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BenjaminBlaze's avatar
BenjaminBlaze
Bronze Contributor
Jan 09, 2025

How to make an external USB drive bootable with an older OS ( Win 7)

I have an Literature app on CD's, originally designed for Windows 7. I have a Seagate 232 GB USB drive. I was thinking of installing Windows 7 on it ( I have the installation CD) and boot from it so that I can play my CD literature collection. Is this feasible? How?.

Thanks

2 Replies

  • JEH-IT's avatar
    JEH-IT
    Copper Contributor

    If the suggestion to install the app on Windows, you may want to try to use a virtual machine instead. You can designate the external drive as the storage for the VHD file, but native installation of Windows 7 is not suported on Intel Processors 7th gen or later or any version of AMD Ryzen, so unless you have an older computer, you are going to have a hard time making it work.

  • gastone's avatar
    gastone
    Brass Contributor

    Try to install and run your Literature App on Windows 11 should be an option.
    The main challenge is determining if the app is 16-bit or 32.
    If the is 16bit applications cannot run natively on 64-bit versions of Windows 11!

    However, if the app is 32-bit, there are ways to make it work.

    Try Running the App in Compatibility Mode (For 32-bit Apps)

    You can try running it in Windows 7 compatibility mode.

    Right-click the executable (e.g.,  LiteratureApp.exe or the setup.exe) and select Properties.

    •  Go to the Compatibility tab.
    •  Check Run this program in compatibility mode for.
    •  Choose Windows 7 from the dropdown menu.
    •   Click Apply and then OK.

     

    Now, try to run the app and see if it works. Sometimes this is enough to get older 32-bit applications running on newer versions of Windows.

     

    To make your Seagate 232 GB USB drive bootable with Windows 7 and use it to run your literature app.

    This process involves installing Windows 7 onto the external USB drive, ensuring that it can boot from it, and running your software as you would on a regular Windows installation, bk your usb, partition it as GPT, making bootalbe , create a windows intaller o  using cd-rom, install win 7, etc.

    It's a tedious process that requires skills and hides some pitfalls.
    https://rmprepusb.com/tutorials/047-how-to-install-windows-vista-7-svr2k8-onto-a-usb-drive-or-any-partition/

    Bye Gastone

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