Booting From An External DVD Burner

Hi,
My Parents' Leopard copy will arrive in a few days, and since the iMac G5's drive is dead, I was wondering if the install process will be possible from an external DVD drive device.
PS: I also have an iPod 30 gig (if it's impossible via the DVD drive, is it possible via the iPod?)

IMPORTANT: is it normal that when I boot from the external Drive (Firewire) the grey screen with the Apple (start up screen) remains static for a long time? (the loading "flower" doesn't show up) .
I need a reply please, because keeping the Mac on that start up screen would be stupid... if it's useless.
Thanks

Similar Messages

Booting from an external DVD drive

I have a 2006 Intel iMac with a Samsung model SE-208 USB DVD drive attached to it. How can I boot from this drive instead of using the internal DVD drive.

Everytime I try to load a DVD-RW disk, it gets stuck in the drive. That's why I am trying to boot from the external DVD drive. When I try to boot from the external DVD drive, it doesn't even show up when I press the option key on startup.
I spoke to a friend of mine who just bought a new iMac with the external Superdrive. It works fine. She can boot from it no problem and it only runs from the USB port.
All of my DVD-RW's mount on the desktop no problem from the external USB burner.

How to boot from an external dvd/cd because your superdrive is broken

This is in response to a previous archived thread that was never fully answered, found here:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/12410086#12410086
Advice given on previous thread that did not work for me:
You have to hold the ALT key in order to boot from the external drive.
~Lyssa
This advice is correct, except here are the full directions:
1. Press power and startup macbook OR click on apple icon in upper right corner and click restart.
2. As computer starts/restarts, hold down the option (ALT) key until you see a choice of options to boot from. There will not be an option for external cd/dvd, until the computer has finished reading that drive.
3. Wait as much as a 30 seconds to 5 minutes as macbook recognizes the bootable disk in the external cd/dvd drive. As long as the drive is making noise/reading disk, wait it out. The new selection will appear on its own.
4. Select dvd to boot from, then click the arrow below. It will begin to boot from that drive and install/reinstall your OSX.
5. Follow the prompts to install OSX
Notes: I was using a macbook 4,1 and external dvd burner with separate power supply, and Mac OSX Install disc that came with my macbook (OSX 10.5.4)

Your Mac requires a firmware (Boot ROM version in System Profiler) update to 4.2.8 See Mac OS X: Available firmware updates
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117 The update should be installed (using OS 9) BEFORE you install OS X.
If you depress the Option key at startup, which activates the Startup Manager, does the external drive show up?
 Cheers, Tom

Installing from FW external DVD burner

My internal CDRW is out on my MDD G4. I have been relying on my LaCie FW DVD burner. I am wondering if that would be a problem with installing Tiger.
Thanks

Thanks, but I was worried since I hear to unplug all FW devices before upgrading.....so, you sure???

I have an external dvd burner, is it compatible to install Tiger dvds from?

My dvd recorder is an external one and I have recorded dvd's from imovie using it but would it be compatible to install system software from?
Elaine

I actually just read an article in the magazine MacLife which tells you how to boot from an external USB drive in the event that your drive is not firewire. Apparently Apple added USB boot support shortly after the AGP graphics G4 and the G3 slot-loading iMac came out around 1999--so the support is there, it's just that individual types of drives may hide it from you.
For the workaround for cloning to and booting from a USB drive go to
http://www.maclife.com/article/imhaving_trouble_booting_my_powermac_g4_from_an_external_usb_drive_can_youhelp

Problems booti and install Tiger on a G4 running 9.2.2 from an external DVD

G4 PCI powermac, just a cd drive built in, running 9.2, sees external iomega dvd drive, reads dvds, cds, but when I try loading tiger from a dvd there are problems.
I puu the tiger disc in, click on install, then get a message that startup disc cannot set this drive as the startup disc (or similar). Restarting and holding the c key doesn't work- I get blinking question mark and have to disconnect the iomega drive, put the 9.2 cd in the internal drive and restart again holding down c key to get anything. Then, running from the cd I can reset the startup disc to the hard drive. Neither can I install tiger running 9.2 from the internal cd, with the tiger DVD in the Iomega drive- it sees it, but requires that the tiger install disc be the startup drive, and we go around again if I try that.
Q- is this possible, ie to load tiger on a PCI 400mhz powermac from an external DVD drive? has anyone done it? how?
Thank you.
by the way, PCI 400mhz powermac- doesn't need firmware updating, can't be put into target mode, can't boot from a firewire device (and I have tried, just in case)

