How to boot in Windows XP from an external USB HDD

[abhinav_bipnesh]

Hi!

I have an external HDD on which WindowsXp is installed ( as previously it is installed in desktop pc) so i am looking for a method through which i boot from this external HDD any boot loader or something like that or any method through which i can make windowsxp bootable from this external hdd.

Thanks in advance.......

[narangz]

I guess all you need to do is select boot from USB device in BIOS.

[abhinav_bipnesh]

Originally Posted by narangz

I guess all you need to do is select boot from USB device in BIOS.

My boot order in bios is
USB Device
Internal HDD
CD/DVD Drive
Network

It give me error that it cannot boot the operating system ( something like that as i dont remember exact error message)

[lywyre]

Did you install it directly to the external disk, or used any imaging software like Ghost?

[ravi_9793]

you need bootsector files in your pendrive to boot it.

[abhinav_bipnesh]

Originally Posted by lywyre

Did you install it directly to the external disk, or used any imaging software like Ghost?

No as this was my regular hdd for my desktop (now using sata usb casing ) so the same installation is present on the disk. No imaging software us used.

Originally Posted by ravi_9793

you need bootsector files in your pendrive to boot it.

As this is an hdd so i think the boot record is already present in the hdd mbr as previously i am running windows xp & opensuse 10.2 in dual boot from this hdd. Afterward I have removed the open suse & fixed the mbr using repair windows installation.

[ravi_9793]

Originally Posted by abhinav_bipnesh

As this is an hdd so i think the boot record is already present in the hdd mbr as previously i am running windows xp & opensuse 10.2 in dual boot from this hdd. Afterward I have removed the open suse & fixed the mbr using repair windows installation.

No dear..........
these is no bootsectors files in thumb drive.So, you need to add bootsectors files to your pendrive , than only you can boot it.

[abhinav_bipnesh]

Originally Posted by ravi_9793

No dear..........
these is no bootsectors files in thumb drive.So, you need to add bootsectors files to your pendrive , than only you can boot it.

First thing its not a pen drive as its a normal 3.5" desktop hard drive so first clear ur dobut about that.
I think u r not getting my question as this was my normal hard drive which is used in desktop pc & now i have putted it in a sata to usb casing. Secondly i was using it to do different work on it so it has dual boot setup for linux & windows xp.

So i dont need to put the boot record in this drive as it has already got its mbr.

[ravi_9793]

Originally Posted by abhinav_bipnesh

First thing its not a pen drive as its a normal 3.5" desktop hard drive so first clear ur dobut about that.
I think u r not getting my question as this was my normal hard drive which is used in desktop pc & now i have putted it in a sata to usb casing. Secondly i was using it to do different work on it so it has dual boot setup for linux & windows xp.

So i dont need to put the boot record in this drive as it has already got its mbr.

ooohhhhh missed that!!