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    Installing Vista on an External Hard Drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by sealcaptain0, Jun 12, 2009.

  1. sealcaptain0

    sealcaptain0 Notebook Geek

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    I want to purchase an external hard drive for my laptop from Newegg, because it offers 1TB of memory. I do not want to waste space explaining why I prefer an external hard drive.

    I have done some research on this topic, and in short... half of the pages I have researched say that it is possible and some say it isn't possible. I need to know whether it is possible to install and boot up Vista from the external hard drive, using an eSATA cable. I have asked the hard drive maker's tech support, about this situation, and they have responded:

    "Dear customer

    Yes, the eSATA cable is supplied. I am sorry that I have no experience of installing OS to an external hard drive but I have heard stories about it. I am not sure if it's totally possible, but you can definitely try it out. Thank you."

    I don't want to rely on this junk, so from your experience, is it possible to boot up Vista from an external hard drive with a normal speed using eSATA (on both ends of the cable)?

    Here is the hard drive:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822324017
     
    sealcaptain0, Jun 12, 2009
    #1
  2. CrimsonEclipse

    CrimsonEclipse Notebook Enthusiast

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    Officially:
    No. Vista CANNOT be properly installed on an external drive.

    Hax:
    Likely a hack or workaround to get the job done.

    Note:
    Many Linux versions CAN be installed on to an external.

    CE
     
    CrimsonEclipse, Jun 13, 2009
    #2
  3. Aeris

    Aeris Otherworldly

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    Vista is not made to boot up from an External Drive. Sorry.
     
    Aeris, Jun 13, 2009
    #3