Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

An interesting question?

by hawk318 Jul 29, 2007 1:07AM PDT

I just had a guy ask me if it was possible to build a computer without an internal HD, and just using an External USB2 HD.....

Natch I told him it sounded feasible, but had never heard of any one actually doing it.......

Any one done it?
If so how?
What I told him... From what I know, make sure the BIOS was set to read drives first (default for most PC's now)
Install the OS on the external HD.....

The 2nd option would be extend the main HD harness in the PC to the outside and install it to a cased internal....

Lol, don't ask me why he wants to do it

Somehow don't think it is that easy

Discussion is locked

3 Posts

- Collapse + Expand Details

- Collapse -

Yes. But it won't run Windows.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 29, 2007 1:09AM PDT

I can run Linux but Windows doesn't run from said USB drive.

Bob

- Collapse -

In fact...

by John.Wilkinson Jul 29, 2007 2:44AM PDT

You can run Ubuntu, Knoppix, etc. from CD/DVD without ever having a hard drive, and save files to a floppy, flash drive, or online storage. However, like Bob said, it won't happen with Windows, for it's designed to fail.

John

- Collapse -

Yes as Bob said and even Windows IF ...

by Edward ODaniel Jul 29, 2007 2:46AM PDT

he made use of Windows embedded (choice of CE or XP). The following link might interest him:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/embedded/aa731327.aspx

Embedded Operating Systms are not limited to Windows so the same method could be used with others such as QNX ( http://www.qnx.com/products/runtime_kit/index.html ) and as a matter of fact there is a downloadable QNX demo for Internet browsing from a bootable floppy either for a modem or for broadband. Used to be available on their site but now you get it here - http://toastytech.com/guis/qnxdemo.html

He could also use regular consumer Windows or most any other OS if he would go SCSI rather than just USB.

Back to Computer Help forum