Can I run software on an external hard drive? My C: drive is very crowded. I am running Windows XP Pro.?

you can, but depending on how fast your USB connection is will make the difference on how fast they run. USB 2.0 usually means NOT FAST AT ALL. It's not a good way to run things.

Can I run software on an external hard drive? My C: drive is very crowded. I am running Windows XP Pro.?
If it's a laptop then you're limited by the speed of USB 2. If its a desktop, then you can squeeze in another harddrive to your case, and make it the slave. Then you can install software to your new drive, just when you install software, choose the new location and it will copy it there. You can then run the software program and it will run properly. Some game software will not install on other places apart from the c drive but that's only in certain games, not all. You could also transfer some data files to the new drive, trim your bloatware by deleting programs you don't use and run clean disk so it gets rid of the internet junk, temp files etc. Also defrag your drive after you clean your c drive to maximise performance.
Reply:Try getting another HD, and moving things to it that can be stored, such as big files (like stored MP3's or DVD's) This should free up space on your C drive so you can install more programs.
Reply:When installed, Windows will designate the external hard drive with a new drive letter, (The next available, D:\, E:\, F"\.....Z:\.


You can then use it as a normal hard drive, the only difference is it is taking up space on your desk or table or bed or....


There are more practical ways of increasing your hard drive space.


1. Install a new HD as a slave, (change pin settings on HD. Drive C: is your master drive, Be sure you attach the ribbon cable correctly, (red line on pin 1). If you are not sure, DON'T DO IT)


2. Compress drive C (double your capacity), too late now because it is almost full. Do it first with your new one.


3. Backup drive C. Install a much larger new drive. (It will fill up also, they all do).


Wanna hear a good one?


Well, I'll tell you anyway, My first HD was a whopping 40 Megabytes, (back in the dark ages, 18 years ago or so). I thought I'll never fill it. Now I've got a total of 500 Gigabytes and it is filling up.


Remember the golden rules, The faster the better, the larger the better, the more memory the better.