I can run vista windows on an external hard drive?

Hi I was wondering if I could run windows vista Home premium (64 bit) on an external hard drive...

and how would I do it?

I was reading around and found some info that said that I need to start from the main internal drive, but I think that my internal drive has some errors and im not sure how long it will last... Although I did have too much problems with it since my last restore full on a month and half ago.

any suggestions or steps I must take to be able to do this?

I don't think that this is possible. It is possible to install/boot from a HDD external bootable with some revisions minor http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/07/15/how-to-install-windows-7-or-vista-from-bootable-portable-usb-flash-memory-key-or-hard-disk-drive/ (assuming that your BIOS supports this)-say if your CD/DVD has not, recovery or reinstallation, but it is not the same as Vista from the external HARD drive.  I think the biggest problem is the drivers who won't be loaded until the Windows startup and Windows could not start without the USB already loaded if it was located on an external USB drive (and the other drivers as well) and there may be some problems with the boot files.  There may be other issues - I think XP and Vista are INTENTIONALLLY DESIGNED to work this way (for reasons of piracy among others)...

I read a post from Carey Frisch MVP, who says flatly that it cannot be done.  Here is an article on the topic which also categorically states that it cannot be done with XP or Vista http://computer-drives-storage.suite101.com/article.cfm/can_you_boot_from_external_hard_disk_drive.

I read a few articles that say it's possible with XP using the appropriate BIOS and a whole bunch of changes in the registry (changes that have not been identified), but I frantly in doubt.  Too many other articles argue against it.  In addition, it would be MUCH slower (no matter how fast the hard disk) due to the method of connection - you do not use this way on a daily basis.

Many of the dismantled external when hard drives are compaatible with and will fit inside the computer case and work as internal drives - maybe you can try that as an alternative (assuming that you do not want to buy another drive HARD internal for now).

To test your hard drive, check the manufacturer and then get the diagnostic utility of: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/302602-hard-drive-diagnostic-utilities.html.  If she failed the test, replace it.  If she passes the test, then it's probably nothing wrong with it.  You can also run chkdsk /f /r from the elevated command prompt and see what happens - happens to you lots of bad sectors and a lot of corruption, then it is time to replace the drive before it will totally fail...

I hope this helps (although it is probably not the answer you were hoping for).

Good luck!

Lorien - MCSA/MCSE/network + / has + - if this post solves your problem, please click the 'Mark as answer' or 'Useful' button at the top of this message. Marking a post as answer, or relatively useful, you help others find the answer more quickly.

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