Installing XP on an external hard disk

[Guest]

Can someone explain to me how to install Windows XP on an external hard disk?
- my company is about to lock down the hard drives on all laptops to control
viruses and I want to set up an external hard drive with system and software
for my own use (avoids having to buy a separate computer). I also need to
understand how to convince the computer to boot from the hard disk.

 

[peter]

If your Laptop can boot from a USB connected drive you need to set up that
option in the BIOS.
I have done it on a desktop but not a laptop.Basically I connected an
External Sata drive to an internal SATA connection by means of a SATA
extension that fits into the slot on the back of the machine.I then cloned
the internal HD to the external HD....upon boot I entered the BIOS and made
the external drive the 2nd boot choice after CD.....it booted and ran.My
BIOS has the option to push F8 to pick the drive to boot from using that I
could then chose which HD to boot from.
If that would work with a USB connected drive I have no idea.......but you
can try it
peter

 

[Dave B.]

No it will not work, without some hacking, SATA is considered an internal
interface, not external, so it has no relation to external device booting.

--

 

[Dave B.]

Not possible without some hacking, a Google search will yield results and
instructions.

 

[Peter Foldes]

The OS will not boot from an external Hard Drive

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP cannot be installed on an external drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

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Can someone explain to me how to install Windows XP on an external hard disk?
- my company is about to lock down the hard drives on all laptops to control
viruses and I want to set up an external hard drive with system and software
for my own use (avoids having to buy a separate computer). I also need to
understand how to convince the computer to boot from the hard disk.