Boot From External Drive?

Question

hi, i would like to buy an external hard drive for my computer but before i do i would like to know if i will be able to boot from it.  i currently have a dimension 8200 with windows xp but i do not want to use my internal drive anymore, i want to put everything on my external drive and use it just like i do now with my internal one.  also, is there a special external drive i have to buy? my internal drive is a Seagate model ST380012a.   thanks! 7:)

rickmktg · Answer

msblack7of941 wrote:

hi, i would like to buy an external hard drive for my computer but before i do i would like to know if i will be able to boot from it. i currently have a dimension 8200 with windows xp but i do not want to use my internal drive anymore, i want to put everything on my external drive and use it just like i do now with my internal one. also, is there a special external drive i have to buy? my internal drive is a Seagate model ST380012a.

thanks!

7:)

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No, you cannot.

ejn63 · Answer

You actually can, with an OS that is USB boot capable. Windows Vista will be, as are most Linux and UNIX variants now. Windows XP and earlier, are not.

msblack7of941 · Answer

i apologize and thanks for the info. 7:)

mombodog · Answer

'Windows XP and earlier, are not'.     some say you can   http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

msblack7of941 · Answer

hmmm interesting mombodog. thanks for the info. 7:)

mombodog · Answer

Where there is a Will there is a Way!

Storage, Drives & Media

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