Windows (all versions so far) do not boot and run from USB external drives. Linux and Apple can do this but not Windows.
You left out CRUCIAL information such as what software you wanted to use.
Bob
This is kind of a crazy situation but if it wasn't I wouldn't be groveling for help; here goes:
For my major we are given a copy of all of our books on cds, the total amount will be about 35 gigs of space by my graduation. I rarely use a laptop but had an old Toshiba Satellite laying around and thought that would be a good use for it. Hard drive size = 6 gigs. So I bought a WD passport (black not silver) 120 gigs.
Problem 1 the software does not allow for an installation destination other that c:
Problem 2 the software can not be straight copied to the external drive from c: once installed (installed files outside destination folder I can't find)
Thought 1 I could remove all internal hard drives from my main computer and install windows on the external (my main computer can boot from usb), install the books, then connect the external to my laptop and run the books from the external
Possible problem 1 I can't open the files because I am booting from the internal drive (my laptop can not boot from usb)
Question 1 How will an OS react to opening a program inside another OS (eg. Windows XP to Windows Me)?
Ideal goal I need to be able to install the books on the external hard drive, ideally I would be able to use the external hard drive on any computer whether it is my laptop, desktop, or public computer at school.
I know that something similiar is possible using a usb thumb drive (portable firefox, etc) and that I can make an external hard drive the main boot drive but I think what I am doing is fairly different because I don't want it to be a boot drive but I can't figure out a work around for the installation of the books
So...Im wondering if anyone has any ideas or solutions to this whole situation. Buying a new laptop or putting in a new primary hard drive are less than ideal solutions that I have already considered and dismissed.
Thanks for any help you can give.

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