I actually was curious about some thing I indeed found possible: installing Windows 7 on a USB flash drive. I don't mean from, I mean using the OS, going online, and playing games on the flash drive. I have an 8 GB HP flash USB drive (Amazon.com: HP 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive P-FD8GB-HPV100W-FS: Electronics). That should be sufficient for a whole Windows 7 OS install (about 3 GB maximum) and extra drivers, updates, a few programs, docs, and maybe 1 installed game. I want to do this, because like us weird computer people, we like to do crazy stuff that makes no sense! (JK) Basically, I want to be able to switch the USB from computer to another, so I can always have MY computer with me, so I can do my Flash animating and my own games and programs even on the other side of the country, as long as the computer supports the drive and the OS. My dad's Mac has an Intel processor, so if I can get this to work, I could boot from the USB drive on his Macbook and use Windows 7! Haha, amazing!

This really almost seems like the future of computers: no more built in hard drives; all are removable, and compatible with any computer, PC or Mac. Compatibility and ease of use=the future. No more log me in; it is all about having your computer with you at all times, not over the internet. To expand the matter, 16 GB mini sd cards are releasing, meaning you could literally boot Windows, install games, programs, and create docs on a piece of plastic about the weight and size a third of a penny, which you could insert into any computer that exists and use your computer on another. Now that is the future. Wait until 100 GB+ Sd cards, and we are really talking.

I found some articles and stumbled upon this post: Install Windows 7 From USB Drive/Pen Drive

Now, first of all, this article is explaining how to install Windows ON a USB drive, not from and onto a computer hard drive, correct? If so, should I even follow these instructions, or would some one here give me better advice?

hello gravity
well yes you could put an operating system onto a flash drive and make the compuer boot from it but it would be localised just to that computer it wouldnt be transferable to other computers ,because during the installation of the operating system it installs all the relevant components of that individual computer ,so once it sees and installs all the parts for that computer ,should you transfer it to any another computer it would get very confused as it wouldnt find the parts it expects to find, and then you would also more importantly have the issue of copywrite and legalities of using an operating system on multiple computers

So basically you guys are saying the drive will not be compatible with other systems and will fail because of over writing and reading. Well, my Dad's hard drive from a Pentium 3 build almost worked on my computer. It did not freak out, and for my situation I do not intend to use the OS like normal, only when I need to or am away (which wont be happening in a while). Also, I have a 2 GB USB drive which I use for normal things, so all that will be on the 8 GB HP drive will be Windows and the various programs. I just want to do it, because I really want to. I won't stop (or will try very hard) until I can use the OS on different computers. That is my goal.

I'm not arguing with anyone here. I don't think any of us are lawyers - I'm certainly not, but on the issue of copywrite and legalities of using an operating system on multiple computers technically it is only being used on one system at a time so there is no copywrite issue.

It would be no different to scrapping your old PC and installing your existing OS on your new build. So I do not think it would be illegal. Installing on more than one PC at a time is a completely different issue.

But as George and Fixit pointed out, with the USB drive technology as it stands today, your drive will be burned out in a very short time.

Solid state hard drives, however, are on the market now which may have fixed the read/write issue.

Heck, go for it. The world only moves forward by people thinking outside the box.

George, you are absolutely right. I stand corrected.

What I actually meant by "go for it" was that we should always challenge the status quo. We learn - and sometimes benefit - from trying new ideas.

I apologise if I misinformed anyone.

Consider the exact definition on this issue here Lucian.

MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION (RETAIL) END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE

Paying particular attention to sections 1.1 and 13

Guys, this is good debate fodder but I just don't have the time. I made an observation is all. I already stated I'm no lawyer. I've also stood corrected and now I'm going to sit down but before I do, let me just give a point to ponder.

If it is on a thumbdrive, then it can only be on one computer at a time, can't it?

Good, no laws broken here.

If it is on a thumbdrive then it is completely removed from the computer when the thumbdrive is removed. Isn't it? In fact, come to think of it, it is not being transfered at all because it is still on the original device it was installed on!

This is a debate that could go on for years by people more knowledgeable than me.

Anyway that was my interpretation. Now I'm going to sit down and keep quiet.

The ideology of the operating system being on a usb stick infers that it can be transferable between pc's.

No mention of thumbdrives, flashdrives or any other form of transportable media is suggested whatsoever by Microsoft in that EULA.

What exactly are you implying, Wolfeymole? And for luciamp, thank you. This information you gave proves that if I were to attempt to install the software on a USB flash drive and then use the drive on another computer, it would be legal. I just want to point out again though: A USB drive is simply a type of hard drive. There are flash drives that have terabytes of storage, while some have 1 GB. These low storage drives are called USB flash drives; but they are still hard drives, and still have a main purpose of storing information. An operating system is installed on a hard drive, requiring 3 GB to install the necessary files.

I have an HP 8 GB Flash drive. This would provide enough space for the OS and more. The process would be legal. What IS there to stop me? I just need some one to help me through the process, regarding system conversion (FAT32 or NTFS), proper installation, and booting from the USB drive from the BIOS or drive boot up selection. I noticed you guys are getting really nervous about this...as if it were some feat never accomplished before? I do not believe I am the first one to think of this, because I see many articles showing that it is possible. Most of those were from earlier dates, so I wanted to come here to get exact and current instructions. I have Windows 7 RC on a DVD, and want to use that.

For a last note, I understand that this is a very controversial topic, and it may have its doubts and legal issues, but so far, every thing seems like it could work and be completely legal. If you really believe in stopping me, then find some thing that proves to me that this is illegal. If it is, no one may give me instructions, and I will not go on with the process. Other than that, just try to help me out with what I am trying to do.

Thanks,

GravitySphere.