Install Windows on an External Hard Drive

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by Monoshang, May 11, 2010.

  1. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    Hello,

    I have a old laptop, about 6 years old. Say I want to install windows 7 on this computer, how can I proceed this?

    First I wanted to say that the built-in CD-ROM is broken, doesn't work.
    All USB ports are fried!! they don't work either.

    The only way is take out the laptops HHD and use my desktop to install Windows.
    I don't know how to do that.

    Hope someone can help me out here.

    Thanks.
     
  2. Mr Jinje

    Mr Jinje MDL Expert

    Aug 19, 2009
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    #2 Mr Jinje, May 11, 2010
    Last edited: May 11, 2010
    take the HDD to another machine. Partition it. Then use ImageX (from the WAIK) to push the DVD Install.wim onto the HDD. That way you can place the HDD back in the laptop, and it will finish the installation as normal. This is different from what you propose, as your method will tie the install to your desktop specs. My way will be as if you installed it directly on the laptop (no driver/hal issues)

    Here is the syntax. Let me know if it works. Change the D: to your blank partition letter, and change the '1' to the index number of your W7 image (4 or 5 for Ultimate)

     
  3. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    What do you mean by partition? Can I install Win7 on the only drive?
    I don't understand the index number?? please explain a little more

    Thanks.!!
     
  4. Mr Jinje

    Mr Jinje MDL Expert

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    #4 Mr Jinje, May 11, 2010
    Last edited: May 11, 2010
    Partition = I mean it needs to be formatted and accessible to your desktop via a drive letter, before you can imagex it. Capisce.

    Yes, you can install it on the 'only' drive. But keep in mind, you are only imaging it from your Desktop. The install does not actually start until you pop it back into the laptop and boot up.

    Image Index numbers are listed here. These are the default images inside an untouched ISO - obviously vLite/7Lite users who remove all images can disregard. they only have 1 image in their iso's

    Meaning if you want to install home basic x86 change it to 2, but if you want Pro x64, change it to 3. Easy, right.

    x86

    1 - Starter
    2 - Home Basic
    3 - Home Premium
    4 - Professional
    5 - Ultimate

    x64

    1 - Home Basic
    2 - Home Premium
    3 - Professional
    4 - Ultimate

    Hope that helps.
     
  5. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    Capisce!! (still downloading WAIK)...

    I was studying your code
    imagex.exe /Apply Install.wim 1 D:

    So this applies the install.wim onto the laptops HDD, right?

    How to make the install.wim file?
    I have a Win7 x86 Ultimate ISO file downloaded. How to load this to a install.wim file?

    Thanks again.
     
  6. MasterDisaster

    MasterDisaster MDL Expert

    Aug 29, 2009
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    The install.wim is located in the sources folder of the installation DVD.
     
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  7. Phazor

    Phazor MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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  8. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    This is what I did,

    imagex.exe /apply g:\sources\install.wim 1 j:

    and successfully completed.

    When I returned the HHD to my laptop, and booted up, error message:

    BOOTMGR is missing
    Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

    help?
     
  9. MasterDisaster

    MasterDisaster MDL Expert

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    #9 MasterDisaster, May 12, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Use the bootsect tool located in the boot folder of the install DVD.
    Open an elevated cmd prompt and execute the following command
    Code:
    bootsect /NT60 J:
     
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  10. Rosco

    Rosco MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2007
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    I think his problem was the laptop's optical drive is stuffed - I think he is going to need to get hold of Acronis TrueImage and image his working system onto the laptop drive - Acronis allows creating an image that works on any hardware.

    I'd create 2 partitions and make one an image of a minimal install with enough room to copy the install DVD files and reinstall the harddisk to the laptop. If the Acronis image works OK then all is good - if it has hardware issues you should be at least able to run install from there.
     
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  11. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    #11 Monoshang, May 13, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    (OP)
    I got a error return with:

    Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible bootcode

    Could not map drive partitions to the associated volume drive objects:
    Access is denied.

    Please help.
     
  12. Mr Jinje

    Mr Jinje MDL Expert

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    Run cmd.exe as Administrator
     
  13. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    it worked, but after i put it in my latop, it still says BOOTMGR is missing, press ctrl alt del to resstart
     
  14. Mr Jinje

    Mr Jinje MDL Expert

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  15. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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  16. Mr Jinje

    Mr Jinje MDL Expert

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    #16 Mr Jinje, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    Are you running Windows 7 on your desktop. If not, try changing it to

    J:\windows\system32\bcdboot.exe J:\windows /s J:

    EDIT: N/M, I see you are gonna try it from Windows 7 now. Hopefully this will solve it.
     
  17. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    Still not working....
    OMG. What would happen to my desktop if I install windows directly from my desktop on that laptop SSD?
     
  18. Mr Jinje

    Mr Jinje MDL Expert

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    #18 Mr Jinje, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    That is actually gonna be my next question. Would it be possible for you to remove your real-HDD and only leave the SSD in your desktop. Then boot from the DVD and complete section 6-H from the MDL Suppository.

    I'd really hate to have gotten this far, only to give up and suggest that you install W2K8-R2 in a virtual machine and use WDS to push the image. We'll call that plan B.
     
  19. Monoshang

    Monoshang MDL Novice

    May 8, 2010
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    #19 Monoshang, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    (OP)
    Thanks for all the help and all the patience, deserve all the reps for this. I'll give this a shot, if not then... I look into the your Plan B :)

    Follow up:
    Ok, it worked, its booting up on my laptop now.. but I don't know if this is a new problem or what.... but is been sitting there for almost 10 mins, "Starting Windows" with the Microsoft Logo... dunno ... I'll let it loiter till the morning... hopefully it will Start.

    Follow up:
    Not working. Still stuck..
     
  20. Rosco

    Rosco MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2007
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    Can you install 7 onto a small partition on your laptop drive and copy the install DVD files onto that - move it to the laptop - boot it and install 7 onto the main partition and the remove the original partition using disk management ?
     
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