Is Windows really anal?

[smoteraw]

Since using Mac Os for a long time I embarked on a PC build to 'really?' understand computers. All this, 'BIOS' stuff that has been hidden from me for ages. Anyway, all my bits are not yet here but I have a USB caddy that I plonked in my 1TB Barracuda and using Mac formatted for 2 partitions, 1 20GB for Win, the other for Mac stuff, both GUID. I then used Parallels to change the 20GB partition to NFS using PAssist_Std.exe successfully. However, the Win 7 failed. I transferred the caddy to my Lenovo with the same result. Now I have downloaded some 2GB of Microstuff to do the job?

Please, can anyone advise of a sanitary way of installing Win X to an external USB drive without all this messing about? In Mac I just install external stuff, why should this be so difficult in Win?

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, Windows really IS that bad about being installed to, and running from, an external drive. There are supposedly some methods forcing it, but that requires a LOT of registry changes.

Applications, yes. The OS, no.

 

[Pinhedd]

Since using Mac Os for a long time I embarked on a PC build to 'really?' understand computers. All this, 'BIOS' stuff that has been hidden from me for ages. Anyway, all my bits are not yet here but I have a USB caddy that I plonked in my 1TB Barracuda and using Mac formatted for 2 partitions, 1 20GB for Win, the other for Mac stuff, both GUID. I then used Parallels to change the 20GB partition to NFS using PAssist_Std.exe successfully. However, the Win 7 failed. I transferred the caddy to my Lenovo with the same result. Now I have downloaded some 2GB of Microstuff to do the job?

Please, can anyone advise of a sanitary way of installing Win X to an external USB drive without all this messing about? In Mac I just install external stuff, why should this be so difficult in Win?

Consumer versions of Windows prior to Windows 8 do not support installation to or booting from a USB mass storage device. Windows 8 has support for it, but only in the Enterprise version of Windows 8. This technology is called "Windows To Go"

 

[smoteraw]

Since using Mac Os for a long time I embarked on a PC build to 'really?' understand computers. All this, 'BIOS' stuff that has been hidden from me for ages. Anyway, all my bits are not yet here but I have a USB caddy that I plonked in my 1TB Barracuda and using Mac formatted for 2 partitions, 1 20GB for Win, the other for Mac stuff, both GUID. I then used Parallels to change the 20GB partition to NFS using PAssist_Std.exe successfully. However, the Win 7 failed. I transferred the caddy to my Lenovo with the same result. Now I have downloaded some 2GB of Microstuff to do the job?

Please, can anyone advise of a sanitary way of installing Win X to an external USB drive without all this messing about? In Mac I just install external stuff, why should this be so difficult in Win?

Consumer versions of Windows prior to Windows 8 do not support installation to or booting from a USB mass storage device. Windows 8 has support for it, but only in the Enterprise version of Windows 8. This technology is called "Windows To Go"

Thanks Pinhedd, I used http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7-to-usb-external-hard-drive-must-read/

and followed the advice. There are bits missing that I had to find and did. I used both my Lenovo and Paralells on the Mac with no apparent difference to the created partition on the USB Barracuda on the caddy. However, I must await my mobo to see if I have installed correctly as, as you say, I cannot boot from USB. I almost got Parallels working in Bootcamp but this b$$ger wanted the caddy-drive inside the Mac!