How to install windows 7 to usb external hard drive

[SIW2]

What did you use to create the partitions on the usb drive?

Did you use win7 diskpart.exe?

Have you set a partition Active?

Boot indicator bytes in partition table should be either zero or 0x80 (that means bootable).

The message indicates those values are not right.

You might try using a free 3rd party partition manager.

e.g. http://www.partitionwizard.com/

Have a look at the usb drive.

Inactivate and reactivate the install partition on the usb drive.

See if that fixes it.

 

[coolecho]

WOW I forgot that primary partition! Now it boots! Yes!
Small problem. Its asking for the product key and I left it at home. If I reboot to put in key when I get home will it resume the win 7 install progress or possibility trash it? Thanks.

 

[SIW2]

It should be fine if you enter the product key.

The product key is only good for that machine of course.

If you attach it to another machine and boot up - it will complain.

 

[Mark Phelps]

If you want to use two operating systems on the same computer, you have a couple of options. The first is to simply create another partition on the hard drive, while the other is to use an external hard drive. The latter is the easier option and requires only that you change the correct settings to install the second operating system on your external hard drive.

Did you even bother to read the title of this thread? It specifically mentions Windows 7 -- and your own article says that Windows is difficult to install to an external drive. In fact, from my experience, if you boot from a Win7 DVD and point it to an external drive, it will refuse to install it there.