Windows/Linux on ext HDD?

[sponge008]

Soo, for traveling purposes/overriding of school admin limitations, I'd like to set myself up a Windows install on a removable HDD. I'm planning to get a 160gig from CompUSA when a sale comes around (Perhaps Thanksgiving? Probably earlier) and buy an external bay from Newegg. Soo, would there be any problems installing Windows onto a removable HDD? And does anyone know of any floppy disc programs that force boot from USB? Thanks.

 

[erwos]

Windows - probably not. I vaguely recall that Windows likes being primary master on IDE/SATA, but XP may have changed this.
Linux - probably yes. You would need to have the appropriate modules in your initrd, though.

Be aware that your school's admins may not regard this activity favorably, and may even see it as a security breach. Then again, if they were smart, they disabled all non-HD booting anyways.

-Erwos

 

[sponge008]

I've benn doing stuff the school admin (singular) didn't approve of since 6th grade, so I understand that. I'm pretty sure that even if the non-HDD bootup is disabled, I could reset CMOS/unhook the HDD, change the settings to allow floppy booting, and voila. But, does anyone know about the Windows on non IDE/SATA issue? I *could* just carry an internal HDD with me, although probably in some shell.

 

[sponge008]

Does anyone know of any floppy programs for boot-from USB? Also, anyone know of Windows' problems with removables?
Clarification: There is 1 admin for every one of the 7 schools in the town, as well as the library.

 

[sponge008]

Anyone?

 

[Diademed]

Just use knoppix.

 

[sponge008]

OK, well, say I decide to go with Linux, does anyone know of force-boot-from-USB programs? And could anyone confirm whether Windows works/doesn't?

 

[volrath]

sounds like a job for a chain boot loader... grub + ???

 

[sponge008]

I'd need something that doesn't stick on the HDD, though. AKA pop in floppy/USB cable from ext HDD, hit power button twice, boot into Windows/Knoppix, do whatever must be done, remove floppy/cable, hit power button twice, everything's back to normal.