Installing Windows 7 on External HDD


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows Vista 32 bit
       #1

    Installing Windows 7 on External HDD


    How To Install Windows 7 On USB Flash Drive or External Hard Drive

    Supposedly this is the way to install Windows 7 on a External HDD. Anyone knows if it works? cause the harddrive on my laptop is fried and I cant afford a new one, but If I can just install Windows 7 onto my ext. hdd (using my tower) i'll be good to go.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,302
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
       #2

    Hello HeroBub

    Although I have never tried this I don't think you would get the results you are looking for. It looks quite complicated and judging by the users posts below doesn't seem to work correctly for eveyone. Depending on how the external is connected and Im presuming Usb2 its going to run very slow at those speeds. Hang around to see what others say but I dont think it will work as you want, in my opinion possibly asking father christmas for a new Hdd would be your best bet.

    Danny
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,781
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 32-bit
       #3

    Welcome to SevenForums!

    I must admit the article surprises me, as the generally held opinion is it's not possible to install Windows 7 to an USB stick or USB HD.
    But even if this does work, I would be worried about possible side effects down the road (not necessarily the malicious kind).

    Is your external drive a 2.5" drive? If so, a far simpler solution would be to put it in your laptop in place of the dead drive. Otherwise I can only suggest you simply try the tutorial and see how it works out. (I'm curious!)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3
    Windows Vista 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hmmm if this doesnt work. Is it possible to install XP to a ext. hdd?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,302
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
       #5

    HeroBub said:
    Hmmm if this doesnt work. Is it possible to install XP to a ext. hdd?
    What type of external do you have, As Corazon said if its a 2.5 inch in an enclosure just replace the laptop Hdd with it.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3
    Windows Vista 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    not 2.5" or i would have done that
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,781
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 32-bit
       #7

    Well, you said you can't afford a new drive - but honestly, that's your best and maybe only option. Despite the recent rise in HD prices, you might score a good deal on a used/refurbished drive on eBay. While there's an inherent risk of course, many sellers are reputable and won't try to dump a bad drive on their unsuspecting buyers.

    If you can tell us more about what your budget is, which interface you need (IDE or SATA/SATA-II), what size in GB you prefer or need, if you care more about space or more about speed, etc., we can help you find a few candidates.

    Oh, and...XP will be even harder than 7 to install on any USB device, if that's even possible at all...
      My Computer

  8.    #8

    The bottleneck is the USB. If you can find an adapter cable to IDE or SATA then you can do it.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 150
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #9

    gregrocker said:
    The bottleneck is the USB. If you can find an adapter cable to IDE or SATA then you can do it.
    this is what i would do
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,379
    Win7 Pro 32-bit, Win8 Pro 32-bit
       #10

    Even if the installation does work, how are you going to handle re-activation every time you plug the USB drive into a different PC? That article references another article where they discuss carrying around Win7 on USB, but from the little I read, it looked like they installed it using Virtualbox. But that still leave the issue of reactivation with every new set of hardware (i.e., every different PC).
      My Computer


 

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