Will XP run on an external hard drive?

Is there any way for me to use my old hdd with XP and all the old information and programs intact? If I buy an external enclosure for the hdd and connect it via a usb port, what will I be able to do? Will I be able to access my old programs or just my documents?

 

. You cannot boot from the external drive, others might claim otherwise, I got no luck

. You can access the programmes from the drive, some (or many) might require a re-installation as to see the external as folders

. You can access all your personal data

cheers ...

 

No... you can. I do it regularly. Not all external drives can be booted from, and not all computers can boot from USB. But to say it's impossible would be wrong.
That said, the OP will unlikely be able to boot from an external hard drive with an old installation of Windows on a new computer, but that's because of driver issues.

Almost all will require re-installation unless you can boot from the drive. Programs depend on too much more than just Program Files. Short answer, no.

This is true. You may have to take ownership of the files though if you had passwords on any user accounts (see guide in my sig for details)

 

It's the same computer, 5 1/2 years old with a new hdd and a fresh install of XP from the original recovery disks. I was just curious what I would be able to access on the old hdd via usb. What if I connect it back to the computer as a slave hdd, would I be able to boot to it that way?

 

You will be able to access the files on the old HD if you connect it to your computer using an external HD enclosure, but you will not be able to boot from it (there were no consumer laptops built 5 1/2 years ago that supported this).

 

Thank you. What if I put it back in the computer and set it up as a slave, is there any way to boot into it that way?

 

Yes, assuming there is a place to mount the drive in the computer. Are we talking about a laptop or a desktop here? All you would have to do is press your key to bring up the boot devices selection menu, then select that other drive. Would boot no problem.

 

agree'd

if you put the hardrive into the desktop then you could boot off of it no problem. Heck you can even take a laptop hard drive and use it in your desktop ...... but i do not know wether we are talking about a desktop or laptop anymore

 

Many programmes do not require reinstallations, just a call direct to the exe from the folders. Thus the remark of many apps would require a reinstallation to update the registry.

cheers ...

 

It's a desktop, IDE, with connectors for 2 hdd. How would I select to boot into the secondary drive? Do I have to do this thru the BIOS menu? Do I still set it up as master and slave? Or cable select?

 

I am talking about a desktop, but as you said it could be a laptop hdd being used in a desktop.

 

Anyone? I am really interested in learning how to do this.

 

Setting master and slave will involve a jumper change on the back of the HD. The actual setting for the jumper will depend on the HD in question.

To boot from a different device, you will have to change the boot device priority in the BIOS.

Cable select is an alternative that avoids the need to change jumpers, but you will need a special jumper to enable Cable Select mode on your HDs.

 

You'd jumper it as normal, so if it's the second drive on the channel, jumper it as slave. Then you could hit your boot menu key on startup to select the drive, or you could change the drive order in the BIOS.

 

Thank you. Would this also work if both drives were set to cable select or should it be master and slave?

 

Jumpering drives is to get the BIOS to detect the drives, and nothing more. If the BIOS sees the drives, then you're fine with your jumper configuration.
Personally, I'm against the use of cable select ever. The computer is stupid, and to avoid errors, I need to make sure I am telling it what to do.
Hopefully that answers your question.

 

Thanks for the info. I won't bother with cable select. Will Linux run from a usb drive, or should I ask in the approprate forum?

 

-Yes, it will. Installation is usually the tricky part, but some distros like GParted and DSL make it very easy.
-Not all flash drives are bootable, not sure if you meant that when you said USB drive.
-Not all computers can boot from USB devices.

 

I was thinking of using a flash drive or an external drive to try linux. My computer is probably too old to boot from a usb device, but how would I check to be sure?

I have a bunch of linux questions so I need to do some research on the linux forum. Do you participate there?

 

You can check for sure if you have a USB drive, even if you don't have an OS installed on it. Just plug it into the computer, hit the boot selection menu key, and if you see your device, you can boot from it.
You can also check the BIOS for an "enable USB boot" option.
What's the specific model of computer? I may even know off hand if it supports USB booting.

I participate in almost every subforum, but I am not super knowledgeable about linux. I'm about on the level of the average user when it comes to linux, whereas I'm an extreme power user with Windows. I could try to answer your questions but offer no guarantee.

 

Thanks, I'll test it with a usb drive and see what gives. I am a total linux noob, I am considering playing around with it a bit but I don't want to mess up my XP. I just did a reinstall after 5 1/2 years and things are working good so far. It's like a new computer. Who needs an i7? LOL!

 

I need* an i7!







*want

 

I hear you. That is my next computer. I think I will wait until Windows 7 is released and perhaps build my own this time. I'm still using a P4@ 2.8 and with the new install, it really doesn't seem that bad. I'm sure it is turtle slow compared to something modern. Sometimes it can be educational to keep an old machine running smoothly.

 

I can't help myself, I replace my main computer no less than once a year, but usually do it more like every four or so months.

 

Now I'm jealous! How soon until the i7 arrives?

 

i7 is out, and has been for at least a month, maybe a bit more.
I am waiting until the second gen of them, whatever they come out. I suspect then the prices will drop too.