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How Install Windows On An External Hard Drive

This document provides instructions for installing Windows on an external hard drive to create a portable version of the Windows operating system. It is a 10 step process that involves formatting the external hard drive, running the Windows installation file from the installation disk while specifying the external hard drive as the installation target, and completing the full Windows installation process, which includes entering a registration key. Once installed, the external hard drive can be used to boot Windows on other computers.

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284 views2 pages

How Install Windows On An External Hard Drive

This document provides instructions for installing Windows on an external hard drive to create a portable version of the Windows operating system. It is a 10 step process that involves formatting the external hard drive, running the Windows installation file from the installation disk while specifying the external hard drive as the installation target, and completing the full Windows installation process, which includes entering a registration key. Once installed, the external hard drive can be used to boot Windows on other computers.

Uploaded by

ZakesM
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How Install Windows on an External Hard

Drive
By Joshua Duvauchelle, eHow Contributor

The Windows operating system includes several consumer-friendly features, including built-
in security and productivity software. Learn how to install the Windows operating system on
an external hard drive in order to make a portable copy of the Windows OS to take with you
if you move or travel.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions
Things You'll Need:
 External hard drive Windows installation disk Windows registration key

Installing Windows on an External Hard Drive

1. 1

Check that the size of the external hard drive meets the system requirements of the
Windows operating system. Windows XP requires 1.5 gigabytes of free hard drive
space. Windows Vista requires 20 gigabytes (for the Home Basic edition) or 50
gigabytes (for all other editions). The system requirements for older, outdated
versions of the Windows operating system, such as Windows Me and Windows 98,
can be found on the official Microsoft Windows Web site (link in the Resources
section).

2. 2

Connect the external hard drive to the computer with which you plan to use the hard
drive. Use the hard drive's original cables included by the drive's manufacturer. It
does not matter what connectivity standard you use. Windows will automatically
detect the external hard drive.

3. 3

Click the Start menu in the lower left-hand corner of the PC screen and select My
Computer.

4. 4

Right-click the icon for the external hard drive. Click Format from the pop-up menu.
Format the external hard drive in the NTSF format.
5. 5

Insert the original Windows installation disk into your computer's CD-ROM drive.
Close the Installation Wizard when it appears on the screen.

6. 6

Return to the My Computer window from Step 3. Write down the drive letters
assigned to the CD-ROM drive and the drive of your external hard drive. For the sake
of this article, we will use the example of D:\\ being the external hard drive and E:\\
being the CD-ROM drive. These are typically the letters assigned to CD-ROM and
external drives in the Windows operating system.

7. 7

Click the Start menu button and select Run.

8. 8

Type "E:\I386\winnt32.exe /syspart:D: /tempdrive:D: /makelocalsource /noreboot"


(without quotation marks) and click OK. This launches the Windows installer file on
the Windows installation disk in drive E:\\ and commands it to install on the D:\\ drive
(your external hard drive). The Windows Installer Wizard screen will appear.

(D:\I386\winnt32.exe /syspart:: /tempdrive:G: /makelocalsource /noreboot)

9. 9

Select the Full Install option in the Windows Installer Wizard. You will then be
guided through the Windows installation disk. Follow the on-screen prompts to
complete the installation. Depending on the speed of your computer's processor, this
may take several hours. Be prepared to enter important information, such as your
Windows registration key to register your copy of the Windows operating system. Do
not close the installation window until the installation process is complete.

10. 10

Shut down the computer and disconnect the external hard drive. You can now use the
external hard drive to boot up another computer using the installed copy of the
Windows operating system

Read more: How Install Windows on an External Hard Drive | eHow.com


http://www.ehow.com/how_4814278_install-windows-external-hard-
drive.html#ixzz127t1ZkuF

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