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Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 24th 10, 02:37 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Patti Barden
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 57
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot
from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti


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  #2  
Old February 24th 10, 03:52 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
AsK
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 33
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

On Feb 24, 2:37*pm, "Patti Barden" wrote:
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot
from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti


Patti, I believe you need a special USB key. I have a Cruzer with
partition which has a zipped "LaunchPad, autorun.inf & "LaunchU3.exe.
It appears on the PC setup as two drives(?). One is Cruzer (labeled
"M") & the other as "U3 System (L). This, I have been told (but never
tried!) can be used for your purpose. I also have two external HDD's &
know that I can't boot from either.
  #3  
Old February 24th 10, 03:52 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
AsK
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 33
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

On Feb 24, 2:37*pm, "Patti Barden" wrote:
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot
from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti


Patti, I believe you need a special USB key. I have a Cruzer with
partition which has a zipped "LaunchPad, autorun.inf & "LaunchU3.exe.
It appears on the PC setup as two drives(?). One is Cruzer (labeled
"M") & the other as "U3 System (L). This, I have been told (but never
tried!) can be used for your purpose. I also have two external HDD's &
know that I can't boot from either.
  #4  
Old February 24th 10, 05:06 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Unknown
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,007
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

Don't you write the Bootable Rescue Media to a CD and then boot from the CD?
"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB
key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot
reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti



  #5  
Old February 24th 10, 05:06 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Unknown
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,007
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

Don't you write the Bootable Rescue Media to a CD and then boot from the CD?
"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB
key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot
reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti



  #6  
Old February 24th 10, 05:54 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
peter
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 964
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

you did not give us any info on your mobo so we could check if it was capable of
booting
from USB...not all are capable of this but if it is it would be listed in your
BIOS settings
under boot devices...
you could just remake the Resue Media onto a CD/DVD.
You can still image/backup your HD to the USB connected external drive.
The Rescue Media will see all of the drives connected internal or external.
I use Acronis True Image and have made the Rescue Media but I made it on a CD.
I image my HD to an external USB connected HD.I have tested and it works.

peter

--
If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external hard
disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot
from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all the
programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti

  #7  
Old February 24th 10, 05:54 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
peter
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 964
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?


you did not give us any info on your mobo so we could check if it was capable of
booting
from USB...not all are capable of this but if it is it would be listed in your
BIOS settings
under boot devices...
you could just remake the Resue Media onto a CD/DVD.
You can still image/backup your HD to the USB connected external drive.
The Rescue Media will see all of the drives connected internal or external.
I use Acronis True Image and have made the Rescue Media but I made it on a CD.
I image my HD to an external USB connected HD.I have tested and it works.

peter

--
If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external hard
disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot
from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all the
programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti

  #8  
Old February 24th 10, 06:29 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Peter Foldes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,444
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

You cannot boot from an external USB drive or any external drive. Your computer guy
was correct in advising you

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc with
USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone, backup,
etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external hard
disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time trying
to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all the
programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti


  #9  
Old February 24th 10, 06:29 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Peter Foldes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,444
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

You cannot boot from an external USB drive or any external drive. Your computer guy
was correct in advising you

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc with
USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone, backup,
etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external hard
disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time trying
to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all the
programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti


  #10  
Old February 24th 10, 08:37 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
DL[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 929
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

The Acronis bootable rescue media is designed to boot from, obviously, then
use its tools to recover the image you have stored on your external drive.
You can also boot from the Acronis cd, then recover

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB
key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot
reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti



  #11  
Old February 24th 10, 08:37 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
DL[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 929
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

The Acronis bootable rescue media is designed to boot from, obviously, then
use its tools to recover the image you have stored on your external drive.
You can also boot from the Acronis cd, then recover

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc
with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB
key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot
reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all
the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti



  #12  
Old February 24th 10, 09:06 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Unknown
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,007
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

The subject is whether or not you can boot from USB.
"DL" wrote in message
...
The Acronis bootable rescue media is designed to boot from, obviously,
then use its tools to recover the image you have stored on your external
drive.
You can also boot from the Acronis cd, then recover

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop
pc with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB
key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot
reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall
all the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti





  #13  
Old February 24th 10, 09:06 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Unknown
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,007
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

The subject is whether or not you can boot from USB.
"DL" wrote in message
...
The Acronis bootable rescue media is designed to boot from, obviously,
then use its tools to recover the image you have stored on your external
drive.
You can also boot from the Acronis cd, then recover

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop
pc with USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone,
backup, etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB
key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external
hard disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot
reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time
trying to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall
all the programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti





  #14  
Old February 24th 10, 09:38 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Tim Meddick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,995
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?

This is by no means a "fact"!

Whether or not you can boot from a USB source depends on the PC's BIOS and is not
some sort of "golden rule".

Just because most PCs are not able to, still doesn't mean you are right in saying
that...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Peter Foldes" wrote in message
...
You cannot boot from an external USB drive or any external drive. Your computer guy
was correct in advising you

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc with
USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone, backup,
etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external hard
disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time trying
to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all the
programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti



  #15  
Old February 24th 10, 09:38 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers
Tim Meddick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,995
Default Boot from external hard drive if PC won't boot?


This is by no means a "fact"!

Whether or not you can boot from a USB source depends on the PC's BIOS and is not
some sort of "golden rule".

Just because most PCs are not able to, still doesn't mean you are right in saying
that...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Peter Foldes" wrote in message
...
You cannot boot from an external USB drive or any external drive. Your computer guy
was correct in advising you

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Patti Barden" wrote in message
...
Running XP Sp3, OE6, IE8
I recently bought an external hard disk which is attached to my desktop pc with
USB.
I also have a program called Acronis which is supposed to copy or clone, backup,
etc.
It has you create a Bootable Rescue Media Builder which I put on a USB key.

My idea was to copy my entire pc disk to the external hard disk and then
periodically
back it up and if my pc went (it is old) I could restart from my external hard
disk.

In talking with a guy who owns a computer shop, he tells me I cannot reboot from a
USB. He insists that is the case. If so I have been wasting a lot of time trying
to
insure I don't have to reinstall everything or lose my data.

Perhaps I should just copy my data and figure I will have to reinstall all the
programs,
settings, etc.?
I am getting more confused.
Patti



 




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