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    vista on external hd?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by azntiger1000, Jan 23, 2007.

  1. azntiger1000

    azntiger1000 Notebook Deity

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    Is it possible to install Vista or any Windows on an external usb hd? I never thought about it and if anyone did it let me know if it works or not. Thanks :)
     
    azntiger1000, Jan 23, 2007
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  2. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    Not sure about Vista, but all previous versions of Windows disables USB access during boot up, so it would not be possible, unless you hacked the kernel, or so I have heard (the kernel hacking bit that is).
     
    Budding, Jan 23, 2007
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  3. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

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    Like Budding said, it would probably depend on whether the OS would allow USB booting. However, even if it did, it will be quite laggy considering how the fastest external drives are still usually slower than internal ones (except perhaps if you use a Firewire 800 one).
     
    hehe299792458, Jan 23, 2007
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  4. azntiger1000

    azntiger1000 Notebook Deity

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    Well my external HD is 7200rpm. It is faster than my laptops 5400. But I don't think the bios would allow me to boot from usb so in the end it probably won't work.
     
    azntiger1000, Jan 24, 2007
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  5. mbushnaq00

    mbushnaq00 Notebook Evangelist

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    it wont work, I tried installing through external hdd 7400 and i ended up with a BSOD everytime I tried to boot to vista.
     
    mbushnaq00, Jan 25, 2007
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  6. BENDER

    BENDER EX-NBR member :'(

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    Booting from external USB enclosure is not supported directly out of the box. You have to modify a few files here and there. Someone managed to make XP boot from an external device, but no one has been able to replicate this using Vista :(

    Read more here from Channel9
     
    BENDER, Jan 25, 2007
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  7. azntiger1000

    azntiger1000 Notebook Deity

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    Yea, it doesn't seem easy. Oh well, just had a thought. :) Thanks for the information people.
     
    azntiger1000, Jan 25, 2007
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  8. BENDER

    BENDER EX-NBR member :'(

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    I've been trying to do this for quite a while. I gave up trying as it didn't work for me :(
     
    BENDER, Jan 25, 2007
    #8