External Hard Drives, New Computer

[Conductor42]

Two questions:

1) Can you safely remove the hard drive within an "external" hard drive and use it in a desktop computer?

2) If not, can you make an external hard drive bootable?

The reason I'm asking is because I just finished purchasing all the components I'll need to set up a new computer - except for my hard drive. However, I've got this 90gb external HDD. If I can somehow get Vista over onto it, maybe though an image copy program, and boot from it, I'll have a reasonable computer set up by this time next week. (Why can't TigerDirect have a program like AmazonPrime )

[Jnthn]

Two questions:

1) Can you safely remove the hard drive within an "external" hard drive and use it in a desktop computer?

You're not going to be able to say for definite untill you crack the casing and voiding the warranty, but odds on it'll be a standard IDE or SATA HDD.

2) If not, can you make an external hard drive bootable?

Most modern PCs should allow you to boot from USB storage devices. Have a look in the BIOS of your computer.

The reason I'm asking is because I just finished purchasing all the components I'll need to set up a new computer - except for my hard drive. However, I've got this 90gb external HDD. If I can somehow get Vista over onto it, maybe though an image copy program, and boot from it, I'll have a reasonable computer set up by this time next week. (Why can't TigerDirect have a program like AmazonPrime )

That approach may not work. Vista, like XP, bases some of its copy protection on changes in the hardware. If you install the OS on 1 pc and transfer the HDD or image to another PC, the differences in the host will be noticed and you may be asked to reactivtate your OS. In addition, you may not have the drivers necessary on the image to boot your new setup.

J

[LostSheep]

That approach may not work. Vista, like XP, bases some of its copy protection on changes in the hardware. If you install the OS on 1 pc and transfer the HDD or image to another PC, the differences in the host will be noticed and you may be asked to reactivtate your OS. In addition, you may not have the drivers necessary on the image to boot your new setup.

Very good points Jnthn.

I didn't think of these things when I was discussing this with RH earlier in private.

[Conductor42]

]That approach may not work. Vista, like XP, bases some of its copy protection on changes in the hardware. If you install the OS on 1 pc and transfer the HDD or image to another PC, the differences in the host will be noticed and you may be asked to reactivtate your OS. In addition, you may not have the drivers necessary on the image to boot your new setup.

I know. I expect to have to re-activate, and all the drivers I need to get started should work already in Vista. I would do a normal install process, but I don't have a copy of my Windows XP cd anymore (its broke) and I don't think my Vista upgrade CD is bootable.

[Conductor42]

I may have found a tool that will allow me to make a bootable Vista CD from my upgrade CD. (a legal - and free- one!). I'm going to test it out and then i'll let you know how it goes.