How to install windows on external hard disk？

I. Installing Windows on an external hard disk can be a complex process

Hardware requirements

External hard disk: The external hard disk should have sufficient capacity. For a typical Windows installation, it’s recommended to have at least 64GB of free space, although a larger capacity such as 128GB or more is better. It should also have a fast enough data transfer rate. USB 3.0 or higher is preferable to ensure smooth installation and operation.

Computer: The computer you are using to perform the installation should have a USB port that supports the connection of the external hard disk. It should also meet the minimum system requirements for the version of Windows you plan to install. For example, for Windows 10. a 1GHz or faster processor, 1GB (32 – bit) or 2GB (64 – bit) of RAM, and at least 16GB (32 – bit) or 20GB (64 – bit) of available hard disk space on the internal drive for installation files are required.

Software requirements

Windows ISO file: You need to obtain a legitimate copy of the Windows ISO file. You can get it through the official Microsoft website. For example, if you want to install Windows 10. you can visit the Microsoft Store or the official Windows 10 download page. You may need to purchase a license key, depending on the type of installation (e.g., retail or OEM).

USB creation tool: You’ll need a tool to create a bootable USB drive. Rufus is a popular and free tool. It can help you create a bootable USB drive from the Windows ISO file, which will be used to install Windows on the external hard disk.

Data backup

Before you start the installation process, it’s crucial to back up all the data on the external hard disk. The installation process will format the disk, erasing all existing data. You can use an external storage device such as another hard disk or a cloud storage service to back up your files.

II. Create a bootable USB drive

Download and install Rufus

Visit the official Rufus website (https://rufus.ie/) and download the latest version of the tool. After downloading, run the installer and follow the on – screen instructions to install Rufus on your computer.

Prepare the USB drive

Insert a USB drive with a capacity of at least 8GB into your computer. Note that all data on this USB drive will be erased during the process.

Configure Rufus and create the bootable USB

Open Rufus. In the Rufus interface, you’ll need to select the following options:

Partition selection: Select “GPT” if your computer supports UEFI boot (which is the case for most modern computers) or “MBR” if you have an older computer that uses legacy BIOS.

Target system type: Choose the appropriate option based on your computer’s architecture, such as “UEFI (non – CSM)” for UEFI – only systems or “BIOS (or CSM)” for legacy BIOS systems.

File system: For Windows installation, “NTFS” is usually a good choice.

Then, click on the “START” button and select the Windows ISO file you downloaded earlier. Rufus will then create a bootable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on the speed of your USB drive and computer.

III. Connect and partition the external hard disk

Connect the external hard disk

Plug the external hard disk into a USB port on your computer. Make sure it’s recognized by the computer. You can check this in the “Disk Management” utility (in Windows, you can access it by right – clicking on the “This PC” icon and selecting “Manage”, then “Disk Management”).

Partition the external hard disk

In the Disk Management utility, you’ll see the external hard disk listed. Right – click on the unallocated space of the external hard disk and select “New Simple Volume”.

A wizard will open. Follow the steps to partition the disk. You can specify the size of the partition you want to create for the Windows installation. For example, if your external hard disk is 256GB and you want to allocate 128GB for Windows, you can enter 128GB during the partition creation process. You can also assign a drive letter and format the partition. For Windows installation, it’s usually best to format it as NTFS.

IV. Install Windows on the external hard disk

Boot from the bootable USB drive

Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. The method to enter the BIOS/UEFI varies depending on the computer’s manufacturer. Commonly, you can press a key such as F2. F10. or Del during the computer’s startup process. In the BIOS/UEFI settings, change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive you created earlier. Save the settings and restart the computer.

Start the Windows installation process

Once the computer boots from the USB drive, you’ll see the Windows installation screen. Select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, and then click “Next”.

Click on the “Install now” button. When prompted for a product key, you can enter it if you have one. If you don’t have a product key at the moment, you can usually select the option to install Windows without a key and activate it later.

Accept the license terms and click “Next”.

On the “Which type of installation do you want?” screen, select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”.

You’ll then see a list of available drives. Select the partition you created on the external hard disk earlier and click “Next”. The installation process will then begin. This may take a significant amount of time, depending on the speed of your external hard disk and computer.

During the installation, your computer may restart several times. Make sure the external hard disk remains connected throughout the process.

V. Post – installation setup and configuration

Configure Windows settings

After the installation is complete, you’ll need to configure basic Windows settings such as creating a user account, setting up a password, and choosing privacy settings. Follow the on – screen instructions to complete these settings.

Install device drivers

To ensure that all the hardware components work properly with the Windows installed on the external hard disk, you need to install the appropriate device drivers. Some drivers may be installed automatically by Windows, but for others, you may need to visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers. For example, if you have a laptop and you want to use its built – in webcam, you may need to install the webcam driver from the laptop manufacturer’s website.

Test and optimize performance

Once you’ve installed the drivers, test the Windows installation on the external hard disk. Check if all the applications and hardware components are working as expected. You can also optimize the performance of the external hard disk – based Windows installation. For example, you can disable unnecessary startup programs to reduce the boot time. You can access the startup programs settings through the “Task Manager” (right – click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”, then go to the “Startup” tab).