Are you looking to install Windows on your computer? There are several ways to do it, but have you ever considered installing it on an external hard drive? Not only is it convenient, but it also helps in creating more storage space on your primary hard drive. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Windows on an external hard drive. But first, let us understand why you should opt for this method.
Why install Windows on an external hard drive?
Installing Windows on an external hard drive has multiple benefits. Here are a few of them:
- Portability: You can carry Windows with you wherever you go. All you need is a computer or laptop which supports booting from an external hard drive. This comes in handy in case of emergencies where you need to boot into a working environment that is not your own.
- Extra storage space: Installing Windows on an external hard drive also frees up space on your primary hard drive, allowing you to store more files, applications, and data.
- Ease of maintenance: In case your primary hard drive fails, you can easily boot into your Windows installation on an external hard drive and continue working while the primary hard drive is being fixed or replaced.
- Experimentation: Installing Windows on an external hard drive also gives you the freedom to experiment with different versions of Windows without disturbing your primary hard drive’s existing installation.
How to install Windows on an external hard drive
Now that we have established the benefits of installing Windows on an external hard drive, let us move on to the process of actually doing it. Here are the steps:
- Connect your external hard drive to your computer/laptop.
- Open the Disk Management utility by pressing Windows+X, followed by selecting Disk Management from the options.
- Locate your external hard drive and delete any existing partitions on it.
- Create a new partition by right-clicking on the unallocated space and selecting New Simple Volume.
- Follow the wizard’s instructions to create the partition and format it (NTFS is recommended).
- Download the Windows ISO image file from the official Microsoft website or from any trusted source.
- Extract the contents of the ISO file using a tool like 7-zip or WinRAR.
- Copy the extracted files to your formatted external hard drive partition.
- Install a boot manager like EasyBCD to manage the boot process.
- Restart your computer and select the external hard drive as the boot device in the BIOS/UEFI settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows on the external hard drive.
FAQs
1. Can I use any external hard drive to install Windows?
It is recommended that you use a USB 3.0 external hard drive with a capacity of at least 16GB. However, you can also use larger capacity hard drives or SSDs. Make sure the hard drive is formatted to NTFS before copying the Windows installation files.
2. Is it possible to install Windows on a Mac computer using an external hard drive?
Yes, it is possible to install Windows on a Mac computer using an external hard drive. You will need to follow the same process as mentioned above but with some additional steps specific to Mac computers. You will also need to use a tool like Boot Camp Assistant to partition your hard drive and create a bootable USB drive.
Video Tutorial
Here is a video tutorial to help you better understand the process of installing Windows on an external hard drive:
Installing Windows on an external hard drive is a convenient and practical solution for those who are constantly on the move. It also helps in freeing up storage space on your primary hard drive. Follow the steps mentioned above, and you will have a working Windows installation on your external hard drive in no time.