External HDD in an external eSATA enclosure bootable?

[cbwilsha]

I have an HDD from a kaput (long story) Toshiba Laptop with a nicely running Windows 10 Technical Preview Operating System. I would like to put it in an enclosure, hook it to my Windows 7 computer and boot it to play with Win 10.
As I understand it from some preliminary research, if I use a USB connection and expect to boot it, there is a lengthy procedure to go through and it can only be done with a blank HDD So I couldn't just put my HDD in and boot.

However, I have an eSATA port on my Toshiba Laptop and am wondering if I get an external enclosure with an eSATA connection, could I use my HDD that already has the OS installed?

Any answers or suggestions?

 

[alphanumeric]

Can the laptop boot from the eSATA port? Even if it will you may have issues with incorrect drivers etc.

 

[whs]

I can boot from eSata. I guess it depends whether your mobo will let you. If you run into driver problem, just reinstall it on the eSata.

 

[alphanumeric]

I can boot from eSata. I guess it depends whether your mobo will let you. If you run into driver problem, just reinstall it on the eSata.

I would expect that option on a desktop motherboard. On a laptop? I wouldn't count on it. The only eSATA I have is an add-in card that I'm not currently using and my laptop doesn't have it.

 

[whs]

Well, the system I am referring to is a Dell XPS 8300. But I used to have a Sony VIAO laptop with eSata where that worked too. Unfortunately I had to RMA that Sony because it had some other problems. Else it was a really nice system.

 

[alphanumeric]

OK, that being said I guess the odds of it working just went up.

 

[Clintlgm]

I would say that there is a pretty good chance it would after all eSATA is just another SATA port. That said basic drivers will be wrong on at least the first boot up that could be a no go. What you might try would be to image the drive with Reflect and then use restore to different hardware feature on the new computer! Since your not actually setting up a dual boot you might want to use a boot manager like EasyBCD, I think that is the name, these people anyway The NeoSmart Files lots of info on their website about booting computers