Installing Windows XP on a external USB hard disk

Is it possible to install Windows XP operating system on a external USB hard
disk ? I don't want to carry out a clean installation on my existing internal
hard drive. Assuming my laptop is capable of booting from a USB device,
would it be possible? Do I need to change the setup boot sequence in order
to boot from the XP installation CD first in the BIOS, and then second from
my USB external hard drive. Or is this the correct order in this case ?
Normally, I would boot from my installation CD first whenever installing a
new operating system. The reason why I would select the USB device as the
second boot device in setup mode is because there is a risk that the system
might install windows XP over my existing internal HD.

Or would you recommend removing the internal hard drive from the laptop and
replacing it with a new internal HD and carry out the installation on this
instead. If possible, I would prefer to carry out the installation on a
external USB hard drive as they are relatively inexpensive to purchase and it
would save me the trouble of removing my internal hard drive.

I would appreciate a response from anybody out there that can assist me with
this problem.

Thanks,

Martin

Windows XP can only be installed on an internal hard drive.
I would recommend installing a new internal hard drive and
reinstalling Windows XP on it.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

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"Martin Healy" wrote:

| Is it possible to install Windows XP operating system on a external USB hard
| disk ? I don't want to carry out a clean installation on my existing internal
| hard drive. Assuming my laptop is capable of booting from a USB device,
| would it be possible? Do I need to change the setup boot sequence in order
| to boot from the XP installation CD first in the BIOS, and then second from
| my USB external hard drive. Or is this the correct order in this case ?
| Normally, I would boot from my installation CD first whenever installing a
| new operating system. The reason why I would select the USB device as the
| second boot device in setup mode is because there is a risk that the system
| might install windows XP over my existing internal HD.
|
| Or would you recommend removing the internal hard drive from the laptop and
| replacing it with a new internal HD and carry out the installation on this
| instead. If possible, I would prefer to carry out the installation on a
| external USB hard drive as they are relatively inexpensive to purchase and it
| would save me the trouble of removing my internal hard drive.
|
| I would appreciate a response from anybody out there that can assist me with
| this problem.
|
| Thanks,
|
| Martin