Boot Camp on Second Drive w/ iMac?

I am considering running Boot Camp on my iMac but will not do it if the Windows OS has to be on my internal HD. Can I set up and external HD and use that for the Windows OS? How would this be done?
Thanks.

Hi,
Well that sounds like an adventure - something I'll consider, thanks.
I never was that adventerous, but with a Mac Pro I didn't had to...
One other question - If I do decide to use Boot Camp as it was intended:
1. Do I have to reinstall my current OS X installation along with all my data or can I keep my system as it is and add Windows to another partition? Partitioning usually means an end to what ever pre existed on the drive, correct?
The BootCamp Assistant does have the ability to repartition the harddisk without erasing your OSX volume.
Nonetheless, depending on the value your OSX volume and the files on it have for you, I would propose to make a backup before using the Assistant.
And follow the BootCamp Setup Guide http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/ to the letter !!
2. Windows is a dirty hooker. If installed on a boot camp partition, can she infect or access my OS X partition?
Without third-party helpers Windows will not even see nor use your OSX volume, so no harm can be done.
And Windows viruses can not affect OSX volumes/applications due to the very different nature of them.
But when you wan't to use the the internet with WIndows, you should use a decent AV-Scanner.
Thanks.
You're welcome anytime.
Stefan

Similar Messages

How to set up Boot Camp on second drive?

On Drive bay 2 and 3 I have setup as a RAID which has OSX Installed. I want to install Boot Camp onto the Drive in bay 1. When I run the Boot Camp Assistant, it tells me I can't partition an external drive. What am I doing wrong?

You should always have an alternate boot drive that is not on a RAID. Upgrade to 10.5.2 if you have not already. You can use Disk Utility and partition the whole drive for Windows as Master Boot Record and FAT or setup partitions. You could also use the default GUID partition scheme and have FAT and HFS+, your choice.
If you plan to install Vista, you will have to take a FAT partition, delete it from Vista, and create a partition (NTFS) to install.

