can an external hard drive take the place of an internal one?

[drobes34]

like in a labtop can you use an external hard drive instead of an internal hard drive?

[Neubit]

You can use one as well as an internal one, the internal hard drive will have to have your operating system installed on it, but you can install everything else and keep your files on your external one.

[drobes34]

but u can't substitute an external for an internal?

[psp339]

You can. You have to change the boot order to the external hard drive though.

[drobes34]

how would i do that?

[PvP_LostKnight]

when booting up press f10 then change the boot order

[drobes34]

so theoretically i could use like an ipod in the usb port and hit f10 when it starts up and change the boot order to it and it should work?

[drobes34]

its an old labtop my dad gave to me and the hard drive says it needs replaced when it starts up...the only way it will turn on is in safe mode...so i'm trying to get around it without buying a new hard drive...know any where i could get one cheap?

[pinoyballa]

www.newegg.com will probably be your best bet at finding a cheap hard drive

[drobes34]

so no one answered me...can i use only an external hard drive on a labtop...taking place of the internal hard drive.

[robin1989]

yes you can as far as i know - i have a clean version of mac os x on an external HDD which if i ever need to i can boot to on start up incase i should ever brake the copy on my internal HDD

[Josho]

Yes and no. You can use a portable operating systen in it like Linux, and people have made a portable XP, but it's pretty basic. In general Windows doesn't like to be on an external drive, but it is possible, yes.