Installing an OS to an external HD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike Truman
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike Truman

What's stopping me from installing W2K to an external HD, with the intention
of booting up from it if my main computer goes phut?
 
Generally installing an operating system on removable media isn't supported
but check the documentation for your hardware.



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Because it wont work. Win wont run from an external drive, allthough there
are people who report that with workarounds it can be done.
In any case if your PC goes phut, any external will be of no use to you.
You can Image to an external drive, then restore that image if the needs
arise
 
Hi,

You would accomplish more by cloning your best drive to a second HD. In
the event of failure it's pretty simple to swap drives or purchase a new
one and clone back to the original location.



---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self

AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association #140897
EAA Technical Counselor #4562
 
PA20Pilot said:
Hi,

You would accomplish more by cloning your best drive to a second HD. In
the event of failure it's pretty simple to swap drives or purchase a new
one and clone back to the original location.



---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self

AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association #140897
EAA Technical Counselor #4562
Click to expand...


Thanks for this suggestion. So, the procedure you're recommending would be
this:
1. Install Ghost or Acronis onto my Laptop.
2. Make a mirror image of Drive C: on an external HD.
3. I take it that, if there's a problem with the laptop, I'll be able to use
the Ghost (or Acronis) CD to re-lay the image on Drive C.

Have I got that right? (Is there anything else I should know? Some
well-known trap that yours ignorantly will fall into?)

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Mike
 
Mike Truman said:
Thanks for this suggestion. So, the procedure you're recommending would be
this:
1. Install Ghost or Acronis onto my Laptop.
2. Make a mirror image of Drive C: on an external HD.
3. I take it that, if there's a problem with the laptop, I'll be able to
use the Ghost (or Acronis) CD to re-lay the image on Drive C.

Have I got that right? (Is there anything else I should know? Some
well-known trap that yours ignorantly will fall into?)

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Mike
Click to expand...

PS Does any backup programme allow the backup to be encrypted?
 
Hi again,

......1. Install Ghost or Acronis onto my Laptop.

Yes.

......2. Make a mirror image of Drive C: on an external HD.

I'd call it a clone. You're not just copying the data from one disk to
another, You're making a bootable clone. The clone will function as well
as the original.

......3. I take it that, if there's a problem with the laptop, I'll be
able to use the Ghost (or Acronis) CD to re-lay the image on Drive C.

Yes. I clone my drive before doing anything stupid, and also just about
every weekend.

Have I got that right? (Is there anything else I should know? Some
well-known trap that yours ignorantly will fall into?)

Don't keep the cloned drive plugged in, isolate it from harm.

PS Does any backup programme allow the backup to be encrypted?

Don't have a clue, but probably. There's a good chance the clone will be
exactly that, an exact copy of everything on your disk exactly as
originally written.

---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self

AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association #140897
EAA Technical Counselor #4562
 
PA20Pilot said:
Hi again,

.....1. Install Ghost or Acronis onto my Laptop.

Yes.

.....2. Make a mirror image of Drive C: on an external HD.

I'd call it a clone. You're not just copying the data from one disk to
another, You're making a bootable clone. The clone will function as well
as the original.

.....3. I take it that, if there's a problem with the laptop, I'll be able
to use the Ghost (or Acronis) CD to re-lay the image on Drive C.

Yes. I clone my drive before doing anything stupid, and also just about
every weekend.

Have I got that right? (Is there anything else I should know? Some
well-known trap that yours ignorantly will fall into?)

Don't keep the cloned drive plugged in, isolate it from harm.

PS Does any backup programme allow the backup to be encrypted?

Don't have a clue, but probably. There's a good chance the clone will be
exactly that, an exact copy of everything on your disk exactly as
originally written.

---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
Click to expand...


Thanks a lot for your reply and your clarity.

Cheers.
 
I'm not sure an exact image will work. There are files in System Volume
Information, a hidden directory, that must stay because they are peculiar to
the drive. I don't know how Ghost and Acronis handle this.
 
Back
Top