Can Windows 7 run on a external HDD? -

I would like to get a new hard drive, as my old one is running out of space. I was thinking maybe a 1TB external hard drive, probably Western Digital. However, I would enjoy running the new Windows 7 Beta, without having to have to format my entire Windows XP OS. Can I run Windows 7 on an external drive? Does eSATA have anything to do with it?

there is a way of testing windows 7 without having to install onto a computer physically. you can use a virtual machine application like virtual box it will emulate an environment in which an operating system would normally run and install allowing you to run an operating system on your computer sort of like it was an application. if you have any question feel free to email me.

im not sure about windows, but i run coppies of linux off of flash drives. I dont know how the windows FAT32 will show up in the BIOS unless you set the bootloader to the external (but that means in order to start your computer you need the external drive in) If you take out your internal harddrive, then install it to the external, you should have the option to chose what to boot from if you push a button on a keyboard, but no esata shouldnt have something to do with it, it will be slow as amp;#^$ because of the speed of USB or Firewire but if its a necesity.