Joe, thank you very much for your post. The PCI G4 won't boot from an external USB dvd drive. Part of the apple support site says it will, another part says it won't. It won't. And it's well documented that the PCI G4 won't boot from a firewire device, neither can one put it into target mode.
The method Joe suggests does work. I arrived at it independantly, with this method- I ran 9.2 from a CD and partitioned the internal hard drive 10GB dive, ended up with two 5GB partitions. then installed 9.2 on one partition.
Restarted and I'm running 9.2.
Then copied the Tiger install dvd from an external dvd rom, just a normal drag n drop copy, while running 9.2 (you can't do this under OS X) Then set the startup disc as the partition with the OS X install files on it.
(I copied the Tiger files ontot he partition that wasn't running 9.2)
Pressed restart, a long wait and then it sprang into life and installed OSX on the other partition, but without asking if I wanted a clean install- it just installed it alongside the 9.2 system folder.
I had to specify no extras, it prompted for that, via a message that said free space was tight.
All went well and it's running 10.4.4
Problems that have arisen- 1. won't update the system. Downloads the files via software update, then says it can't use them. The update dmg files from the apple site won't work either.
2. won't shut down properly- goes to a blue screen, then stays there- I have to unplug it every time.
Otherwise ok.
prior to working this out out, I visited the local apple store- no cd copies of tiger, exchange program withdrawn. Suggested I call apple. Did so, was directed to technical support. Technical support, very nice guy but knew zero about this.
this is really a bit of fun for me, I have other macs, so no worries, but if anyone has a copy of Tiger on CD, I'd really like to borrow it.
Thanks everyone
Mike

Satellite C50-A634 wont boot from USB or DVD

My new toshiba Satellite C50-A634 wont boot from usb, or dvd ,
i have downloaded win 8.1 and burn image to dvd but i still get an error message "no bootable device......please restart system" .
Can some one plz help?

Hi
Does Satellite C50-A634 supports internal CD/DVD drive or did you try to boot from external optical disk drive?
You have to know that _Satellite C50 & Satellite C50D models *without* a built-in ODD_ are not able to boot from an external ODD due to a technical limitation.
Details here:
[Limitation of external boot media for Satellite, Satellite Pro C50 & C50D devices|http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB3B03JA0000R01.htm]
Only USB flash drives are supported as external boot devices!
It is necessary you can use a USB flash drive as recovery media on notebooks without a built-in ODD.

Info on Sony DRX820U external DVD burner or other.

Hi all
I would like to know any info about the Sony DRX820U external DVD burner and I know this one is a USB connection I know that it has a firewire one too. I know that this one doesn't say that it will work with a Mac it only has Windows only burning apps. Can I still use it even if it doesn't say on the box Mac compatible or it's just that they don't have any Mac progs in the box, does this goes for all external DVD burners that doesn't say Mac compatible? I don't mind if it doesn't boot from it I just want to burn at the 16X speed compared to my 8X that I have now. If you have any other type of DVD burners besides the Sony, please let me know.
Thanks!!!

Hi
Sony is not renowned for Mac support, even thogh Apple has used specific model drives, many do not have firmware that works well with a Mac.
I would suggest looking at a Mac-vendor such as LaCie or OWC if you want an external drive; FireWire is preferable, because you can boot from it if need be.
On the other hand, internal 16X DVD burners (DVR-111D or ND3550A) can be had for under $40 online; I would suggest replacing your stock drive with one of these. You can always get an external FireWire/USB 5.25" (BYTECC makes perfectly functional inexpensive casings, check out Newegg.com as one resource for both items) casing for your existing drive, if you want the option of having two drives available.

