Is it possible to install W7 on USB hdd?

[churin]

I am having difficulty restoring backup image of W7 on SATA controller onto USB3 connected hard drive. I have not tried clean install on USB3 connected hdd yet but am beginning to suspect it is not possible.

 

[Pauly]

To my knowledge i dont think it is possible to install to external drive

 

[jshinevar]

It is possible, as long as your BIOS recognizes the drive as a bootable option.

 

[problemshredder]

i've never tried installing an OS on an external hd myself, but it feels quite risky even if it can be done. when something happens to the usb connection, the whole system will tumble. what's wrong with restoring to the internal hd ?

 

[jshinevar]

oh I agree, I never would want to, but if you absolutely had to, it could be done.

 

[churin]

It would be handy for emergency use. Anyway this is off topic.
I wonder if anyone know how to? I do not want to clean install for my purpose though. I would think if W7 can be installed on USB hdd, then W7 backup image can be restored on USB drive.

 

[pbcopter]

As far as I know, it is not possible with Windows 7.

 

[LMiller7]

Microsoft has never supported installing any version of Windows to an external drive, except Windows 8 Enterprise Edition. Note that this is not a retail product but available only to large organizations with bulk licensing.

With some hardware it is possible but not really a practical proposition.

 

[benjy206]

It is possible with software out there. But I would not advise you to do it. Basically the software turns it into a internal device. But when you start to remove and re-insert things really go bad.