"Non-System Disk" Boot Camp Windows 7 on 5K iMac

I've been trying to install Windows 7 as a Boot Camp partition on my 5K iMac for a few days now. It's driving me crazy.
I've tried:
Installing from multiple different USB devices – all USB 2.0, 16gb or 32gb. I've tried 4 different sticks now. I just tried a Sandisk 16gb as someone here pointed out none of theirs worked except their Sandisk drive, but no luck with that either.
Using multiple different ISO's, all x64 – all Windows 7 but different versions (Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate). These are all downloaded from the Digital River sources.
I contacted Apple Support and they advised attempting the Boot Camp setup while in Safe Mode. With this method, I was unable to even begin the process as the error message 'Must be Windows 7 or higher' comes up instead. I'm pretty sure this is just because I can't mount drives in Safe Mode.
Here's what happens:
Format the USB drive with 1 partition, set it to Master Boot Record, FAT32.
Run Boot Camp Assistant.
I leave all three options selected: create USB, download Windows software from Apple, and then create the partition.
Select the x64 Windows ISO.
Select the USB drive. Actually, there are no other drives connected, so it just auto-selects.
Hit 'go'. Let it do its thing. It asks for a password twice during the process, and takes about 20 minutes.
I then create a partition. I've been using 96gb, but have tried going up to 128gb to see if that makes any difference. Nope.
iMac reboots when that's done. It sits there for a little while with the backlight on and a black screen, then shows "Non-system disk. Press any key to restart.".
I hit my head on the desk a few times.
I try restarting the iMac and bringing up the boot manager to see what disks are available. There's only one: Macintosh HD. No recovery HD, and no 'Windows' drive I've seen on some other posts.
I restart the iMac and let it try booting normally again. This time, and all subsequent attempts, I get a "No bootable disk" error.
At this point I find some sorta-relevant post that recommends trying something else, so I remove the partition and try that – a different USB, a different ISO (of the same thing). I do not have a disk drive of any kind and cannot use Windows that way.
I've updated to the latest version of Yosemite, but that changed nothing. I've also tried inserting the bootable USB in my rMBP 13", but that doesn't show it as a boot disk either.
Not sure if maybe I'm missing a step? I've been following Apple's step-by-step guide in their Support pages.
If anyone has any experience with this problem, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ok. I've created a Boot Camp partition, and WININSTALL is the USB drive I've created via Boot Camp Assistant.
disutil list:
/dev/disk0
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *500.3 GB   disk0
   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1
   2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         371.4 GB   disk0s2
   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk0s3
   4:       Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP                128.0 GB   disk0s4
/dev/disk1
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD           *371.1 GB   disk1
                                 Logical Volume on disk0s2
                                 9559D7F7-15A3-43F4-9DB0-04AC36197E53
                                 Unencrypted
/dev/disk2
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:     FDisk_partition_scheme                        *16.0 GB    disk2
   1:                 DOS_FAT_32 WININSTALL              16.0 GB    disk2s1
diskutil cs list:
CoreStorage logical volume groups (1 found)
|
+-- Logical Volume Group CF98980E-1B0A-484F-9EFB-65B047F4DD7A
    =========================================================
    Name:         Macintosh HD
    Status:       Online
    Size:         371418034176 B (371.4 GB)
    Free Space:   0 B (0 B)
    |
    +-< Physical Volume 4357254B-9237-4328-A90C-10C90ABA1107
    |   ----------------------------------------------------
    |   Index:    0
    |   Disk:     disk0s2
    |   Status:   Online
    |   Size:     371418034176 B (371.4 GB)
    |
    +-> Logical Volume Family 084DA53D-4F5B-4A6C-9A9E-047CA2895641
        Encryption Status:       Unlocked
        Encryption Type:         None
        Conversion Status:       NoConversion
        Conversion Direction:    -none-
        Has Encrypted Extents:   No
        Fully Secure:            No
        Passphrase Required:     No
        |
        +-> Logical Volume 9559D7F7-15A3-43F4-9DB0-04AC36197E53
            Disk:                  disk1
            Status:                Online
            Size (Total):          371082489856 B (371.1 GB)
            Conversion Progress:   -none-
            Revertible:            Yes (no decryption required)
            LV Name:               Macintosh HD
            Volume Name:           Macintosh HD
            Content Hint:          Apple_HFS
sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0:
gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=500277790720; sectorsize=512; blocks=977105060
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Suspicious MBR at sector 0
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Sec GPT at sector 977105059
      start       size index contents
          0          1         MBR
          1          1         Pri GPT header
          2         32         Pri GPT table
         34          6
         40     409600      1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B
     409640 725425848      2 GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
725835488    1269536      3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
727105024        512
727105536 249999360      4 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7
977104896        131
977105027         32         Sec GPT table
977105059          1         Sec GPT header
sudo fdisk /dev/disk0:
Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 60821/255/63 [977105060 sectors]
Signature: 0xAA55
         Starting       Ending
#: id cyl hd sec - cyl hd sec [     start -       size]
1: EE 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [         1 -     409639] <Unknown ID>
2: AC 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [    409640 - 725425848] <Unknown ID>
3: AB 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 725835488 -    1269536] Darwin Boot
4: 0B 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 727105536 - 249999360] Win95 FAT-32
Thanks for taking a look at this. I haven't been able to find a Windows 8.1 ISO to try as I don't have a license for that, only Windows 7.
Also, the USB stick I'm using now is a Sandisk Cruzer. I've seen it used elsewhere here with success, so figured it must be a suitable device.
Any ideas of what else to try?

Installing Windows 7 Professional via Boot Camp Assistant on late 2013 iMac 27"