External DVD Burner Suggestions?

I am looking for an external DVD burner. Any suggestions?
I was looking at the OWC Mercury Pro units, but it looks like
a unit from LaCie (d2 or Slim) might be a better idea.
Any help would be appeciated.
VB

If the internal optical drive is not working, consider getting an external that has FireWire (IEEE 1394) connectivity. That way, the external is bootable should you need to boot remotely to upgrade the OS or do repairs from an external disk.
That also avoid some of the USB power issues.

Can only boot into Windows 7. Can't even boot from Snow Leopard DVD.

I have no idea what prompted this. I don't recall installing any OS updates recently, other than some Windows Live apps in Windows 7.
I have an early 2009 Mac Mini with Snow Leopard, and have Windows 7 64-bit installed in a Boot Camp partition. When I installed Windows 7, I couldn't get the Boot Camp utility to install within Windows (I guess because it's 64-bit) so to switch back and forth between OSes, I just shut down the Mac and restart it with the Option key pressed, and select Mac OS X when I want to return to Mac. This has worked for about a month and a half now (ever since I got Windows 7). Suddenly I have problems.
I first had problems booting into Windows or Mac. I got to the grey screen with the Apple logo, with that spinning "progress" thing going for a while, then it would freeze up and get stuck on the grey screen with the Apple logo. I zapped the PRAM. No help. Then, after disconnecting all external drives (I have several) and extra USB devices, I was able to boot from the DVD install disk and reinstall Snow Leopard on my internal drive. Joy, or so I thought. Then I booted into Windows 7, and after some weirdness getting it to start, it did successfully start and ran just peachy.
Then I turned off the Mac and held down the option key (as usual) to return to Mac OS. But now all that happens is that I get a grey screen for a few seconds, then the Mac boots back into Windows 7, which seems to work fine. (I'm in Windows 7 right now.) I turned on one my external drives (Snow Leopard installed, connected via Firewire 800) in hopes that the Mac would boot into that, but same thing. Ignored and back to Windows 7.
Then I thought I'd boot from the install DVD again by putting it in the drive and holding down the C key as I restart, but the same thing--a grey screen for a few seconds, and then booting right into Windows 7. I can't seem to escape Windows 7! It's a bit disturbing when it won't even recognize the install DVD.
I tried to call Apple Care since I'm within my 90 day support window, but of course they are closed. I'm figuring that I'm going to have to take this into an Apple Store, but thought I'd see if anyone has any ideas. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

According to Apple, Win 7 64bit is supported with Bootcamp 3.0. If bootcamp 3.0 is available; I could not find it anywhere on Apple's website. It appears the most recent version is 2.2. The only place I could find 3.0 is not on Apples website and it's a questionable source so I won't post it here.
It may just be a matter of time before Apple makes it available. I'm not suggesting you wait, however if the install disk can't be used, I'm not too sure where u could go from there. Calling Applecare might work.
If you do a simple google search using the terms 'download bootcamp drivers windows 7' u will see what I was referring too.
Here's what I found from Apple (It doesn't specifically mention 64bit however just win7): http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3920
This is not from Apple, but specifically addresses whether they support win7 64bit: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/08/31/boot.camp.win.7.64.support/
Here is more info about bootcamp 3.0 and win7: http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

