Can I boot my PC without a hard drive?

[dmankey1]

Will my PC boot and function in this situation?

No hard drive
USB flash drive attached
Windows 8 disc inserted

Now, IF it boots. Will it let me install windows 8 onto the USB flash drive?

 

[USAFRet]

It will boot from the Win8 install disk, but no, you can't install to the USB flash drive.

OK, you can, but it is lot of work, and would be dirt slow if you eventually get it running.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

As above.

You could, however, get a linux LiveCD or USB, which would allow you to either run it directly from the install media, or install to a USB drive.

 

[alexoiu]

Will my PC boot and function in this situation?

No hard drive
USB flash drive attached
Windows 8 disc inserted

Now, IF it boots. Will it let me install windows 8 onto the USB flash drive?

That's actually an interesting question. I think that you'll not be able to select it when asked where to install Windows.
But you can try.

 

[dmankey1]

Thanks for the responses. I will give it a go

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the responses. I will give it a go

When you start the install, that flash drive will not be an option for the target OS drive.

 

[alexoiu]

Check http://www.intowindows.com/create-portable-windows-7-usb-using-vhd-w7-compact/
or similar.
See if helping.

 

[dmankey1]

Thanks for the responses. I will give it a go

When you start the install, that flash drive will not be an option for the target OS drive.

I see folks with Windows 7 on a flash drive which they used to install it on a new built PC. How is that possible? How did they get it to the flash drive from the disc?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the responses. I will give it a go

When you start the install, that flash drive will not be an option for the target OS drive.

I see folks with Windows 7 on a flash drive which they used to install it on a new built PC. How is that possible? How did they get it to the flash drive from the disc?

Yes, you can put the Win 7 or 8 install on the flash drive, boot from it and install the OS to the HDD or SSD (internal drives). This does it easily.
You can't install the OS to that flash drive and run it.

Well, you can , but it is a PITA and your performance will be pretty bad.