📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses the challenge of installing Windows 7 directly onto an external USB hard drive, with the original poster seeking advice on making the external drive bootable for Windows. Responders clarify that many external USB drives are not bootable and recommend partitioning the internal drive for installation instead, while cautioning against installing Windows on external drives due to speed and licensing issues. The overall sentiment suggests that installing Windows on external drives is technically complex and not generally recommended, with alternative solutions like partitioning the internal drive being preferred.
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Thread Author #1
Hi,

I'm currently at a point were I'm stuck on this error "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port".

I am trying to install Win 7 onto my External 1TB Samsung M3 HDD, I want to boot Win 7 directly of the External HDD.

Can anyone please support me or give me a bit of help. Thanks.
 

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J
I would advice against installing on the external drive because they frequently use lower speed drives. You realize you will need a second liscense key for this second install.
Joe
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Joe S

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#2
A lot of external USB HDs are not bootable for an OS. That is what the message is telling you.
Joe
 

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Thread Author #3
Joe S said:
A lot of external USB HDs are not bootable for an OS. That is what the message is telling you.
Joe
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No ways I can make the drive bootable? I want Win7 to boot from the HDD.
 

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Thread Author #5
Mitchell_A said:
You could split your internal hard drive into 2 different partitions and install that way.
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That will allow me to install Win 7 on the drive? Would u advice installing windows 7 onto the External HDD than the internal HDD?
 

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#6
I would advice against installing on the external drive because they frequently use lower speed drives. You realize you will need a second liscense key for this second install.
Joe
 

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Thread Author #7
Joe S said:
I would advice against installing on the external drive because they frequently use lower speed drives. You realize you will need a second liscense key for this second install.
Joe
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Installing win7 on my internal now, ive created a 30GB partition. Can I install softwares such as Adobe Photoshop/GNS3/Microsoft word on my external HD so it wont use up my internal space?
 

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