Possible to install Windows 7 64bit on Thumb Drive?

[Magic_x_uk]

Hello.

I am in the process of getting bits together to build a HTPC. Probably will be situated in a cupboard under the stairs. That way I do not need to buy a pretty HTPC Case, can just use a nice large dekstop case.


Now I have been thinking.

Can I install Windows 7 64 Bit onto a USB Thumb drive and use that for the OS.

I won't be using it for anything other than as a HTPC via XBMC and perhaps the odd bit of surfing the net from my sofa.

Any problems in doing so. I have built plenty of PC's before BUT never built one using the OS as a boot from USB.


Any problems in doing it this way?

Also if I do do it this way. What kind of size USB Flash drive (thumb drive) should I look at getting. Also any particular makes that are better than others.



Thank you

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

The only problem I could see would be read/write.
A lot of these drives are cheap for a reason and have terrible speeds

What about those IDE/Compact flash thingies?

 

[marc2003]

windows 8 is going to support this but i'm not sure it's possible with windows 7. i know you can't pick a USB stick as the destination during setup. it might be possible with some sort of ugly hacking??

anyway, i'm not understanding why you want to do this. you're getting a big case to go under the stairs and i'm assuming you want to store content on it, why install windows on a usb stick?

 

[Magic_x_uk]

it was just a idea, did not know if worth while doing. I shall forget this idea then.

Just wanted to check.

Thanks guys.

 

[paradigm]

It is possible (well technically I did it with Server 2008 R2 rather than Windows 7, but still). However you do have to install Windows onto a VHD (Virtual PC hard disk file) which is then stored on a bootable USB stick.

You'd need a minimum of a 16GB USB stick.