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Install windows 7 on external hard drive and boot from the external hard drive

Tags:
  • Lenovo
  • Hard Drives
  • Image
  • Boot
  • External Hard Drive
  • Windows 7
Last response: in Windows 7
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October 5, 2014 11:29:54 AM

I have a lenovo thinkcentre m58 that has no hard drive. I have an iso image of windows 7 ultimate and I am trying to boot from an external hard drive. Since the desktop does not have a hard drive in it, I want to use the external as my main drive. The external drive will always be plugged into the desktop. Is this possible?

More about : install windows external hard drive boot external hard drive

a b $ Windows 7
October 5, 2014 11:34:50 AM

While technically possible, the speed will be crippled because of the USB interface.

Why can't you just buy a new internal hard drive?
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a b $ Windows 7
October 5, 2014 11:35:24 AM

Its possible, but you do not want to run windows via USB.

What kind of hard drive is it? If its a 2.5inch external, then you can take it apart and install the hard drive in the laptop.
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October 5, 2014 11:42:24 AM

I want to run windows via usb. The external hard drive is a usb connect. it is a 3.5" external hard drive
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a b $ Windows 7
October 5, 2014 11:52:43 AM

You can do it, but it will be sluggish, especially via USB2.
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October 5, 2014 12:26:39 PM

@ThatVietGuy, I have a spare external hard drive that I wont be using so I wanted to give it a shot. It's not going to be my main computer, it's just a little project that I wanted to give a shot to see if it would work. I have tried formatting the hard drive and everything, but when I boot it up and say to boot from the usb drive, it says boot disk error.
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a b $ Windows 7
October 5, 2014 12:28:03 PM

Have you even tried installing the ISO to the external drive yet?
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October 5, 2014 1:56:54 PM

Yes, I have, but when I try to boot from the external drive, I get an error message saying, "Disc boot error. Pres ctrl+alt+del to restart"
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a b $ Windows 7
October 5, 2014 11:02:01 PM

compbeginner said:
Yes, I have, but when I try to boot from the external drive, I get an error message saying, "Disc boot error. Pres ctrl+alt+del to restart"


Check the BIOS to see if USB boot option is on. If not that, some devices just don't allow it.

Make sure to try a different USB port too.
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