Can Windows XP OS boot from USB external enclosure

[Guest]

I have a situation where I need to boot Windows from a USB 2.0 2.5" external
enclosure. Tried my Lap top's HDD with XP on it using USB 2.0 external
enclosure but system boot to Windows welcome screen and then bluescreen...

Any expert suggestion will be highly appreciated

Thanks.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

I have a situation where I need to boot Windows from a USB 2.0 2.5"
external
enclosure. Tried my Lap top's HDD with XP on it using USB 2.0 external
enclosure but system boot to Windows welcome screen and then bluescreen...

Any expert suggestion will be highly appreciated

Thanks.

Only if your motherboard BIOS support this option. If not, then you cannot
boot from a USB drive.

Bobby

 

[Richard Urban [MVP]]

Not "one" instance, of a person who has said that they can install to and
boot Windows XP from an external drive, mounted in a USB/Firewire
configuration and **connected** externally, has ever been proven - to my
satisfaction.

It just has not been done and it can't be done - at this time. If it could,
I would think that the person who was successful would post the exact, and
precise, equipment used, the steps and methodology used etc. here - so that
he could receive a large, and well deserved, pat on the back. No one has
ever done so!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from: George Ankner
"If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!"

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Is the partition on the USB drive set as Active? You can check that with
FDISK. Here is some info that might help
http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~shaher/Bootable_USB.html or
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1846793,00.asp It refers to making a
USB flash drive bootable but the principle is the same for a usb hard drive

Is there a reason why you want to boot from a USB drive such as needing to
troubleshoot your system? If so using something like Bart's PE might be a
solution to create a bootable CD that runs a stripped down version of XP on
it that contains troubleshooting tools.

 

[CWatters]

I have a situation where I need to boot Windows from a USB 2.0 2.5" external
enclosure. Tried my Lap top's HDD with XP on it using USB 2.0 external
enclosure but system boot to Windows welcome screen and then bluescreen...

Any expert suggestion will be highly appreciated

Thanks.

Officially..

Recommendations for Booting Windows from USB Storage Devices
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/usb-boot.mspx
Quote " Current versions of Windows should not be installed to USB hard disk
drives because Windows does not support USB hard disk drives as the primary
boot device."

However..

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive
http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~shaher/Bootable_USB.html

and

How to boot from a USB device
http://www.weethet.nl/english/hardware_bootfromusbstick.php