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General discussion

dual boot from external HDD

Nov 29, 2009 12:04AM PST

Is it possible to dual boot frm an external USB HDD on a Win 7 platform?
My laptop lost its display and I bought a new desctop PC that came with Win 7.
I have an external usb drive enclosure and plan on mounting the laptop drive in it. This drive has Win XP, programs and my personal data files installed.
What would I have to do to make the machine to dual boot from it?

Discussion is locked

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Sure
Nov 29, 2009 1:06AM PST

Sure, if you want to run an OS other than Windows from the external drive. That's no problem, but Windows is designed NOT to be able to do this.

You could probably do it with Windows 3.1, if you could find USB drivers and integrate them into the image. From Win95 on though, forget about it.

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Sorry no.
Nov 29, 2009 1:09AM PST

No version of Windows does this. Yes there are HACKS but these are not easy and I've never found anyone apply this retroactively or after the fact in your situation.

All the files should be accessible but for each date file you may have to install a new software install on the new machine and import the data file.
Bob

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how about this
Nov 29, 2009 7:57PM PST

If I set the boot order in the bios to boot from USB first, would that bring up XP ?

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Easy to try.
Nov 29, 2009 8:00PM PST

But I expect some error. Can you tell us?

Kees

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will let you know
Nov 29, 2009 8:13PM PST

as soon I track down the USB cable.

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The result is
Nov 29, 2009 8:05PM PST

Well known. But do try as this is how most learn about this area.

Your files however will be fine.
Bob

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Transfering your files
Dec 5, 2009 11:11AM PST