Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD - Printable Version
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Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by Mike on 11-17-2005 at 05:47 PM
Hello.
I got today an external HDD (which only takes laptop's hdds).
So, I wanted to install windows xp on it (an edition that had most of the stuff removed 
), so I put the windows xp cd in the cddrive and reboot my computer...
It seemed that windows setup could see the external HDD (it said it was C: 
) but, when I pressed enter to install it, I got this message:
"Your computers startup program cannot gain access to the
disk containing the partition or free space you chose.
Setup cannot install windows XP on this hard disk.
This lack of access doesn't necessarily indicate an error
condition.
For example, disk attached to a SCSI adaptor that wasn't
installed by your computer manufacturer or to a secondary
hard disk controller, are typically not visible to the
startup program unless special software is used. Contact
your computer manufacturer for more information.
On x86 - based computers, this massage may indicate a
problem with the COMS drive type settings.
See your disk controller documentation for more
information."
I searched google and found this: http://www.pcbanter.net/showthread.php?t=625199
Does that mean that i cant install windows xp on an external hdd? 
What if I copied the windows folder to that hdd, and then edit boot.ini to have that hdd entrie?
Thanks.
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by Savior on 11-17-2005 at 06:58 PM
You should be able to install xp on this HDD
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by Mike on 11-17-2005 at 07:10 PM
quote:Yes, but how?
Originally posted by Savior
You should be able to install xp on this HDD
I couldn't really find out how...
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by ~INVASION~ on 11-17-2005 at 08:58 PM
i got an external hdd the other day too, 160 gb, i was wondeing if i can switch it with my internal one, like put the 40 gb (currently in my comp) in the external case and put the 160 gb in my comp and just make the 160 my c, kinda copy it from one hdd to another, is this possible or do i have to wipe all data then reload windows?
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by Underlord on 11-17-2005 at 10:54 PM
Do you have USB-HDD set as a boot device in the bios? This might depend on bios support for USB-HDDs.
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by YottabyteWizard on 11-17-2005 at 11:20 PM
Not sure, but maybe you can install Windows on a fixed HDD then copy the entire partition to the external drive with a third software like Partition Magic
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by Max on 11-19-2005 at 07:59 PM
Get a copy of Norton Ghost. Make an Ghost Image of your current Windows install and then install that Ghost Image onto the USB HDD. 
RE: Installing Windows XP in an external USB HDD by rav0 on 11-21-2005 at 08:57 AM
What kind of drives are already in the computer, and what kind is the external one?