Using windows 7 from removable drive ?

HpBaxxter · 20 May 2015

I want to use Windows 7 from removable drive, but it can't boot
I configured the bios (Lenovo ThinkCentre M58e )

ignatzatsonic · 20 May 2015

You are trying to boot Windows from an external drive connected by USB?

I think it can be done, but only with considerable difficulty and jumping through a bunch of hoops.

mvthakar · 21 May 2015

Assuming that you want to INSTALL Windows on an removable external drive, it is possible. :)
You can use PWBoot (Portable Windows Boot Project). Just Google it.

HpBaxxter · 21 May 2015

mvthakar said:

Assuming that you want to INSTALL Windows on an removable external drive, it is possible. :)
You can use PWBoot (Portable Windows Boot Project). Just Google it.

I already installed windows 7 on external driven it booted well on dell desktop but it didn't on Lenovo desktop

alphanumeric · 22 May 2015

That's because it was never meant to do that. Moving it to different hardware causes driver issues. You'll have activation issues too. Windows To Go is the official way to do it. You need Windows 8.1 Enterprise for that though. There are unofficial tutorials on how to create your own Windows To Go drive. Just google it. May or may not work though, as its not sanctioned by Microsoft. Even if you do get it to work you'll likely still run into activation issues if you move it from PC to PC.

gregrocker · 22 May 2015

USB throttles the OS speed terribly. Not really worth the trouble unless you're using eSata.

HpBaxxter · 23 May 2015

alphanumeric said:

That's because it was never meant to do that. Moving it to different hardware causes driver issues. You'll have activation issues too. Windows To Go is the official way to do it. You need Windows 8.1 Enterprise for that though. There are unofficial tutorials on how to create your own Windows To Go drive. Just google it. May or may not work though, as its not sanctioned by Microsoft. Even if you do get it to work you'll likely still run into activation issues if you move it from PC to PC.

I used winToUsb to install windows 7 on the external drive. I don't care about the activation !
I just want to understand why I can't boot it !

alphanumeric · 23 May 2015

HpBaxxter said:

alphanumeric said:

That's because it was never meant to do that. Moving it to different hardware causes driver issues. You'll have activation issues too. Windows To Go is the official way to do it. You need Windows 8.1 Enterprise for that though. There are unofficial tutorials on how to create your own Windows To Go drive. Just google it. May or may not work though, as its not sanctioned by Microsoft. Even if you do get it to work you'll likely still run into activation issues if you move it from PC to PC.

I used winToUsb to install windows 7 on the external drive. I don't care about the activation !
I just want to understand why I can't boot it !

More than likely a driver issue. If the two sets of hardware are very different it will cause issues like a failed boot.

gregrocker · 23 May 2015

HpBaxxter said:

alphanumeric said:

That's because it was never meant to do that. Moving it to different hardware causes driver issues. You'll have activation issues too. Windows To Go is the official way to do it. You need Windows 8.1 Enterprise for that though. There are unofficial tutorials on how to create your own Windows To Go drive. Just google it. May or may not work though, as its not sanctioned by Microsoft. Even if you do get it to work you'll likely still run into activation issues if you move it from PC to PC.

I used winToUsb to install windows 7 on the external drive. I don't care about the activation !
I just want to understand why I can't boot it !

But MS cares about the activation, which is why they make it as impossible as they can to install to an external drive unless you use Windows To Go which they designed for that purpose.

How did you make the external bootable exactly? You realize it must boot via USB which will make it horribly slow? An OS is meant to run internally and not via USB.