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Windows XP forum: Using External Hard Drive As C:

by: zunebuggy July 9, 2011 8:03 PM PDT

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Using External Hard Drive As C:

by zunebuggy - 7/9/11 8:03 PM

I have 4 desktops running XP and connected to the same broadband router. I have a 2 TB external hard drive and a 1 TB hard external drive and each of the desktops have 40 GB hard drives except one has a 40 GB and a 100 GB hard drive. I was wondering if I could create 5 partitions on the 1 TB hard drive and use 4 of the partitions as C: drives for each of the desktops and the 5th partition as extra storage drive space? In other words the 4 partitions would each be a C: drive for each of the 4 desktops. The 40 GB hard drives on each desktop would also be used as extra drive space. Currently I have the home network setup and the 2 TB is connected to one desktop and the 1 TB is connected to another and I have the external drives shared over the network. Isn't there free virtual machine software available that can do what I want?


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Clarification request: Do you mean

by MarkFlax Moderator - 7/10/11 3:20 AM

In Reply to: Using External Hard Drive As C: by zunebuggy

that you want to use that 1TB external drive partitioned into 4 partitions, each with XP installed, and then each partition as a boot drive for each of the 4 computers?

If so, that is not possible. There are plenty of articles explaining why on a Google search, How to boot XP from an external drive.

Mark


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No

by Jimmy Greystone - 7/10/11 5:25 AM

In Reply to: Using External Hard Drive As C: by zunebuggy

No, this will not work, and it's by design. Also, if you're looking to boot and run an OS off a network, you'd probably be rather disappointed with the performance.

Windows MUST be installed on an internal HDD to boot. There are exceptions, but they do not apply to your situation, and most of those exceptions are legally questionable anyway.


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Let's say you are serious!

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 7/11/11 1:29 PM

In Reply to: Using External Hard Drive As C: by zunebuggy

You would pop for Windows Server to hold the drives, then install PCI Network cards with the boot roms and then...

Continue reading posts like http://www.realgeek.com/forums/remote-booting-network-booting-from-win2003-server-235022.html

It was supported years ago and frankly the IT costs swamped any reduced desktop costs.

Abandon ship!
bob


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