Install Windows to an External hard drive?

Spoonhead98

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Hi, thanks for all the help you have been giving me!

Can i install windows 7 or 8 to an external hard drive so i can take it to another computer, select it from the boot menu and it will boot up?

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A97 R2.0
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 270X
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander MS-I Snow Edition
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Thanks but i have Windows 8 Pro not Enterprise and i need to install Windows on a drive connected by USB. The setup says 'Windows cannot be installed to this drive'
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A97 R2.0
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 270X
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander MS-I Snow Edition
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
This is good but i need to use my actual hardware eg. gpu not virtual.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A97 R2.0
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 270X
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower 750W
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander MS-I Snow Edition
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Hi
Sorry photos for leaving because I could not upload all the photos .
The advantages of using this method is that we are not formatting the drive to make it bootable. So, if you have any data on your external hard drive, you need not worry! But we recommend a backup of critical data on the external hard drive just to be on the safer side.

Procedure:
Step 1: Connect your external USB hard drive that you want to use as installation media to the PC and backup the data to a safe location as the drive will be erased in the later steps.

Step 2: Open Computer, right-click on the external hard drive icon, and then selectFormat option to open Format dialog box. Select File System as NTFS, select Quick Format option and click Start button to do a quick format of the drive.
Click Yes for the confirmation prompt. Once the format is done, you will see “Format Complete” message. Click Ok button
Step 3: We assume that you have a Windows 8 ISO file. You need to extract the ISO file contents to the root of your external drive. To do this, you need 7-Zip (free), WinZip, or WinRAR software.
If you have any of the above mentioned zip utility on your PC, right-click on the Windows 8 ISO file and select Extract files option to extract the ISO file contents to the external hard drive.

NOTE: If you are using 7-Zip software to extract the ISO file, right-click on the ISO >7-Zip > Extract Files option. Make sure that you are extracting the files to the root the external hard drive.

And if you have Windows 8 DVD, simply copy all files and folders of the DVD to the root of the external hard drive.

Step 4: Now open Command Prompt with admin privileges. To open the Command Prompt with administrator rights you can follow any of these steps:
A. Type CMD in Start menu search box and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
OR
B. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories. Right-click on Command Prompt entry and select Run as administrator option.

Step 5: In the Command Prompt, type-in the following commands and hit Enter key after typing each command.
x:
cd/boot
bootsect x:
(where “x” is your external hard drive’s drive letter)
Installing-Windows-8-From-External-Hard-Drive-Step-5_thumb.png

Installing-Windows-8-From-External-Hard-Drive-Step-6_thumb.png




Step 6: Exit the Command Prompt, reboot your PC and then follow our Windows 8 installation procedure (step-by-step) guide to complete installation.

Good Luck
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus-IBM
    CPU
    Intel core i7
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    4G
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce 610 m 2G
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Intel Graphic 3000 HD
Install from your external hard disk. 32 bit to 64 bit :)
You shall do this. 100 % work.
( when your not have any DVD burner or USB key - This work:) )
Install Windows 8.0 clean and new install from any External hard disk maket by old from 32 bit system to 64 bit

system.

( YOU NEED )
External Harddisk may be on USB ( like cable ) and any windows 8 - 32 bit install dvd

lets go.

I use any 32 bit pc to make this trick. -> convert from 32 to 64 bit install disk :)

Take your External hard drive

Be sure is clean.

Use any partions program like AOEMI Partitions Assistant ( is free ) to do thas.

Delete old External harddisk settings inside the Partitions program , and create any ntfs filesystem disk ( like

40 gb )
Set this primary and active.

download your Windows(64X)8pro.iso file - ( Upgrade Windows with only a product key ) is can be download from
Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

Take the iso file uzip thas to your External Hard disk ( use 7 zip is free too )

Unplug the External Hard disk.

Go to you 64 bit pc ( where you need to install windows 8 64 bit )

Inset your External Hard disk like your 64 bit file on

inset dvd windows 8 install disk for 32 bit.

boot up pc - and is beginning install from dvd ( 32 bit )

Dont install fuld - just wait to your got message "instal now" and down you can se chance "repair your computer"

chance repair your computer -> go to advanced options -> go to Command prompt


( Now Command Prompt is open on you 32 bit install dvd on your 64 bit bit pc )

go to your external harddisk -> G:

( external hard drive’s drive letter . like G: where is your external hard disk list)

go to boot dir -> cd/boot
Type -> bootsect F:



( Now your are NOT DONE - is only cause we are on 32 bit but need 64 bit boot disk. and 32 bit Command Prompt dont

like 64 bit.....

Your got error message "NO NTLDR" if your try install from your external hard disk !!!!!! )

No problem.

Just run same but for boot settings:

Type -> bootsect /nt60 F:

Now your done on your external hard disk.

( remove dvd and be sure your harddisk from new 64 bit pc are clean - VIP !!! Windows 8 install dvd inset hiden

disk drev on your HD. Clean this like move disk out and use any Partitions program to delete all and make a new

clean primary partition. )


Good job - now your have a 64 bit install harddisk. :)

Sorry my english not is the best. - maby oure forum administrator do thas. :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    acer 5750g
    Memory
    6g
    Hard Drives
    SSD :-)
Maybe you can try WinToUSB to create Windows To Go USB driver, any version of windows 7/8 is OK.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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