switch on some OS in a removable disk

[alphanumeric]

Hum the closest I got was to clone a HDD (hooked up with the gadget) from an external but you need the "middleman" HDD operating the machine to do the cloning.

Still think a straight stick install is best what hesam would like to do sounds like an awful lot of grief.

If they are trying to do what I think, its a lot of work.

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm still not sure what the OP wants or has done.
It is time for more coffee.

 

[AddRAM]

Glad I`m not the only one.

 

[Britton30]

I think OP wants to install either w7 or 8 or XP to an external USB attached HDD and boot it up.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well my two bobs worth I would have liked to seen some system specs like I asked for first up as we do not know what exactly we are dealing with here.

Even a list of components parts would be good
ie Computer with internal HDD
two x ext HDD
three x sticks
four x retail OS's - what??

Seems we are going around the houses looking for the right address with no number or street name

 

[hesam]

Now what do you recommend؟

 

[Britton30]

Now what do you recommend؟

Uhmm, for a start....

To better help us to help you would you please add your systems specs? Here's the correct way to do it. :SystemInfo See Your System Specs Under System Manufacturer/Model Number add whether it is a desktop or laptop and whether self built. Very important

Log in to Seven Forums and you will be able to transfer the info directly to the specs page in your profile from within the System Info app.

After doing this your specs will be available in each of your posts.
Click on My system Specs in the lower left of this post to see how it should look.
Full instructions are in the tutorial.

 

[alphanumeric]

Now what do you recommend؟

I'm still not sure I know what you are trying to do? We need more details and a better explanation of what it is your trying to do.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Now what do you recommend؟

I'm still not sure I know what you are trying to do? We need more details and a better explanation of what it is your trying to do.

Well I did ask for system specs up front alpha but either it's been given away or there is a fair bit of confusion going on somewhere in the world.:sarc:

 

[hesam]

i want copy contents installable all windows such as windows xp ,7, 8 into removable disk :hard Disk External or Cool Disk when booting up it and install each that i like
how do?

 

[AddRAM]

You want to pick which system you want to boot into from the external ?

I think I`m on to something.

Hurry up, gotta hit the hay

 

[hesam]

You want to pick which system you want to boot into from the external ?

I think I`m on to something.

Hurry up, gotta hit the hay

no friend.
i that said to u
i want firstly in windows copy all contents some windows into a removable disk then boot up it and choose each that i like for installing windows of Among the many windows

 

[Britton30]

Does your motherboard and USB support booting from an external drive?

 

[AddRAM]

You can`t do what you want to do that way. You have to have windows on a dvd, a usb stick, or I even install windows from a sandisc card.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

hesam mate it cannot be done You can dual boot the internal drive with say 7 & 8 or 7 & XP - you have to understand you just cannot boot any one of four different Windows OS's from an external drive mate.

Just out of pure curiosity where did you get this idea from?? Did you think it could be possible yourself or did someone tell it could be done ?

If someone told you this then I would be having a very stern word with that person because he or she is either having a laugh or playing you for what it is worth - if you get my drift.

The bottom line is that even if you could put four OS's on one external or the internal HDD and I mean IF then you would have to have all four OS's locked to one motherboard and that in itself is an unrealistic and in my mind an untenable expectation.

 

[alphanumeric]

OK let me see if I have this right?
You want to copy the install media for several versions of Windows to an external hard drive.
You want that hard drive bootable.
You want a menu displayed so you can select and install one of the Windows versions on the drive.

If that is your intention, let me just tell you that that is no easy feat to accomplish. When you boot from Windows Install media it loads the Preinstallation Environment. A mini OS if like. Each version of Windows loads a different version of PE. Making a simple PE disk is a lot of work, even with good instructions. You're in for a lot of work and you're going to need some skills to pull it off. I'm not even sure I know where to start for a project like that..

 

[hesam]

Does your motherboard and USB support booting from an external drive?

yes

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Look I think I have missed a point a or two along the way while I have been using computers and yes I am not terribly knowledgeable but never have I come across booting from an external drive - except once and that is when I had cloned my internal drive to an external one using a gadget to the HDD outside the case.
Now with the internal unhooked and I set the BIOS to boot from the outside drive powered up and it booted from that drive.

Now I am thinking that it would be possible to repeat that with other OS's on an internal drive and end up with the four OS''s on that outside HDD. That is the only way my limited grey matter can think of attaining this.

BUT I cannot for the life of me see why one would want to then install that outside drive into the machine and use it for booting any particular OS.
1. How on earth are you going to get it to give you an option for any particular OS on it??
2. The drive would have to be for any practical purposes very large presuming that more than just the OS in the four different partitions is going to be loaded with apps like Office security CC burning software etc etc ad nauseum / ad infinitum.

That is just one scenario and when you take into account that you will have to set the BIOS to boot from the external while you still have an internal drive fitted - or will there be one fitted because if you can boot from the external that means that the machine does not need an internal drive!!

My query is why would anyone want to do this?? I cannot for the life of me see any advantage over just having a dual or in this case a quad boot machine.

Plus what is Microsoft going to make of such a set up when their activation checking system will show up four OS's on the same motherboard, because lets face it they will have to be tied to that motherboard to be usable.

Anyway my post of last night has gone unanswered so I think it may be the time to unsub from this thread as it seems to be going nowhere and is in my view teetering on the edge of reality.

 

[alphanumeric]

@ ICit2lol, The Windows 8, Windows to GO, feature actually does that. It's purpose is to allow an employee to basically take their Windows 8 work setup home with them on a thumb drive or external hard drive and run it on their home PC. instead of taking the whole PC they just plug the thumb drive into another PC and run it from their. Its only available to enterprise customers. It's setup to automatically detect the new and different hardware and activation is not a problem. You can move it from PC to PC to PC too. That being said, that's a special case and your average joe isn't going to do that. It will only work natively with windows 8 Enterprise so if you try it on the regular windows 8 or 7 etc, you will have the issues you described. Activation will likely fail, and any new and different hardware could be an issue. I'm thinking the OP wants to install from the drive though, not run the OS from the drive. I'm still not 100% sure either way though?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks for the heads up alpha I didn't know that and was beginning to wonder if this was a trick thread

Well hesam good luck I am dropping out mate because this is way out of my league and to be honest I see no earthly use for me to know about this stuff - no offence meant or taken I hope