So here I am with a brand new 27" iMac bought on Nov 3. Machine is top of the line w/ 3.5GHz quad-core intel i7Core, 4GB Video Card, 3TB Fusion Drive and right out the box on first start up and first update, I install Windows 7 via Boot Camp. Best install of all time, right on through no problems whatsoever and I'm thinking - Problems? what problems! HA! ... well a week later Windows 7 crashes from my own bone-headed mistakes and i go to reinstall windows thinking oh i'll be down for maybe 2 hrs? but it'll fix my problem. No way.. 1 week and an exchange-for-another-identical-imac-from-store later plus $300+ dollars in tech services Here I am with no resolution to this problem of installing Windows 7 via boot camp. I just absoultely couldn't get past the stinkin' step of "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing partition... yadda yadda yadda"
UNTIL NOW - 9:07AM on 11/19/13 I have SOLVED the problem. Read from here down to get my instructions (with Pictures of course!!)
Before you even start this is VERY IMPORTANT. Things will go to all **** if you don't.
USB ports. On the back of my iMac, there are 4 of them. From Left to Right (you have to acknowledge this or things will never work), place your Super Drive (CD/DVD Drive) in the Left slot. Next, place your USB Mouse in the 2nd from Left slot. Finally, place your USB/Flash Drive in the 3rd Slot (it will be 2nd from the Right). See Fig1.
FIG.1
Now you go to Boot Camp Assistant, start it up, and check off the SECOND option:
"Download the latest Windows software from Apple". See Fig2.
FIG 2
Let the download do its thing and when its done, Boot Camp will advance to the partitioning screen. Allocate the space you want for the Windows 7 Partition and hit "Install".
CRUCIAL: Immediately after hitting "Install", Boot Camp will pop up a message stating that the USB/Flash drive currently inserted providing Windows Software drivers brings a functionality issue and Boot Camp will disable the drive to continue. This has to happen in order to avoid the dreaded "A new setup partition or existing partition cannot be located" message that comes during the Windows 7 Install when picking your partition. I am convinced that this pop up only occurs when you have your DVD drive, Mouse, and USB/Flash drives inserted into their appropriate slots.
After you accept Boot Camp's disabling of the USB drive, install is pretty standard there on out. Boot Camp will create the partition, the computer will reboot and begin its Windows 7 install via your CD/DVD drive. Also want to note that I used a wireless keyboard during the entrie intallation process. I had a wired keyboard installed in my numerous attempt this past week b/c I had read in so many forums a wired keyboard was better for this install - well NOT IN THIS CASE. In fact the added USB ports that come with the wired keyboard only confused things for me even further.
I am happy to say that Windows 7 has installed successfully on my iMac, and I've reached its appropriate updates as well. Now onto 3DS Max 2014 install.

You can't do what you want with GUI utilities, which will only allow a total of 4 partitions due to the limitation of MBR needed to support Windows. Those four partitions: EFI System (hidden), Mac OS, Recovery HD (hidden), Windows. So with Lion, you only get two visible partitions if you're going to use Windows with BootCamp. You can't make anymore with the included graphical tools.
If you need more partitions you'll need to use something like GPT fdisk (gdisk) to create the partitions in the GPT first. Then add the Windows partition only to the MBR and flag it as bootable. gdisk can be googled and downloaded for Mac OS X off sourceforge. It is not a GUI tool.
You should read this:
http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/
And this:
http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/hybrid.html

Can I install Boot Camp on two drives within the same computer?

I have XP on one drive in my Mac Pro and will be putting Windows 7 on another. I'm purchasing a new OEM full install version of Windows 7.
I'll be using Windows 7 as my primary OS, but the reason I'd like to keep XP in the second drive is to use it for backup.

Thanks. I want to keep XP on the drive where it currently is (which is a slow drive) and put Windows 7 on a faster drive.
I will also use the boot camp partition on the drive with the XP boot camp partition as a backup drive.

Boot Camp related hard drive corruption?

The other day, my OS X 10.5.1 partition completely crashed on me after several switched between it and the Boot Camp partition on my MBP (XP Pro SP2). I just happened to glance at my OS X partition using MacDrive and it told me that the partition was corrupt and unreadable. Confused, I tried to boot into OS X with no success, it just hung at the Apple screen. I had to completely erase the partition, reinstall Tiger, and upgrade again to Leopard. Has anyone else heard of this happening, or experienced it? Could it somehow be related to MacDrive? I had been moving stuff back and forth, and saving stuff to the OS X partition from the Windows partition. Is that part of the problem? I just don't want it to happen again! The Windows partition was unharmed, btw.

First off, thanks for your reply. Second, yes, MacDrive is compatible with my OS version, it's designed specifically for Boot Camp. I haven't been using Time Machine because it completely takes over the external and I need the drive that I have (besides my iPod) for classes at my university that use PCs, so that option's out. I had kinda slacked off recently about backing up files, but still almost everything was saved onto my iPod. Speaking of which, the reason I can't use my iPod for my class is because it involves recording audio using Pro Tools, and for some reason the iPod drive is too slow. Do iPods get fragmented, and should I periodically do a reformat of it? That would certainly free up my 320 GB external for Time Machine use.
As far as the DVD repair, how do you do that? I thought the only option was "erase and install" when going back to Tiger. Or do you mean bot from the Leopard DVD?
Sorry about the kind of rambling post, but I wanted to make sure to be specific.

