Solved Setup does not support USB or IEEE 1394 Port

[Sublimelbc]

I've been trying to install windows 7 to an external hard drive because one of my computers is effed. It's a 1 TB external hard drive that I've done the following to: Format NTFS, mark partition as active in disk management, created a bootable sector via command prompt and updated mbr, and tried using Universal USB-Instaler. This is the error I get every time I select the external hard drive to install to:

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu."

Please let me know if you have found a solution to this, thanks.

 

[pbcopter]

I do not believe Windows 7 can be installed to a USB hard drive.

 

[Sublimelbc]

Well the reason I think It can be done is people install windows on flash drives and I've read a lot of topics on people installing on external hard drives.

 

[pebbly]

It's all to do with the loading of the usb drivers, pbcopter is correct, you cannot run the OS from an external HDD One of our esteemed members will explain the reason shortly

 

[pebbly]

sublimelbc, Have a read here Can You Boot From External Hard Disk Drive: Running Windows From a Portable Hard Drive | Suite101.com

 

[pbcopter]

Well the reason I think It can be done is people install windows on flash drives and I've read a lot of topics on people installing on external hard drives.

I think they may have meant that you can install Windows 7 from a USB flash drive.

 

[Sublimelbc]

Well the reason I think It can be done is people install windows on flash drives and I've read a lot of topics on people installing on external hard drives.

I think they may have meant that you can install Windows 7 from a USB flash drive.

Oh yeah, good point.

 

[Sublimelbc]

sublimelbc, Have a read here Can You Boot From External Hard Disk Drive: Running Windows From a Portable Hard Drive | Suite101.com

Thanks for this article, that was a good read. Windows is too much like Apple; they lock down their operating system where it becomes a hassle to deal with. I even updated the mbr and loaded the boot sector on it, but they detect that its plugged into a USB port.

Oh well, ill keep pirating windows -- one of these days I'm going to switch to linux.

 

[steve500]

^ what?

As a 10 year IT Tech for both windows and Mac systems, I've never once run into an issue with installing OS/X on either external FireWire or USB drives what so ever, the function is 100% supported. Even if you plan on using that external drive across multiple computers to boot from, there is no hardware software license protection. Works perfectly.

Microsoft windows is the only installer- even the current windows 10 preview that does not immediately support installation to an external disk drive.

 

[Niemandje]

Hi Guys

Actually the idea itself is not impossible, you should just try to manipulate your Computer, it requires some extra work or let me say Hardware work.

What you have to do is the Next:

Remove your originally Hard Drive connected to your SATA Port, if you don't have an additional one one your Motherboard.​

Connect your ("Extern" Hard disk that you tried with USB Port) inside your computer with the normal SATA port, and make your installation just normally.​

Once the Windows installation is done, you can shutdown your computer, and remove your Hard Disk from it.​

Put your originally Hard Drive back into your computer if you had to remove it before​

Connect your Hard Drive contains the new installation with your USB Port​

Run your computer, and from BIOS Setup/Boot menu, Select Boot from concerned Hard Drive​

Bingo! Let me know your Feedbacks Guys!​