You can install Windows on an external SATA drive if you have an eSATA port
on the back of your computer but not on a USB or Firewire connected external
drive. Consider purchasing an external enclosure that has an eSATA port and
a SATA drive for it. You will, of course, also need an eSATA cable. I have
been running Vista x64 and Vista x86 on just such external drives in a
multi-boot configuration for two years without issues.

"john454" <2015feb25******.com> wrote in message
news:1639b55d-b1c7-42ab-b5a9-73a9fb38d093@s33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
>I bought a new pc for my work which has all the bells and whistles.
> Of course the kids want access to the pc so that they can play the
> latest games.
>
> I prefer not to install any games on the pc. I have a couple of
> licenses for both Vista Ultimate and XP Pro.
>
> Is there any way to install either Vista or XP on a USB drive and
> install their games on that. When they want to play, they can just
> boot their drive off USB, making use of the hardware on my pc?