theoretically, could you run a pc using only a thumb drive (with os)

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

i dont know a whole lot about drives. if i tried to do this would it be really slow?

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

It's called a LiveUSB. Most linux distributions are installed from one, and MS now allows you to do it with Win8 Enterprise.

Not particularly slow, but it depends on the drive.

MalakiArtook · Mar 20, 2014

You can even get usb drive that you plug into your computer that turn it int a smart tv for like 10 bucks.

Jaxem · Mar 20, 2014

I'm not sure what you mean by "only" but you can kind of use a thumb drive to replace a hard drive in some cases...you still need ram and all the rest of the regular stuff

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

yeah i just mean using it as your only hard drive. so i could just get a 32g 3.0, install an os on it, and not even have an internal hdd?

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

Yup. Done it before.

You'll still need the rest of the bits, but can be HDD (and SSD)-free.

Note that Windows will refuse to install to an [strike]HDD[/strike] USB-attached storage devices (including thumb drives and external HDDs), with the exception of 8 Enterprise. You'd want to go the Linux route.

MalakiArtook · Mar 20, 2014

yes but it's going to pale in comparison to a SSD in a SATA i assume?

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

MalakiArtook :

ok but would it be as good or better than my old 5400rpm ata?

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

Not sure. Probably about the same, but depends on how good the drive is.

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

was that a typo? did u mean thumb drive? you cant install windows onto a thumb drive?

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

was that a typo? did u mean thumb drive? you cant install windows onto a thumb drive?

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

you arent replying. still curious. gonna reword in a new thread.

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

Sorry, got sidetracked.

You can't install Windows on a thumb drive/USB stick, unless it's Windows 8 Enterprise.

However, you can install most versions of Linux on a thumb drive/USB stick.

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

bummer

mouse24 · Mar 20, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

Sorry to kind of derail this thread but I was just curious. What constitutes a HDD to the windows installer? How does it tell a USB drive from a HDD? Would a external HDD not be counted because its plugged into the USB ports?

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

USB drives use different drivers, and it's fairly easy for Windows to tell them apart.

External HDDs are no-go too, by memory. It won't install onto a USB Mass Storage Device. Might do a UASP drive, though. Not sure.

USAFRet · Mar 20, 2014

mouse24 :

Someone Somewhere :

Sorry to kind of derail this thread but I was just curious. What constitutes a HDD to the windows installer? How does it tell a USB drive from a HDD? Would a external HDD not be counted because its plugged into the USB ports?

It knows.

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

is windows 8 enterprise super expensive?

USAFRet · Mar 20, 2014

spoofer2 :

Yes. And you can only buy it if you have a Volume License agreement with MS. Which you don't have.

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

Needs to be Volume Licensing. Which means you're looking at buying lots of keys at once.

mouse24 · Mar 20, 2014

If you have an IDE drive you could just grab a converter for about 10 bucks.

Be a lot faster than that flash drive too. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232004

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

USAFRet :

spoofer2 :

Yes. And you can only buy it if you have a Volume License agreement with MS. Which you don't have.

you dont know that! but good guess

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

ok so now that we've exhausted first topic, anyone know how fast usb 3.0 is compared to my old 5400rpm ata's?

Someone Somewhere · Mar 20, 2014

Probably better I/Os, but worse sequential performance, particularly on write. Depends on the stick more than the interface.

spoofer2 · Mar 20, 2014

im just looking for the most cost effective way to put extra storage on my unit that will be faster than my ata's.

theoretically, could you run a pc using only a thumb drive (with os)

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