How to install windows on external hard drive

Installing Windows on an external hard drive can be useful for various reasons, such as creating a portable Windows installation or running Windows on a Mac without using Boot Camp. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Prerequisites:

1. External Hard Drive: Ensure you have a fast and large enough external hard drive (preferably USB 3.0 or higher) with sufficient free space for the Windows installation.

2. Windows Installation Media: Obtain a Windows installation USB or ISO file. You can create one using the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website.

Step 1: Prepare the External Hard Drive

1. Backup Data: Before starting, backup any important data on the external hard drive, as the process will involve formatting it.

2. Format the Drive: Connect the external hard drive to your computer and format it using the NTFS file system. You can do this by right-clicking the drive in File Explorer, selecting "Format," and choosing NTFS as the file system.

Step 2: Create Windows Installation Media

1. Download Windows: If you haven't already, download the Windows ISO file from Microsoft's website or create a bootable USB using the Media Creation Tool.

2. Insert Installation Media: Connect the Windows installation USB or insert the installation disc into your computer.

Step 3: Start the Windows Installation Process

1. Boot from Installation Media: Restart your computer and boot from the Windows installation media. You may need to change the boot order in the BIOS or use a boot menu key during startup.

2. Begin Installation: Follow the on-screen instructions to start the Windows installation process. When prompted to choose an installation location, select your external hard drive.

Step 4: Complete the Windows Installation

1. Follow Prompts: Continue following the prompts to complete the Windows installation. This process may take some time.

2. Restart Computer: Once the installation is complete, restart your computer. Make sure to boot from the external hard drive this time.

Step 5: Configure Windows Settings

1. Initial Setup: Upon booting from the external hard drive, Windows will start its initial setup process. Follow the prompts to configure your language, region, keyboard layout, etc.

2. Account Creation: Create a user account and password for your Windows installation.

Step 6: Install Drivers and Updates

1. Install Drivers: After Windows is installed, connect to the internet and install any necessary drivers for your hardware. You may need to download them from the manufacturer's website.

2. Windows Updates: Install any available Windows updates to ensure your system is up to date and secure.

Step 7: Optional: Create a Recovery Partition (Recommended)

1. Create Recovery Partition: To make troubleshooting easier, you can create a recovery partition on your external hard drive. Search for "Create a recovery drive" in the Windows search bar and follow the instructions.

Step 8: Safely Eject External Hard Drive

1. Safely Remove Hardware: When you're done using Windows on your external hard drive, make sure to safely eject it from your computer to avoid data corruption.

Tips and Considerations:

1. Performance: Running Windows from an external hard drive may not be as fast as from an internal drive, especially if using a USB 2.0 connection. Consider using a USB 3.0 or higher connection for better performance.

2. Portability: One of the advantages of installing Windows on an external hard drive is portability. You can use it on different computers without affecting their internal drives.

3. Security: Since the external hard drive contains your Windows installation, make sure to keep it secure and protect it from physical damage or theft.

Bonus Tip!
Go to this website and download WinToUSB and install it on your computer. After the installation, simply open the application. Navigate and choose the iso file that you want to use. Then choose the Hardisk where you want to install the windows.

The Windows To USB software creates a portable version of Windows 10/8/7 that you may use on any other computer that has a bootable drive using the ISO file or installation CD.

Utilizing this tool, you can install Windows via an external disk as opposed to a physical disc. You can access data from a USB-connected external drive on any PC and boot into your familiar system environment.

In addition to building a testing environment for doing diagnostics, WinToUSB is useful if you want to run Windows on a non-Windows computer (like a Mac) or create an imaged version of Windows. The Windows installer can easily be stored on an external source so you always have it with you. It just needs to be copied onto your portable disk and then plugged into any system.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install Windows on an external hard drive and use it as a portable Windows installation.