Can I install windows from an external harddrive?

[evalon]

Hello there,

A quick question that I hope you can help with: Is it possible to install windows on a computer from an external harddrive, i.e. first copy the windows (XP) cd-rom to the external harddrive and then install from this harddrive?

Thanks for considering ...

Jesper Mønsted

 

[The Egyptian]

yes you can but first you must boot from dos

 

[wellhellothere]

Presuming its a USB hard drive, follow these steps:

1: Connect HDD to your system and ensure it is empty
2: Open elevated command prompt (run command prompt as Admin)
3: Type "diskpart" (no speech marks)
4: Type "list disk" and identify which number is the HDD
5: Type "select disk x" (x being your HDD)
6: Type "clean", when the disk is clean, type "create primary partition"
7: Type "format fs=fat32 quick", when the format is complete, type "active" and then "exit"
8: Copy all the files on the Win7 DVD onto your HDD
9: Configure your BIOS to boot from USB storage, and restart your PC

 

[rawcomputers]

yes you can but first you must boot from dos

Not true, if the external hard drive is bootable as the dvd image for windows install just set it up in the cmos as the first boot drive.

If not, it's easier to just thow it on a dvd or usb key

 

[evalon]

Hi,

and thank you all for your replies.

I now have bought a laptop and soon will have to install Win XP on it - probably from a harddrive/USB key so appreciate your feedback.

Greetings,

Jesper