Do I necessitate to install an operating system on my External Hard drive and if so what variety?

Do I necessitate to install an operating system on my External Hard drive and if so what variety?

No, you do not requirement to install an operating system on your external hard drive.



Supposing you own Windows XP with an external USB drive, upon connecting your external to your computer, Windows XP should detect that a USB external drive is available. If it is a brand alien external drive, it will tell you that it is unformatted and will ask you if you want to format it. If it is a drive next to already existing data, you should know how to see it's contents.
The exteranl drive does not require an OS, it is basically one and the same a USB drive, is for storage, but may need to be formatted. You should be capable of just plug surrounded by and it should be detected as a drive.
i think that while the previous answers are technically correct it hasnt be determined if the external drive will be the only drive or a secondry drive. (see cross-question proceeding this question)
No the drive runs of the OS in the comp.
no but it is a suitable idea I own an 80 gig external and i am going to try this out soon.