failing hard drive on EOS

I recently updated the OS on my EOS console, and shortly thereafter started experiencing BSOD and failure to find the boot device during startup.  Sometimes the drive will be found, sometimes not.  These symptoms seem to point to a failing boot drive.  I will probably need to send the console in for repairs, but I have a show opening soon and will need it.  Would it be possible to use an external USB hard drive to provide the boot environment as a short term solution until I can send the console in for repair?

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