[epssty]

Is there a way to boot to an external harddrive

 

[GaboX7D]

Yes, go to BIOS setup by presing F2 repeatedly as soon as you turn on your system, inside check if the MoBo detects ur external HDD, if it does, go to the boot section(Every Motherboard is different so i can't tell you exactly how to get there), set harddrive as first to boot, then set also set Harddrive priority, save config to CMOS, and it will restart, then it sohould 1st boot to that external HDD.

Note: I assume that you have an OS on that drive, thats why you want to boot from it, right?

Hope it helps
post your outcome

 

[cr0z3r]

just in case, if you're using a GIGABYTE motherboard, follow the steps above.
next, make sure your first boot is set to USB-HD or EXT-HD depending on your BIOS version.

 

[epssty]

I went to the bios and it list harddrive with a plus simbal (+) and it had exsternal devise and I tried both. the first time i did external devise it read the hd because the light went red and it opened with the different xp screen but went to the normal orperating xp screen. it did not show the different program and desk top simbals. when i went back to the bios i clicked on the hd simbal and it listed only one hd. and when i tried external devise again the bios did not even see or go to and make the red light come on the external hd. if i take this external hd and pysacally put it in the laptop computer where i loaded the op system and it works like it is surrposted too. so i was hopeing to do this with out haveing to change the hd everytime. this is a a75 toshiba with xp. when i go computer manger it does not see the drive as hooked up. it did before i loaded the op system. i did this because the hd when to blue screen a few times and i tryed to use cloneing software but could not get it to work. so i put the new hd in the laptop and loaded it with the restore disk. i did not have a restore when i ordered the clone software when the clone sw did not work i ordered the restore disk. so i was trying to get the use of both harddrives. there are programs on hds that are not on the other. so i was wanted to use both.

 

[epssty]

i am useing a old pen 4 hyper thrideing 3.2 ghz tosshiba a75 laptop

 

[epssty]

i sorry i checked again and the bios says removible devise not external devise. the reason i like the one op system is the one has a cd/dvd burning programing which was installed with the restore disk and the other does not. i have been look for free ones but i have not found any yet. so if you know of one please let me know.