I am unable to boot Windows XP from an external hard
drive. The BIOS is correctly set to boot from the
external USB device first. The USB settings are enabled
and correct in the BIOS. Windows XP has been installed
to the drive correctly...the hard drive is in an
enclosure and would not install originally through the
USB. I had to remove it from the enclosure and install
XP through the IDE. When I try to boot the external
drive the Windows screen displays for about 5 seconds and
then it reboots. The three internal 160 GB drives each
contain a different OS (98, ME, and 2000).

With all other settings seemingly correct, why will it
not boot to the external. I also have an external DVD/RW
that will not boot with the XP or 2000 CD. The device
manager shows that everything is working and XP is
updated beyond SP1.

Why on earth would you want to cripple XP by making it run from a USB drive?

--


----------------------------------------------------------------
"Eric Mata" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:456001c3aaf9$dd22f460$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I am unable to boot Windows XP from an external hard
> drive. The BIOS is correctly set to boot from the
> external USB device first. The USB settings are enabled
> and correct in the BIOS. Windows XP has been installed
> to the drive correctly...the hard drive is in an
> enclosure and would not install originally through the
> USB. I had to remove it from the enclosure and install
> XP through the IDE. When I try to boot the external
> drive the Windows screen displays for about 5 seconds and
> then it reboots. The three internal 160 GB drives each
> contain a different OS (98, ME, and 2000).
>
> With all other settings seemingly correct, why will it
> not boot to the external. I also have an external DVD/RW
> that will not boot with the XP or 2000 CD. The device
> manager shows that everything is working and XP is
> updated beyond SP1.