Mobile Partitions

If I want to install another Windows without having to partition my hard drive, can do it with a portable HD?

Ok this is what I want to do. I want to re-install my windows xp but i think the cd is scratched and I dont want to risk losing everything. I dont know how to partition my hard driveso my question is, can i buy a portable hard drive, install windows on it from my cd, and still be able to boot my laptop from either one?

Public Comments

1. Yes, then you need to change the bios to let it know where to look for the MBR. Point your boot sequence to USB, CD, HDD and that should get you there. CRYSTAL - Did you read my answer!?! Yours was very original!
2. Yes. Your computer needs to be able to boot from USB, if you connect an external USB hard drive. Check this in the BIOS if you can change the boot sequence to USB.
3. Yeah...this adjustments can be executed easily in BIOS however as far as I know it is highly un-recommended to boot an operating system from USB devices.
4. Yes, you can do this with Acronis Disk Director. It has a boot manager that will allow you to install up 100 operating systems. You can boot an OS from any partition on any hard disk or have several operating systems on the same partition. After all Disk Director Suite is the best partition utility in my opinion. Here is a link: http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/diskdirectorsuite/