Newbie question: Running Parallels from Boot Camp on separate drive

All: I'm new to the Mac world, so bear with me. I'm awaiting arrival of a Mac Pro that has two separate 250GB drives. I plan on running Parallels because there are certain Windows apps that I need to access periodically--but not enough to open up Boot Camp separately. Someone suggested the following, but I need help in figuring out how this works:
+"...install Boot Camp on another internal drive (Since you have 4 drive sleds build into the Mac) and run Parallels from that Boot Camp volume. This way you have a dedicated drive for Windows, so its faster and its not using the boot drive at all. You can boot to it natively if you really need the speed and power for gaming or just use Parallels when your in OS X."+
So in other words, if I already have two drives, I can have my main drive running normal Mac apps, and then if I need to run Windows, I install Parallels and all my Windows apps, along with Boot Camp and Windows XP, on the second drive and use it from there whenever I need to run Windows??

I don't think BootCamp allows an installation on another drive, but Parallels and other software will.
You might repost this in the BootCamp forum where there are many more users running Winders under all kinds of 3rd party software.
Here's the link:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=237

HT201468 Boot Camp on external drive?

Is it possible to install and run Boot Camp (Windows XP) from an external drive?
I originally had Boot Camp on a separate partition on my iMac HD, but the partition filled pretty quickly. I want to install Boot Camp on an external drive to avoid repartitioning in the future. (Kudos to Time Machine - restoring files was unbelievably easy.)

I've been messing with different MacBooks (haven't tried iMac unfortunately, but I think it'll be similar) and it's definitely possible to install Windows on an external drive. I haven't tried this with Windows XP (I think you'll have to give up on that), I used only Windows 7 / Windows 8. There're at least two options:
1. BIOS emulation mode. Use this guide as a reference: http://bleeptobleep.blogspot.ca/2013/02/mac-install-windows-7-or-8-on-external.h tml
This one will make it work even on a USB 2.0/3.0 drive (although it worked for me with one USB3.0 enclosure but refused to boot from another). I also assume it'll work with FireWire as long as necessary drivers are installed.
2. native EFI mode. Use my last post as a reference: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1414769
This method most likely won't work with USB or FireWire, only Thunderbolt which your iMac doesn't have.
It's definitely not supported by Apple so officials won't help you here Another way to do it is cloning partitions from one disk to another, which I never tried. I also read about crazy things that involved VMWare Fusion etc.

No Boot Camp Drivers found on new imac disk #1 ???

Installed 10.5 on new imac 2.4 GHZ with no problems. Updated to 10.5.1. Started Boot Camp install. When directed Installed Vista Ultimate with no problem. When directed Inserted imac disk #1 to install Drivers - showed zero(0) on disk. Inserted another CD and it loaded as normal. Re-inserted imac disk 1, still 0 on disk. Disk shows up on drive. Click on disk to open - 0 on disk. Set auto run - 0 on disk. No warning notices from Vista. Vista boots normal. 10.5 boots normal. Reinserted disk in Vista - no drivers - 0 on disk. Inserted disk #1 with 10.5 running - disk has normal install applications for imac(10.4). While in Mac OS did a search on disk # 1 for "setup.exe" - nothing found. Has anyone come across anything like this??

Kajacobs:
I think that it will be worth your while checking out *[_THIS THREAD_|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6723097&#6723097]*.
It may have a solution for you. Let me know it the mentioned solution works for you.
Axel F.

Install Boot Camp on 3rd drive (3TB)?

