2006-12-11 00:43:18 · 8 answers · asked by Stevie G 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
It depends entirely on what motherboard/BIOS you are wanting to run the external from. I assume you mean from boot, as in install an OS and have it run from the external.
Plug your external in. Run whatever OS setup CD you have. If you see an option to install your OS to your external, then that is the first step. When it is finished installing, reboot (you may have to go into your BIOS and have it enable the option to select boot device, or in some cases - select the boot device yourself). If it allows you to boot from the external then you are all set. If it does not, then look into updating your BIOS(flash upgrade) or motherboard. Also check the official website for whatever bios/motherboard you have installed regarding this issue... Or post another Yahoo question!
Something to remember: Anything less than a USB2 drive may too slow to practically run an OS. Make sure your external HDD case is fully USB2.0 compatible. Firewire should be fine, as long as your computer detects it.
2006-12-11 00:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by Dhanan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are asking can you use an external Hard Drive without an internal one installed, you will need a way to boot the computer up. You can then go into System Set Up and designate the external drive as your primary drive, but it must be plugged in and have the OS on it to use it as a primary boot drive. Why would you want to do this in the first place?
Ron
2006-12-11 00:46:24 · answer #2 · answered by Ron75 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the PC. Most newer PCs are able to boot from a USB device, such as a flash memory stick or an external hard drive. Go into the BIOS setup of the PC and look under the boot order. If USB device is an option, then you could run the computer using only an external USB drive.
2006-12-11 00:52:46 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes very well an external hdd can be used with no internal drive but you have to configure it from your bios to boot from USB.
this also depends on the type of computer, if it supports booting from usb
2006-12-11 00:46:51 · answer #4 · answered by big brotha 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could actually use your previous inner HDD as an exterior HDD. that is termed a troublesome stress Enclosure. you'll discover them at maximum electronics/place of work places. i'm enclosing a link of a image so that you comprehend what you're searching for for. once you get the enclosure, only plug it into the computer (through USB) and this is going to open up as a detachable gadget. to get rid of the contents, perfect click on the detachable gadget and format.
2016-11-30 10:31:57 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2006-12-11 00:51:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes if you use a runlive operating system like simply mepis that you can get at mepis.org which is free.
It is a version of linux that runs and looks like windows
2006-12-11 00:44:56 · answer #7 · answered by Mitchell b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, as long as he jumpers are configured to be the 'master. and there is an OS on the drive.
2006-12-11 00:47:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