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

has anyone used external hard drive as a bootable device?

Feb 24, 2007 7:19PM PST

have Dell Dimension E521 XP - bios shows usb as option in booting sequence. Only had computer for a few weeks - norton ghost created a new partition and then would not boot from that partition and had the pleasure of the death screen. That issue has been resolved but now with Vista upgrade - would like to purchase a WDG1U2500N which matches the 250gb capacity of my current drive --- for two reasons - to retain the possibility of running XP (it is my understanding that the vista upgrede removes XP) and to make the recovery from upgrading to Vista as easy as possible. And I thought that running an old WIN98 machine was a pain in the ***?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Yes. But never Windows.
Feb 24, 2007 10:02PM PST

Windows as supplied doesn't do that from firewire or USB connected drives. It can however from SCSI or SATA drives.

Linux however will boot and run from almost any media connected with USB and more.

Bob

- Collapse -
I think that bios determines boot and device sequence
Feb 24, 2007 10:22PM PST

the bios in my computer has the option to boot from usb devices - and have been reading about using a flash memory key to make a BartPE.

But your response does pose another question - If I wish to give Linux a shot sometime in the future - what Linux is the best - most user friendly - I suppose that I will not be able to run most of my current programs??

- Collapse -
As supplied. No.
Feb 24, 2007 10:28PM PST

BartPE is a heavily hacked Windows and not available to most. I can't say that it's too useful except for accessing a dead system. I tried the CD version and promptly went back to Linux CDs for file recovery work.

As to booting from USB, that is supported but Windows won't run from that. At least no version from Microsoft today.

About versions of Linux, we have Ubunta, PCLinuxOS (I'm running the 2007 RC2 today) and many others. No one can tell you what you think is best.

Bob

- Collapse -
yes Bart is for recovery
Feb 24, 2007 10:42PM PST

the BartPe is for recovery - and I am beginning to think that a usb hard drive is not a stand alone bootable device - however I am not 100% positive - tech support at Dell hinted that it might be possible - as for Linux - tried it years ago and had problems with the installation - I would think that current versions are much improved - but I will be limited in the applications I can run??

- Collapse -
Just like your Mac.
Feb 24, 2007 10:55PM PST

To run MacOSX apps you need to run MacOSX. Same for Linux. While there is WINE I'll just write "what a lot of work to do so little."

PCLinuxOS 2007 RC2 is still bleeding edge but I like it. With Vista I have to start looking at Linux harder for the software I write. It has to do with testing electronics so while Windows gave me a platform to build on, Vista is creating new issues that I don't care for. Now that Linux has grown up I'm looking at that plus an idea of using MySlax to create a bootable CD with our test app.

Bob