USB Flash Drive as Hard drive to install to.

[BillyKool]

Hi,
I've got a Win RT 7 Install running and my only problem is that it doesn't see flash drives as drives to install the OS on to. I can see the USB drives for loading a driver so the installer already sees the USB drive but it won't list it for selecting a destination for the OS. So, I'm not sure I even need a driver and some RT setting needs to be set for it to see flash drives for Win 7 OS installs.
The install only sees IDE or SATA Drives and will let you load a driver from a flash drive but not let you install the OS onto it?
Also, I'm already installing from another 16GB USB drive.
The SSD drive went south on this Dell Netbook and I'm gonna try and run Win 7 off a USB drive.
I've got a 16GB USB drive with a bootable RT 7 WIn 7 32Bit image and I'm only as far as the select drive to install and it doesn't list the USB drive, I can browse to select a driver and the 8GB USB Drive is there.

Bill

 

[whs]

To run a Win7 from a flash drive, you need a Win7 Enterprise edition (because of the product key activation problems).

You can, however, install Win8 on a flash drive because there are currently no activation problems. Windows 8 To Go - Setup on a USB Flash Drive or USB Disk

You should know though that a really fast USB3 flash drive is required to make that a pleasant experience. On a USB2 drive it will work like molasses and you will soon be fed up (I have tried it).

Consider that for the price of a fast 32GB USB3 flash drive you can buy a 60GB SSD which you can also attach via USB3 or eSata and that might be a better deal.

 

[BillyKool]

Thanks for the reply... I'm working on this Dell Netbook that doesn't have USB3 but you've given me some ideas.

I tried this on Ubuntu and it flew but the touchpad doesn't work right and no drivers could fix the problem. The install to the USB flashdrive went fine though.

My option for SSD is "mini PCI Express" plug in, replacing the one that locks the system on post. But, it's not available in this part of the world. Looking for a two buck chuck option and the flash drive looked like an option.

Thanks again,
Bill

 

[whs]

Yes, the Linux versions work quite well on a USB2. I have a Fedora on a stick and that is good. But Windows is another story.