Solved Install+Run Windows Without a Hard Drive - Attempt Failed.

[RobTVR]

Hi everyone,

My eMachines eM250 netbook currently has no hard drive as the old one broke a couple of months ago. In an attempt to get the computer up and running again, i ran it on Ubuntu 12.10 through a bootable USB memory stick which worked fine. Unfortunately Ubuntu isn't really good enough for what i need and so i decided it might be better to try and get Windows back on instead.

To do this i downloaded the .iso from Digital River and copied it to my formatted USB drive using the Windows DVD/USB write tool which is downloadable via the Microsoft website. When i boot the netbook up using the USB it wants me to install the operating system to the hard drive which i don't have. The installer says i can install onto a USB but when i plug it in it gives me the message discussed in the thread below:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-were-found-while-installing-windows-7-a.html

I'd been expecting it to run like Ubuntu where you can just plug the memory stick in and get up and running straight away without any installation.

Surely there must be a way to boot Windows without installing like i wanted to do originally? And if that's not possible, can it be run through VirtualBox on Ubuntu?

Help would really be appreciated as i have almost given up on this now.

Thanks, RobTVR.

 

[theog]

Take a look at this

Windows 8 To Go - Setup on a USB Flash Drive or USB Disk

 

[RobTVR]

There might be a small problem with that; i don't have a 16GB USB drive so i can't even start installing Windows 8. I'm not really looking for an upgrade either, i'd like to stick with Windows 7 for the time being.

Hope someone can help me soon, i'm really struggling with this at the moment.

 

[edwar]

There is NO help. Windows 7 and prior versions can not be installed on an external drive of any type. Only Win 8 has that feature, after you jump through a bunch of hoops.

 

[RobTVR]

Uh. That's not good then. I'm surprised by that, i thought it was perfectly possible.

Okay, well let's say i bought a hard drive and put that in my netbook, would i be defiantly able to reinstall it with my original product key, even though it's another .iso i downloaded off the internet? It should work but i just want to be sure.

Basically, what i'm asking is, can i reinstall Windows on a new hard drive with my original product key?

Thanks.

 

[edwar]

Yes but since it is a Netbook I don't know what type/style drive it takes. Could be something proprietary. but if you get a drive that works with your system you can use the key from the COA sticker to do the install with the download ISO. As long as it is the same version as listed on the COA.

 

[RobTVR]

It's a 2.5" SATA hard drive. The one i plan to buy is a Seagate Momentus 5400.3 in replacement for a Hitachi Travelstar 5K500 B-160.

Thanks for the confirmation that the product key will work, that's some good news at least. The last letter of my sticker has been completely worn off and another two are either 3's or 8's so i may have a bit of trouble getting it to work. Let's hope i'll be okay though.

 

[edwar]

If it's a standard SATA notebook drive go for a 750 RPM model as they are much faster. Or even the Seagate XT series.

 

[EruditeMan]

ISO must be burned to create the .exe file.

___

Hi everyone,

My eMachines eM250 netbook currently has no hard drive as the old one broke a couple of months ago. In an attempt to get the computer up and running again, i ran it on Ubuntu 12.10 through a bootable USB memory stick which worked fine. Unfortunately Ubuntu isn't really good enough for what i need and so i decided it might be better to try and get Windows back on instead.

To do this i downloaded the .iso from Digital River and copied it to my formatted USB drive using the Windows DVD/USB write tool which is downloadable via the Microsoft website. When i boot the netbook up using the USB it wants me to install the operating system to the hard drive which i don't have. The installer says i can install onto a USB but when i plug it in it gives me the message discussed in the thread below:

I'd been expecting it to run like Ubuntu where you can just plug the memory stick in and get up and running straight away without any installation.

Surely there must be a way to boot Windows without installing like i wanted to do originally? And if that's not possible, can it be run through VirtualBox on Ubuntu?

Help would really be appreciated as i have almost given up on this now.

Thanks, RobTVR.

 

[EruditeMan]

If you have not booted into BIOS yet I think you need to set the Boot Device order so the PC will boot yo the USB device. You may need to take the ISO image to a different PC and direct that PC to burn the executable file to the USB device or to a Disk. The ISO image is not an executable file but can be used to create the executable file with which to install Windows OS. Reboot the PC while tapping one of the "F" keys. I think it is the F10 key. Go to boot order to be sure external USB device is 1st or 2nd.