Windows 2000 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

"Mike Truman" wrote:
> 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?
>
>
 
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

"Mike Truman" <mtman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1lk5u7.a6f.17.1@news.alt.net...
> 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?
>
>
 
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" . wrote in message
news:%23Cq6m1cdIHA.4196@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> 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


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
 
Last edited by a moderator:
"Mike Truman" <mtman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1lm1ir.nd6.17.1@news.alt.net...
>
> "PA20Pilot" . wrote in message
> news:%23Cq6m1cdIHA.4196@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> 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
>
>
> 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

PS Does any backup programme allow the backup to be encrypted?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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" . wrote in message
news:%23ZH8SwrdIHA.288@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> 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


Thanks a lot for your reply and your clarity.

Cheers.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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.

"DL" <address@invalid> wrote in message
news:%23VAlmbbdIHA.4728@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> 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
>
> "Mike Truman" <mtman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1lk5u7.a6f.17.1@news.alt.net...
> > 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?
> >
> >
>
>
 
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