Can this be used as a start up drive for a new computer build? In other words will it read operating system disk to get get everything started ?
1250807
If your computer BIOS supports booting from an optical drive (and all new ones do) this will work fine. you will probably have to go into the BIOS and set your drive to be the first boot item.
830042
From my expreience with the hard drive, it does not back up operating systems. I have just backed up my computer this morning in response to this question and could not find the option (granted, i have a 350gb drive--not the 500--being that the two might have different abilities (I highly doubt it)).
2062491
Yes, this drive will work in your computer. You will, of course, need to format it and install your operating system on it.
328241
If you are trying to ask if you can turn it into a boot drive where you can load OS's from then yes you can. You will have to download specific software that will wipe the drive and then install the OS onto the drive to be installed on your computer.
2103298
Yes, it shouldn't be a problem. You just need to make sure our PC boots to this drive before its hard drive. That would depend on your individual case.
1940478
Yes, works perfectly. No additional equipment needed for the drive itself, but for data transfer from your existing hard drive you'll need a dock or drive case. The startech.com dock works great but I'm sure there are other options which might be cheaper.
1925233
I think so, as you won't be using is as the boot drive. You should.be able to access any good files.
2168891
I have not used it for that purpose, but it should. The whole point of the recovery disk is to return your Windows operating system to you. You may still have to repair problems after recovery, but you will have a fighting chance of avoiding a reinstallation of Windows and a subsequent loss of data. The recovery disk has saved me from disaster several times. Let us know how that works.
2234027
No u have to format.. partition.. and load Windows 7..if it's a new drive u have to do a fresh install..
1192600
Not to use as the main storage disk. You'll have to use a HDD with SATA hook ups.
2010149
I can use it as an E: drive, just cant make it work as a C: drive. The problem is with the Partition style, which u can find under Disk Management and by going to the C: drive Disk Device Properties....if it says it is a Partition style: GUID Partition Table (GPT), then this is NOT the drive for you if u want to make it a bootable C: drive. Kingston will just tell you to go pound sand or they will give you a refund if you want to jump thru ALL of their hoops. I spent DAYS with the Kingston Technical Dept just to find out this little bit of trivia...BTW, if you are running Windows 8 then get the 8.1 upgrade...it is free and fixes several problems.
648056
Yep, works great... we use the SSD for the OS and installed programs. Then use a 1TB drive for data. Very fast boot times with this configuration.
51826
No it's a blank hard drive. You will need to format to what ever operating system u are using.
2181951
There is no reason it should not. No special drivers are needed to use this as storage, so as long as your drive fits, it works.
1137681
It should be, although I seem to remember it as formatted NTFS to start with. If your build supports standard SATA interface, you should not have any problems. It has been a very reliable drive for my Windows system. The only caveat is that an SSD does require periodic "garbage collection" by the operating system. You might want to check if your intended OS will support this. This would apply to any SSD that you may be considering.
932974
The operating system really isn't ever in question. This is a USB connection to a hard drive...pretty much ANY hard drive. If your system can read a thumb drive, it will be able to use this device.
1335712
Yes, but it will only go as fast as the drive is capable of moving. It might be more drive than your system needs.