[SOLVED] Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help

DouglasCaixeta · 07-07-2009, 05:33 PM

Hi,

I want to install Windows in an external HD (USB) and Linux in my main IDE.

The problem is that my motherboard do not have support for a USB boot. I heard that I can load windows, trough a USB device, even if there is no USB boot support, since Linux will load the USB drives and then load Windows.

How can I do that?
I'm imagining that with GRUB I can choose between Linux and Windows (USB).

**wmorri** · 07-07-2009, 06:49 PM

Hi,

Welcome to TSF!!

Everything should work. I haven't tried that though. You can give it a shot and see what happens. I am not sure how GRUB will react.

Cheers!

DouglasCaixeta · 07-07-2009, 08:09 PM

Well, but my question is how. I can imagine that is possible, cause something else can load the USB drives and Windows, but HOW?

**wmorri** · 07-08-2009, 01:17 PM

Hi,

Take a look at this and see if you find your answer, it should be there. Then follow the directions and you should be all set.

Cheers!

DouglasCaixeta · 07-08-2009, 01:55 PM

Well, I already know how to use Google, but thanks.

The problem of those tutorials is that they start if the point that is possible to boot from USB, which is not an option for me. Those tutorials also do not consider that I can use 2 OS, and then Linux, or something else will load the USB drivers, since my BIOS it self cannot do it.

So it's specifically Linux boot - Windows external hd.
I know it's complicated, I'm still spending hours of my day searching for it, and nothing until now.

**wmorri** · 07-08-2009, 08:48 PM

Hi,

I didn't mean to be condescending so I hope you didn't take it that way. When you try to install windows it should give you an option of where you want to install it. There should be the internal hdd which is a certain size, and the external hdd which is a different specific size. When you go to install Windows you should choose to install it in the space that is the size of your eternal hdd. I would assume that you know how big that is and how much space is left in it etc.

I hope that this makes sense to you.

Cheers!

DouglasCaixeta · 07-10-2009, 03:01 PM

Yes, it makes sense. But Windows won't let me install in a partition that is nor primary.

The solution, as I expected is with Linux help, more specifically Grub, the boot manager.

This procedure can enable booting from a USB device on machines that do not support USB boot devices in their BIOS.

http://64.124.13.3/hacks/USB_Boot_using_GRUB.html

**Done_Fishin** · 07-11-2009, 05:11 AM

Once again late to the party but I asked that same question some while back and got great help from Rome5 in using a CD to force the boot from a bootable CD.

[SOLVED] Make a USB Boot CD for Ubuntu

I just insert the CD, plug in my External drive where I have made the installation and boot

07-07-2009, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
DouglasCaixeta Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP and Linux	[SOLVED] Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Hi, I want to install Windows in an external HD (USB) and Linux in my main IDE. The problem is that my motherboard do not have support for a USB boot. I heard that I can load windows, trough a USB device, even if there is no USB boot support, since Linux will load the USB drives and then load Windows. How can I do that? I'm imagining that with GRUB I can choose between Linux and Windows (USB).

07-07-2009, 06:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,835 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Hi, Welcome to TSF!! Everything should work. I haven't tried that though. You can give it a shot and see what happens. I am not sure how GRUB will react. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

07-07-2009, 08:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
DouglasCaixeta Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP and Linux	Re: Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Well, but my question is how. I can imagine that is possible, cause something else can load the USB drives and Windows, but HOW?

07-08-2009, 01:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,835 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Hi, Take a look at this and see if you find your answer, it should be there. Then follow the directions and you should be all set. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

07-08-2009, 01:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
DouglasCaixeta Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP and Linux	Re: Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Well, I already know how to use Google, but thanks. The problem of those tutorials is that they start if the point that is possible to boot from USB, which is not an option for me. Those tutorials also do not consider that I can use 2 OS, and then Linux, or something else will load the USB drivers, since my BIOS it self cannot do it. So it's specifically Linux boot - Windows external hd. I know it's complicated, I'm still spending hours of my day searching for it, and nothing until now.

07-08-2009, 08:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,835 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Hi, I didn't mean to be condescending so I hope you didn't take it that way. When you try to install windows it should give you an option of where you want to install it. There should be the internal hdd which is a certain size, and the external hdd which is a different specific size. When you go to install Windows you should choose to install it in the space that is the size of your eternal hdd. I would assume that you know how big that is and how much space is left in it etc. I hope that this makes sense to you. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

07-10-2009, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
DouglasCaixeta Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP and Linux	Re: Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Yes, it makes sense. But Windows won't let me install in a partition that is nor primary. The solution, as I expected is with Linux help, more specifically Grub, the boot manager. This procedure can enable booting from a USB device on machines that do not support USB boot devices in their BIOS. http://64.124.13.3/hacks/USB_Boot_using_GRUB.html

07-11-2009, 05:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,526 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: [SOLVED] Windows in external HD - Possible with Linux help Once again late to the party but I asked that same question some while back and got great help from Rome5 in using a CD to force the boot from a bootable CD. [SOLVED] Make a USB Boot CD for Ubuntu I just insert the CD, plug in my External drive where I have made the installation and boot __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner