How can i make/install windows 7 using my external hard drive ?

gregrocker said:

Use automated methods which run other tests as well:

Mark Active Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it): Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

Then boot into System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until Win7 starts on its own and holds the System Active flags.

Greg he doesn't have a repair or installation dvd as far as I know. I think BCD-store is on external disk now. I think "startup repair" (if started form external usb drive) puts bcd and bootmgr on usb drive (but I'm not sure). That's why I asked him to do the tests

Did you set Boot device order in BIOS? Or tap F12 or something like that to select boot device.
Is the partition with the win7 install stuff marked as active?
Please post full screenshot of diskmanagement. so i can see what partitions are on usb external

Solidus said:

I hope you don't mind using this thread to ask a question related to the subject. I tried to install Windows 7 through an external HDD following this site but for whatever reason my notebook doesn't boot through the external HDD. I'm using an external HDD with multiple partitions, could that be the reason? Thank you.

Did you do extract the ISO to USB external drive from WINXP. Or more important ... which operating system did cretae that partition?

Assume your usb drive has win7 install files on partition with drive letter H
in Elevated Command Prompt or just command prompt in winxp

Code:

 
H:\boot\bootsect /nt60 /force /mbr
H:\boot\bootsect /nt60 /force

Assuming partition H is active and in BIOS USB boot is enabled as first boot device it should work.
Give me any error messages

I'm using WinXP and the partition was created using Mac.

Here's the screenshot:

(Not in English)

The partition E is NTFS and active ... cool.
the winxp bootsector nor mac bootsector is right!!! You have to put a win7 bootsector on E so it runs bootmgr

from command prompt:

E:\boot\bootsect /nt60 /force /mbr
E:\boot\bootsect /nt60 /force

post results. What happens when booting from usb drive? It is on top of "boot device"-list in BIOS?

Solidus said:

I'm using WinXP and the partition was created using Mac.

Here's the screenshot:

(Not in English)

Your C-drive isn't active!! Why's that. You cant't start winxpthis way