The most common is to have the operating system installed directly on the internal hard drive of the computer. Not surprisingly, it becomes one of the most practical options, mainly due to the stability and better performance of the system. However, with the advent of SSD drives , which offer much faster transfer and write speed rates, more and more users are venturing into the possibility of having an operating system on another hard drive, be it internal or even external.
However, the process to follow depending on whether we want to install the operating system on an internal or external hard drive is slightly different. This is because Windows does not offer the possibility of being installed on an external hard drive, for which it is necessary to opt for a tool, such as WinToUSB .
How to install Windows on a new internal hard drive
Remember that, before starting the process, it is extremely important to consult the main system requirements , since they become the key feature to help us discover if the operating system in question is suitable for our device.
For example, the latest versions of Windows generally need 1GB RAM, 15-20GB of available hard drive storage capacity, and a more or less powerful CPU. Of course, if you cannot install Windows 10, then it will be possible to opt for older versions, as could be the case with Windows XP.
Backing up the data
Especially if we are switching to another device, or creating a backup of the system image so that the operating system can be saved as such on a new hard drive, creating a backup is essential . This means making a copy of all programs, documents, files and all related downloadable content, so that it can later be transferred to the new hard drive.
Installing the new operating system
If what we want is to install the operating system on a new hard disk, then most likely we will not start from a partition , which consists of dividing a certain existing hard disk in two (in equal parts or not), with the purpose to install that new OS on the newly created partition. This option, for example, is useful when on a Mac we want to have Windows installed on one of those partitions, without the need to use a virtual emulator like Parallels.
Now we must boot the system from the installation disk . To do this, we must configure the BIOS to establish the order of priority. To do this, we click on F2, F10, F12, Del or Delete (depending on the configuration), and within the BIOS configuration itself, we change the boot priority list, placing the disk unit first in the list. We establish all the changes and exit the configuration screen.
We wait for the installation program to load , select the preferred language and keyboard layout options, enter the original product key, choose the type of installation, and proceed to format the partitions . Now we simply wait for the installation to complete, choosing the partition of the internal hard drive that we have previously formatted.
We simply follow the instructions on the screen, as Windows installs and prepares the device for later use.
How to install Windows on a new external hard drive
As we briefly mentioned at the beginning, the process to follow when installing Windows on an external hard drive is quite different, since this operating system cannot “be” installed on an external hard drive. An alternative solution is to opt for WinToUSB .
Downloading WinToUSB
WinToUSB has the same functionality as Windows To Go, a tool created by Microsoft for business use only, so it does not work with most home versions. However, this application is designed to be used on USB sticks, although it will also work perfectly for other external drives, such as an external hard drive.
Preparing the Windows installation image
In case we already have an installation disc (usually a DVD), a Windows installation USB memory or an image file then we will have to skip this step. Otherwise, we must proceed to download an ISO image file of the Windows installer , directly from Microsoft, which will depend on the version we want to install.
Proceeding to configure WinToUSB
We open the application and, once inside, we will see a series of icons located on the left of the screen. These are the options that allow us to choose the medium from which we want to install Windows, be it a DVD, an image file or even a clone of the current system installation. We simply have to choose the most appropriate option.
Once this is done, we choose the version of the operating system that matches the license we have, and click on Next. Now, on the next screen, we use the Select the destination disk drop-down menu, located at the top, to choose the external drive on which we want to install Windows (that is, the external hard drive where we want the operating system to be installed ).
Now, new options will appear, such as system and boot partitions. In the event that the hard disk is not divided into several partitions, it is possible to choose the partition available both for booting and for the system itself.
Once done, the installation mode will appear. Ideally, choose the Legacy option if it is available, since it is the fastest, simplest and easiest option. Once we click on Next, the installation will begin.
Once the process is complete, all we have to do is start Windows . To do this, we restart the computer and proceed to boot the system from the external drive. Remember that, in most cases, you will only have to press F12 at the beginning to access the BIOS, and carry out this change.
