Bootable external hard drive ???

[ebo0763]

Windows xp is installed on a external usb 2.0 hard drive. When its connected to the computer, i want it to start windows from the external hard drive instead of the regular internal one. but if its not connected, i want it to start windows from the internal (regular) hard drive. Do you know how can i do that?

 

[tlarkin]

put boot other devices in a higher priortiy in the boot strap via bios.

then put boot from HDD 0 last, so it will try to boot from USB first everytime. This will make your boot time longer though, just so you know.

 

[ADE]

Yup. Thats the way to go.

 

[Angel.of.Death]

Heres a good Priority:

1 USB
2 CDROM
3 HDD 0

@ tlarkin, i dont think, it will slow up the boot process...

 

[tlarkin]

It will slow it because it scans for "other devices" first. It doesn't make it like 10 minutes longer or anything, but it makes it longer.

 

[ebo0763]

Thankx

Thank you guys but, i don't know how to do those things you said? can u tell me a little more on how to do it?

 

[daygowop]

Thank you guys but, i don't know how to do those things you said? can u tell me a little more on how to do it?

it is not hard at all... when you boot up ur computer, look closely for something that says BIOS Settings or Setup or something of that nature and next to it there should be a key for you to press, most likely F10, F2, F12.... Then when your are in the Bios settings when wanna look for a tab that says boot-up sequence. This is where you can set what you want your computer to boot from first.
1: USB
2: CD-Rom
3: HDD 0

It is hard to describe because all computers are different. I hope this helps!

 

[tlarkin]

depending on your bios, it could also say something like enable boot other devices

 

[BrandonL]

dont you go to start, run, and type in msconfig

then after that go to BOOT.INI to manage that?

 

[tlarkin]

No, the boot.ini file only manages OSes on the same drive (with the same boot sector) for anything else you need to manage it earlier in the boot strap process, ie the bios. You could perhaps use a boot loader like GRUB and add in USB boot support for it.

 

[BrandonL]

o0o ok

 

[ADE]

Angel.of.Death ............kinda dark don't ya think?

 

[wuizzardfan]

if your MB support USBboot~

 

[Cromewell]

the boot.ini file only manages OSes on the same drive (with the same boot sector)

It can only load OSes on the same channel (or any harddrive if they all are on an adapter that is on int 13, but that isn't likely).