install Win-7 on external USB HD (CD, DVD, laptop, desktop)
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I have a desktop with an internal hard drive as C: (specs at the bottom of this post).
Attached to the desktop is a USB docking station.
I have many 500 GB laptop size hard drives which I use in the dock (one at a time).
At boot time, if the dock is powered-on and a HD is installed, the desktop tries to boot to it.
My goal is to keep the existing installation of Windows 7 on the internal C: drive,
and install another Windows 7 on a HD in the dock.
If I power-up with the dock on, and a blank HD in the dock, will the windows dvd install to the HD in the dock?
I do not want to overwrite the operating system on the internal drive.
My reason for doing this is to have a sandbox to experiment with.
I am not very technically sophisticated!
Thanks.
HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF
BIOS Version & Date: L01 V02.65 7/13/15
ME (management engine) Firmware Version (part of BIOS): 9.1.20.1035
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60 GHz 3.60 GHz
Processor Stepping: 000306C3 0000001A
Installed Memory (RAM): 8.00 GB (7.89 GB usable), DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: Toshiba DT01ACA050.....this is the internal drive
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4600
DVD/CD: HP DVDRAM GTB0N
NIC: Intel Ethernet Connection I217-LM
System Board ID: 1998
USB Controllers: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series USB EHC1#1-8C26
Intel 8 Series/C220 Series USB EHC1#2-8C2D
The boot order is set to boot from the USB dock (if the dock is powered-up).
My question is whether if I booted to the USB dock with a blank HD in the dock, would the Windows CD install to that disk...rather than the internal HD?
You would set the internal drive to boot in the BIOS but then set up a bootloader. A bootloader is essentially a menu that will give you a choice of what OS you want to boot. Normally this is done by setting up separate partitions on internal drive/s. Running windows on a USB device would be too slow anyway. I've used this to create dual boots before.
My reason for doing this is to have a sandbox to experiment with.
This would be much easier to accomplish and give you a better range of options for experimentation if you set up Windows 7 as a Virtual Machine. VMWare Workstation would be a good tool to use for this. There are plenty of online tutorials that will walk you through how to set it up.
This would be much easier to accomplish and give you a better range of options for experimentation if you set up Windows 7 as a Virtual Machine. VMWare Workstation would be a good tool to use for this. There are plenty of online tutorials that will walk you through how to set it up.
If OP doesn’t want to pay for anything I’d recommend VirtualBox first to try out.
System specs are good enough to have one VM running, I’d upgrade to 16GB if possible if it’s more than a quick test.
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