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 ?
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.
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 W7 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.
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