2006-12-03 14:53:13 · 8 answers · asked by Rebecca W 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
To install one, yes.
But I believe that you can use Live CDs like Knoppix or Mandriva One without a harddrive, but I'm not completely sure. I know that they don't write anything to the hard drive, but I'm sure if they don't use them in some way.
2006-12-03 14:57:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO.
In theory, any storage media will work. It does not have to be a harddrive. Not to long ago harddrives did not exist.
To use any modern operating system it is not practical to install an OS without a harddrive.
2006-12-03 16:57:45 · answer #2 · answered by David 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like running a car with a gas tank. You COULD do it, but it's not a practical way of doing it.
Even though there are solutions that would allow you to boot and run an OS without a hard drive, you would be much better off installing a hard drive and running your operating system off of that.
2006-12-03 15:18:15 · answer #3 · answered by cornpie jones 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, how is your computer going to be of any use without a hard drive?
That being said there are some Linux distros that you can boot into from just using a Live CD, the OS does not need to be installed on a HD
2006-12-03 14:57:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, plain and simple. It need not necessarily be a hard drive as their are some rather large flash drives available but, you have to have something on which to store the operating system so that the BIOS knows where to look for it.
2006-12-03 14:56:42 · answer #5 · answered by Chris S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You can boot an operating system from any media. DOS (Disk operating system) can be booted up from a floppy disk. Linux can be booted up from a CD or flash drive. Symbian (an OS for mobile phones) can be booted up with a ROM.
2006-12-03 15:08:40 · answer #6 · answered by Noel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. No modern operating system will fit on a floppy. There are some Linix systems that will boot off of a CD.
2006-12-03 14:57:09 · answer #7 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not really,
there are technology like LTSP in linux where you can boot from next computer and you don't need harddisk.
Recently winXP and some linux can be installed in pendrive also.
But these are relatively complex tasks.
2006-12-03 16:33:20 · answer #8 · answered by shakeelstha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