How to Install Windows Vista From a Portable Hard Drive

Windows Vista can be installed from a portable hard drive. The process is actually faster than installing from the Windows Vista installation disk. Installing from a portable hard drive also makes network installations go faster. All you have to do is boot from the portable hard drive and you're ready to install. Portable hard drive speeds are faster than the read speeds on a CD or DVD. Many computer techs have begun installing Windows Vista from portable hard drives. Home users can benefit from a faster installation as well.

Step 1 Connect the portable hard drive and insert the Windows Vista disk.

Step 2 Format the portable hard drive. Go to "My Computer", right-click the portable hard drive, choose "Format." You can format with either FAT32 or NTFS. Most users stay with NTFS. Click "Start."

Step 3 Copy the Windows Vista disk to the hard drive. Go to "Start -- All Programs -- Accessories -- Command Prompt". Type "xcopy d:\*.* /s/e/f e:\" Be sure that your portable hard drive's letter is "e". If not, use the correct drive letter in place of the last "e." Press "Enter" to copy.

Step 4 Remove the portable hard drive when the copy is complete. You will no longer need the Windows Vista disk.

Step 5 Connect the portable hard drive to the computer you want to install Windows Vista on. Restart the computer, press F12 and choose "Boot from External Drive."

Step 6 Choose the partition you want to install Windows Vista on. Change the settings for time zone, computer name and the network settings when prompted.