I just installed a new 3TB drive in my early 2008 Mac Pro, which is runing ML. I would like to use Boot Camp to install Windows 7 on a 300 GB partition on that new drive and to have it bootable. I would like to retain the rest of the drive for use in OS X. Is this possible?
Also, it says the following in the "...problems creating a partition" section of Boot Camp Installation manual:
If you have a Mac Pro with more than one internal disk and you want to install Boot Camp on a disk that isn’t in the first hard drive bay, remove the drives in the lower- numbered bays. You can reinstall the drives after you install Boot Camp
Given that Boot Camp Assistant is running in OS X & OS X is on the 1st drive, then at what point would I remove the 1st & 2nd drives?
Thanks,
Bev in TX

Okay, after rereading a number of messages in this forum, I think that I finally understand what is going on. Namely, if I want to install MS Windows 7 on a drive other than #1, then I would:
Temporarily remove all other drives.
Install MS Windows 7 using the installation media (DVD).
Install Boot Camp drivers that were previously saved on a USB flash drive or DVD.
Shut down Windows.
Reinsert the other drives.
I have an older 300 GB data drive (#2), which I could:
Move the data from this drive to the new 3TB drive.
Install Windows as above.
Is this correct?
Thanks,
Bev in TX

Option Key for Boot Camp not working with New iMac Keyboard

Hi, I own a early 2006 Intel iMac. Recently, my wife complained that the keyboard was getting dirty. Basically I think she liked the new keyboard on the new Aluminum iMac better. We purchased it back in August and everything worked great. Oh I also had the beta version of Boot Camp installed. Everything worked great, hold Option down on boot and could choose which OS to go into.
Fast forward to now, purchased Leopard and love it! Decided to wipe the system and do a fresh install. Everything is installed (Leopard, Boot Camp, Windows XP) and working great, that is except when I press and hold the Option key at start up. If I have the new keyboard installed, the Option key does not bring up the boot manager. However if I plug the original keyboard in and hold Option, it works!!!
Ok I could see a problem if the new keyboard was NOT an Apple product. But it is and frustraiting as I can use the control panel to choose. This is a long round about method and does not make a happy wife with me. HELP!
Jhan Jensen

Thanks for the info! I was about to call myself and I may still do so. I am hoping if Apple gets enough of these calls then maybe it will spur them on to get it done sooner. (Apple are you listening) I will do the same with the KB swapping, she will be happy at least she can still use the new keyboard. She types a lot and has be really happy with the new keyboard and its response.
Thanks again for the help!!!
Jhan

Boot Camp: Seagate External Drive not Recognized in Windows Explorer -- PLEASE HELP!

I'm running in Boot Camp and using a Seagate Free Agent GoFlex external drive as both a Time Machine backup on the Mac OS, as well as a storage unit to exchange files. However, whenever I plug my external drive into my computer while running Windows, it does not show up in the Computer tab under "Devices With Removable Storage", like it should. It does show up on the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" button in the bottom right hand corner, and it appears as a "Startup Disk" in the Boot Camp Control Panel, so I know that it isn't a cable or USB input issue. Please help me get it to appear as a Device in the Windows Explorer. I need to exchange files from my Mac OS to my Windows OS. Thank you in advance for the help.

I did it but i could not install tool from the dvd. As i said, i can still boot up windows xp i just needs to re-install the service tool.
The drivers are working properly.

Installing XP using boot camp with partitiion drive?

I recently re-installed Leopard on my mac, and i decided to partition the drive.
Then, when I went to install XP using boot camp it said that it only works with 1 partition!
Is there any way round this without re-partitioning my drive?
I also have an ext drive now so maybe I could install it there, but that would be slower.

I just tried to run the hardware diagnostic test, half way through, the screen started to flicker so much, I had to abort the test. Please help!

Using Boot Camp on External Drive

Can I use Boot Camp to install Windows on an external drive, instead of partitioning the main internal one? I have an eSATA drive so I know Windows Vista will work on the external drive.

Can I use Boot Camp to install Windows on an external drive, instead of partitioning the main internal one?
Yes. Don't use the Boot Camp Assistant; instead, restart from the Windows Vista installation disk and insert the computer's original disk when the computer is started up into Windows.
(44916)

Boot Camp and External DRives

Can the partition needed for Boot Camp be an external hard drive on a Firewire connection?

Hi,
since Windows (either XP or Vista) can not boot up themselves from external HDs, BootCamp does not support external HDs for partitioning.
Only internal HDs are supported.
You can however try this procedure for getting Windows on an external HD: http://tubeshards.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/install-windows-to-a-macintosh-usb-dr ive/
Good Luck
Stefan

Boot Camp on Second Drive w/ iMac?

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