Solved Installing Windows 7 from External HDD

[SlasherIT]

Hi,

I need to do a clean re-install of Windows 7, but sadly, my DVD burner/reader has stopped working, I will investigate this later.

Anyways, since that is bust, I need to install Windows 7 from my external HDD. I have a lot of valuable data on it so I can't delete/format it. It is using NTFS. Is this possible, and if so, how?

Slasher

 

[theog]

Do you have USB Pendrive over 4gb?
If yes,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html?ltr=U
IMO, It best to use method two.

 

[SlasherIT]

Yes I know that method, but all my '4 GB' memory sticks have 3.7 GB of usable data, so I've got to use my external HDD.

Slasher

 

[theog]

As USB Pendrives are cheap, I would buy a new one.
or
A new DVD drive.

 

[SlasherIT]

Yes I understand that and will fix my DVD drive in due time. But can you just answer the question if that is ok?

Slasher

 

[whs]

Normally you cannot install from a USB attached drive. Some BIOS allow booting from eSata. Else it is a pen drive if your BIOS allows booting from it.

Check your boot sequence in the BIOS and you will see.

 

[theog]

You could use this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/58455-recovery-partition-create.html
If do make sure you backup ext drive.

 

[SlasherIT]

@whs - So you're saying I can install from a USB Flash Drive but not from a USB HDD?

 

[whs]

I know it works from a USB flash drive. But from an external disk I have never tried because it was always said that this does not work. I suppose you would have to have an active partition and an MBR that points to it. Matter of trying.

 

[SlasherIT]

Fine forget the external HDD... Can I use my USB card reader and plug my Sony MS Pro Duo (8 GB) into it and use that to install Windows 7?

A pretty crappy pic of it...

Slasher

 

[whs]

I don't think so. Why don't you get a proper pen drive and use that. Or save the data from one of your drives and use that. Here is how:
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

But check first whether your BIOS allows you to boot from a stick.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate, have a look at this tutorial at the link below.

Clean Install Windows 7 from the Windows 7 Desktop

​

 

[SlasherIT]

@whs - Please stop telling me to get a pen drive, I can't go right now to a store and buy one... No offense intended.

@Bare Foot Kid - I doubt this method will work if I want to format my drive during the setup right? Do you think using the Sony MS Pro Duo with the USB Card reader would work or not?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

It actually does a clean install but there's no option to format during and I have no idea about the Sony thing.

Perhaps I'll load VBox and see if there are "drive options" I can't remember but I doubt it.

 

[SlasherIT]

So if I used a SD card or the Sony MS Pro Duo, both would fail?

 

[theog]

You could use this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/58455-recovery-partition-create.html
If do make sure you backup ext drive.

Using the base of the tutorial above.
1) make a partition at the end of the drive.
2) mark ACTIVE.
3) make letter Z:
4) Copy & Paste, DVD to the partition.
5) Install Windows 7
6) When Windows is installed, delete partition, When you have your replacement DVD Drive.

 

[SlasherIT]

@theog - Alright, I'll go ahead and do it.

 

[SlasherIT]

@theog - Dude I used your method and it worked, but when I tried to remove the partition, first it said you can't remove active partitions so I changed the active partition to the C: Drive, and I tried deleting it again but it said that it was in use but I can try and force it to delete it. I decided to select No, and then restarted my computer and I see the following "Bootmgr is missing. Press Ctrl-alt-del to restart", although it doesn't help at all. I've got a Ubuntu 11.04 Live USB if that helps.

Slasher

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at this tutorial at the link below.

Bootmgr is missing - Fix


​

Then to delete the partition, from an elevated command window, once you have the focus on the partition use this command below.

delete partition override
​

 

[SlasherIT]

But why did trying to delete the partition cause the boot manager to get corrupt?