how!? install win7 x64 to external drive for testing, huge struggle

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  1. kingfitz
    Posts : 8
    win 7 x64
       New #1

    how!? install win7 x64 to external drive for testing, huge struggle


    Hi,

    Im trying to install win7 to an external hard drive for troubleshooting my current system, and cant find a guide for this that works. Was looking here

    How To Install Windows 7 On USB Flash Drive or External Hard Drive
    WinToUSB - How to use WinToUSB?
    Install Windows 7 without USB or DVD without upgrading! - All

    but these guides are old and dont work, no matter what I do. Ive tried that, wintousb software, all kinds of elaborate hogwash. Since microsoft sucks massive ba11s and wont let you install to a USB in the standard way, Ive had to spend 6+ hours trying to figure out this annoying sh1t. Sorry but this is really making me mad, I swear you try to fix one thing it leads to down this convoluted never ending path of NOTHINGWORKINGNESS. Im trying to diagnose whether my gpu related crash is due to OS problems, so being able to isolate it on a new install of win7 would help.

    I basically take my 1tb drive, erase, create a R partition 100 MB NTFS, called SysReserve, then the other 931 gb become K partition NTFS. I use the tools in the guides to install windows files and the boot files, then it says successful and everything should be hunky dory. But no, the hard drive will not boot, blue screen crashes every time, cannot run through the windows install process. No I DONT want multiboot unless its the last resort, as this drive is only temporary, Id like it totally separate from current windows I have. If you have a solution then I will be flabbergasted and I wont have to /wrists.

    F!@# microsoft this is exactly the type of crap (blue screens, gpu crashes, never finding solutions) that proves mac and linux > windows. I can install a hackintosh installation to an external HD in 15 minutes on my PC but not windows itself. Facepalm....
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  3. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #2

    Try Rufus - works also with e.g. an external SSD

    Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way
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  4. kingfitz
    Posts : 8
    win 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    sorry, tried rufus, it doesnt work, because at the setup phase where you select hard disks, windows denies you installing TO an external USB drive. It only allows internal SATA IDE drive installs, which is epic retarded.

    http://windows.intowindows.netdna-cd...rive_thumb.jpg
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  6. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #4

    That is strange. I used Rufus several times to install on sticks and external SSDs.
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  7. Layback Bear
    Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       New #5

    To the best of my knowledge Windows 7 ISO can be installed to a usb drive but will not operate as a Windows 7 system from a usb drive.

    Meaning you can't use Windows 7 as a operating system from a USB connection.
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  8. kingfitz
    Posts : 8
    win 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Yep Im probably SoL. May as well take a sledgehammer to this expensive rig. Because Im NOT reinstalling a 300 gb install with 100 gb of updates, 30 programs, etc etc. Would literally take 1 month to get this thing back to its current state. Cant believe this. Maybe Ill jsut retire from gaming since obviously the universe is preventing me from doing so. Sigh....
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  10. Layback Bear
    Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       New #7

    What exactly are you trying to do?

    What problems are you having with your system?

    Lets see if we can find a plan of attack for your problems.
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  11. SIW2
    Posts : 16,161
    7 X64
       New #8

    Yes, you can boot windows from usb drive. It will be slow though.
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  12. AddRAM
    Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       New #9

    I thought we`ve known for a long time that Windows 7 can not be installed on an external usb drive ?

    Can`t you connect it to the motherboard via an external sata port ?

    Or if you can remove the drive from it`s enclosure, just do that, if it`s only temporary.

    Not sure why you`re creating the SR partition, the installer will do that.
    Last edited by AddRAM; 02 Feb 2016 at 17:42.
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  13. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #10

    I ran from an external SSD on USB3 with no problems. Performance was perfect.
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