a USB stick.

There is almost no such thing as "Impossible" in computer terminology -- normally given enough time and resources nearly everything is "Hackable".

If you say you've done it I have NO reason to disbelieve you but I'd be really greatful if you could let more technically challenged people like me into the secret so I could have a go at doing this.

However I haven't seen how to get a FULL Windows 7 installation running off a USB or external HDD.

You can BOOT external USB devices but I'd be really interested in getting a an external bootable HDD or USB stick to run a full Windows installation.

I've used things like WINPE and BARTPE for years but thats not the same as having Windows on an external device --- I've often thought it's a pity when MS is testing new releases that they DON'T issue "Live CD's" for example like most Linux distros do -- that way you can run entirely from the external device without modifying your existing system.

BTW by EXTERNAL HDD I mean a USB external disk or USB stick.

-- you can of course run from an external HDD SATA / IDE drive that is connected to the IDE / SATA connectors on the motherboard via an external enclosure if it's designated as the primary boot disk -- the system doesn't care if it's in an "external enclosure" -- but this is not really an "External Drive" in the true sense of the word for purposes of this discussion.

I need a disk that you can remove and just plug in to another say laptop with similar hardware via a USB port and boot it up and run a proper Windows 7.

Cheers
jimbo

It is also a tiny bit tricky to do the installtion, but the main problem is using it portably.

Installing to usd hd to boot on same machine is ok , as is installing then sysprep to transfer to another machine.

What would you do about the licensing? That is why pe is better as a portable version of windows.

You can make a pretty good pe3 for that kind of thing.

Si, perhaps you could let us all in on how it is done since it's been done so often.