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    Bootable eSATA?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by wanabedriver, Aug 22, 2007.

  1. wanabedriver

    wanabedriver Notebook Guru

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    Is it possible to boot off a eSATA drive?

    I want to get this express eSATA card, a couple SATA desktop hard drives, and a spare PSU. Build an enclosure for it and hook it all up, hopefully even booting off it.
     
    wanabedriver, Aug 22, 2007
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    As far as I know no laptop supports booting off of the ExpressCard slot...
     
    Greg, Aug 22, 2007
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  3. wanabedriver

    wanabedriver Notebook Guru

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    Aw man...

    Sad face. :(
     
    wanabedriver, Aug 22, 2007
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  4. devsk

    devsk Notebook Evangelist

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    It should be possible. The eSata hard drive just appears as another scsi drive to the system as if it was internal.

    I am not sure why anyone would boot from eSata though. I mean isn't laptop supposed to get rid of the wires etc.... :D
     
    devsk, Aug 22, 2007
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  5. einhander

    einhander Notebook Deity

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    run a 7200rpm outside to reduce heat :D
     
    einhander, Aug 22, 2007
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  6. wanabedriver

    wanabedriver Notebook Guru

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    10,000 rpm ;)

    Plus I haven't seen a laptop hard drive larger than 200GB lately, for a decent price too...

    As for why to boot off an eSATA drive, I'm just trying to make my own 'docking station'.
     
    wanabedriver, Aug 22, 2007
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  7. RogueMonk

    RogueMonk Notebook Deity

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    I can boot from mine with my W7J (haven't tried my other laptops) with no issues at all. In fact, I have XP installed on an external SATA drive that I use via an expresscard eSATA card attached to an external enclosure.

    By the way, I am currently using an idotConnect SATA card. This one -http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4697648
     
    RogueMonk, Aug 22, 2007
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  8. yodermk

    yodermk Notebook Guru

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    I boot from the eSATA port of my ASUS Z84JP. Great way to stick a less-used Linux distro on a 500GB external drive.

    I'm not sure about ExpressCard eSATA, but internally ExpressCard uses PCI Express and/or USB 2.0, depending on the card. I know it's possible to boot from USB, and I imagine it is possible through PCI Express if the BIOS is any good.

    Really though if you want eSATA you need to get an ASUS. Having it built in is way nicer than an add-in. :)
     
    yodermk, Aug 23, 2007
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  9. midiman

    midiman Notebook Guru

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    Anyone try a Dell? Getting a 1420 next week and would like to have the ability to boot from an eSata drive as well with WinXP on one and Vista on the other...maybe a third partition with OSX86 once the 8xxx-series nvidia cards are supported.
     
    midiman, Sep 5, 2007
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  10. otak

    otak Notebook Enthusiast

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    Interested too of possibility to boot off or just use external SATA300 desktop drive . I would prefer to use FireWire or eSATA and the problem is that Vostro 1500 doesnt have eSATA .. :eek:

    Good luck to everyone , will be looking for suggestions !
     
    otak, Oct 25, 2007
    #10