Windows Vista running from USB HDD/SSD?

[Jakob99]

Does anyone know if it is possible to install Windows Vista to a USB HDD/SSD and run it from there? I know Windows 7 works with it provided you are using USB 2.0 ports (trying to use USB 3.0 produces an Inaccessible Boot Device Error) as does 8 and later (which does support USB 3.0 using this configuration). I have tried installing Vista to a USB HDD using Rufus' Windows To Go feature (only available when running the program on 8 and later), but got a blue screen with Inaccessible Boot Device, even on laptops with USB 2.0 ports. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[jaclaz]

I think that 7 is possible also on USB 3, with a few tweaks/added drivers, but it may depend on the USB 3.0 contreoller.

Vista is of course possible on USB, the basic, manual way was detailed by Dietmar some 15 years ago:

https://web.archive.org/web/20071009071622/http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181&st=1700&p=118931&#entry118931

cannot say/remember if there are (more evoluted/more automated) new ways/tools.

There is a small service that prevents the reset of the USB bus registry values, though it wasn't apparently tested on Vista, it works just fine on both XP and 7 (and 8/8.1) so likely it will work on Vista too:

https://github.com/vavrecan/usb-boot-watcher

jaclaz