joseph alexander Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 Is it possible to have a computer boot using an OS on an external hardrive? I'm always jumping around from one workstation to another and this would be my dream. I hear Linux can do it but Windows can't. ( ..Something to do with bios/ram issues..) What about the drivers too: different computer with different graphics cards. Can some one clarify this for me. I wonder what the software license ramifications would be too. Would your USB hardrive be your node? -Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Hess Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 The problem with moving a single OS drive from computer to computer is as follows... 1) Each computer is its own individual entity. As you moved the drive from machine to machine, it would have to completely swap drivers for both internal components, and the motherboard. This can be disasterous. a) If the machines are realitively close (same mainboard, same video cards) the driver changes will be minimal if non existent. b) If the machines are different..Intel to Via, or different mainboards/cpu's, video cards. The entire os install can be corrupted, destroyed, invalidated. c) If the system somehow survives the transision, it will continue to accumulate old drivers. Over time these will pile up, causing system instability and loss of performance. This is one of the main reasons that almost all computer geeks/nerds/dweebs recommend wiping a system when you move from an old machine to a brand new one. [Note: This is for WINDOWS OS'S] [ May 08, 2003, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: Greg Hess ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethace Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 I hear that booting a Linux OS from a USB key, can be a bit of fun. :ngesmile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Knourek Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Originally posted by garethace: I hear that booting a Linux OS from a USB key, can be a bit of fun. :ngesmile: How big is the Linux OS installed? -dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethace Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Minimal, but you would still need at least a 256MB CF card or similar USB key etc. You could do the same with a USB zip drive or anything USB, as long as you have access to the bios to change boot options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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