Install Windows 7 in external drive?

[joejoe666]

My uncle's HD crashed. Can i just purchase an external drive, load Windows 7 64bit and other software then mail him the drive and have him boot with it using USB boot?

by the way i don't have 64 bit processor, but can i still load it?

my apologies if these are dumb questions

 

[lxskllr]

No, that won't work at all. I guess he can't do the work himself? If not, I don't see anyway around someone installing it for him in person.

 

[JackMDS]

You actually can but it takes time and money.

Get Acronis TrueImage with the Plus AddOn (about $66).

Install an Internal Drive (or external eSATA) on a computer and install the OS and the software.

Back up the installed Drive using TrueImage to another Drive (or to another computer through the Network). You must use the version according to the CPU, if you do have x64 you have to use x32.

Re-Ghost the backup to the Original Drive using the BackUp image and configuring TrueImage to use the Plus AddOn.

Send the drive to the Uncle, he can put it in a computer. Because the Drive was Ghosted with the Plus AddOn, it will adapt almost to any new Hardware.

 

[joejoe666]

Thanks! i'll give it a shot

 

[JackMDS]

It has to be Internal IDE, or SATA, or external eSATA

No matter what installed Win OS' can not boot via USB port

 

[Matt1970]

XP is able to do it "somewhat" easier, but Windows 7 won't without major trickery and I am not even sure it really works. You do need a 64 bit processor to run a 64 bit operating system and you need the same southbridge to swap drives successfully between machines. Alo, USB is not disired for a boot drive as it is considerably slower than a Sata or even IDE hard drive.

 

[Modelworks]

It is possible to both install and run windows 7 from a USB drive, but it isn't easy and takes quite a bit of tinkering with the OS.
http://reboot.pro/9193/

I use the VHD method