can you run OS from external drive

Hi Bill

Removed the hardware thread as it will keep all answers in this one as many their maybe redirects to answers here anyway.

I know the theory is there and if we can now boot to USB then why not, but dont think that Windows likes to boot to a system partition on a removable drive for a full OS, it will for installers. If eSATA then maybe as its physically picked up as an internal drive over external due to being on a SATA controller, but not looked into this too much and not got eSATA drive to test.


Many hacks and trials are all over the net on this but need to just mention one thing about USB, it will be as slow as sin for using as a main OS drive, just not quick enough compared to SATA..... not the best suggestion of mine today but I would be looking at a new case that has better space and cooling over the time and effort trying to make this work.

Other thought is a normal SATA drive with add-on external case to allow you to just run a SATA cable out of the back of case may work as its directly connected to the mobo SATA ports, but would be messy.

 

HI Bill

Hear you loud and clear on new desk, so whats the case you have and could you post some screenshots of the inside as you have it now?

and is the PC case inside a desk space?

Plus where are the fans you have located and what direction?


Just wonder if we can maximise what you have already.

 

HI Bill

Sorry when you mentioned desk I thought it was one inside deskspace not the one on top, oops! One inside desk has some cables... but if cool then all is fine.

as for the on top of desk one (will call it HP to save fingers) then whats the temps of other components inside, Everest is good for this, CPU, Mobo, GPU ambient and HDDs?

 

http://www.ngine.de/article/id/8

 

Hi Bill

Temps of other components look great, so wouldnt worry too much about them as if they where to be picking up residual heat from teh GFX card then they would have already done so I would think.

However I do like you hate too much noise, just a little lost with what to suggest to you apart from do you high end game, going to use this GFX card for F@H?

If for F@H then likelyhood its going to raise temps and the fan speed, I know the fans can be adjusted to work at lower % but thats only good if temps are much lower than yours. Was reading alot today on if lowering settings may help but tried some on my 8800gts and didnt do diddly! stuck at 50c

Did read about this backplate from EVGA, but dont know if it fits all reference 295s as some makers stray from reference design from nvidia, but some user have seen 10-20c drops with using this BUT only under load, idle temps dont seem to shift, would like to see it myself but cannot say they are wrong either.

Tried just before to create a bootable USB HDD using Diskpart, Windows doesnt recognise that as install route, trying one theory in creating an image of the PC and then restoring it to the USB HDD, and then setting 1st boot to USB to see.... theink you'd see much various reports in booting off USB and whether it worked or not, everyones going to have various tales but I thought I woudl give it a go.

 

Hi Bill

Ah now I see the more clearly, as its under load, then not a great deal you can really do unless case is changed for better cooling BUT I like the look of those HP towers and guess its not an option in reality. But in regards to your other hardware components, as mentioned dont think they are in any danger for heat off the GFX Card. Just a pain with noise.

Or maybe see if your model GFX has one of those backplates like the EVGA ones, as some have reported a 20c drop in load temps while sounds over the top some I threads I read today have images to back it up.


as for the USB HDD, tried the Acronis thing and didnt work at all, not seeing USB HDD as a logical partition, could try the link earlier on doing this but even when I read the data when looking into USB sticks for installing windows off, it had too many changes and lineouts in the guide removing steps to warrant spending the time on.

Gave it some time today to try not an easy task though.