Problems ripping with an external DVD Burner

Hello Everyone,
Recently I purchased a Liteon External DVD Burner off of newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106011) -- It's a Liteon SHW-1635SX -- I bought this because the DVD-ROM drive thats in my tower natively is REALLY slow and I wanted to get a new one that I could use with a laptop that I`m going to purchase in the future. Whenever I try to rip a CD into iTunes using the burner, It says that it's ripping the disk, however it doesn't spin up the cd and it takes about 2 seconds to "rip" all the songs. I know this drive is soposed to be faster than my old one, But two seconds is a little TOO fast. Plus, I know that it's not copying the songs because when I try to listen to them in my library, the song won't play. (Under time it says "789:54..." for all the songs on the cd, in my library) However, the burner rips perfectly in Windows Media Player... Is this perhaps some kind of glitch with iTunes??? Basicly, the only way I can rip a CD into iTunes is to use my old DVDROM drive, but that defeats the purpose... below is the CD Diagnostic log that I got from iTunes::::::::
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
HP Pavilion 05 P9859A-ABA 533w
iTunes 6.0.4.2
CD Driver 2.0.4.3
CD Driver DLL 2.0.3.2
LowerFilters: PxHelp20 (2.0.0.0), AFS2K (3.1.21.0), DRVMCDB (1.0.0.1), SSCDBHK5 (1.0.0.1), PFC (2.5.0.196),
UpperFilters: GEARAspiWDM (2.0.4.3),
Video Driver: Intel(R) 82845G/GL Graphics Controller\Intel(R) 82845G/GL Graphics Controller
IDE\DiskMaxtor4R060J0_________________________RAMB1TU0, Bus Type ATA, Bus Address [0,0]
IDE\DiskST34323A_______________________________3.02___, Bus Type ATA, Bus Address [1,0]
IDE\CdRomCOMBIRW16x10/DVD_______________________H1.0___, Bus Type ATA, Bus Address [0,0]
USBSTOR\CdRomLITE-ONDVDRW_SHW-1635SYS0Y, Bus Type USB
If you have multiple drives on the same IDE or SCSI bus, these drives may interfere with each other.
Some computers need an update to the ATA or IDE bus driver, or Intel chipset. If iTunes has problems recognizing CDs or hanging or crashing while importing or burning CDs, check the support site for the manufacturer of your computer or motherboard.
Check the Windows Update website to verify that you have the latest service packs and patches for your OS. Service packs affect the performance of USB and firewire CD / DVD drives.
Current user is administrator.
E: COMBI RW16x10/DVD, Rev H1.0
Drive is empty.
F: LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-1635S, Rev YS0Y
Audio CD in drive.
Found 9 songs on CD, playing time 42:13 on Audio CD.
Track 1, start time 00:02:00
Track 2, start time 03:30:07
Track 3, start time 08:44:33
Track 4, start time 12:03:74
Track 5, start time 17:55:53
Track 6, start time 22:14:31
Track 7, start time 25:32:60
Track 8, start time 30:13:01
Track 9, start time 35:59:06
Audio CD reading succeeded.
Get drive speed succeeded.
The drive CDR speeds are: 8 16 24 32 40 48.
The drive CDRW speeds are: 8.
The drive DVDR speeds are: 8.
The drive DVDRW speeds are: 8.
The last failed audio CD burn had error code -128(0xffffff80). It happened on drive E: COMBI RW16x10/DVD on -128(0xffffff80) media at speed 0X.
Your replies are greatly appretiated!
--Aric--

hi Aric!
hmmm. we'd better check on the usual suspects with that. (the incredibly long song times can also be associated with these sorts of causes.)
You can't import or play music from an audio CD in iTunes for Windows
... and the following resources might be helpful with that. (check on firmware and drivers even though it's a brand new unit.)
Using CD Diagnostics in iTunes for Windows to troubleshoot CD/DVD drive issues
iTunes for Windows: Updating the firmware on your CD or DVD drive
Updating the drivers on your Windows PC
Where to find firmware for your CD/DVD drive
love, b

How do I run system recovery dvd from an external dvd drive?

I am having trouble trying to restore my DV 6000 (dv6915nr) from an external dvd drive. I am aware that this laptop has had several hardware issues, including the loss of use of the internal dvd drive and have tried all the fixes that I could find,including changing filter settings in the registry, changinging the boot order in the bios and even removing the intenal drive. Since none of these fixes worked, I removed the hard drive and installed window 7 Prodessional in a desktop computer. After reinstalling drive in laptop, I installed all the Vista drivers from HP. Computer works fine except for sound card and Nic that failed and have been replaced by USB devices. Simce I am not 100% sure the hardware failures are motherboard failures and not software, I would really like to run my System Restore DVDs that I purchased from HP. And that's where I need help.
I am A Plus and Network Plus certified, so I am pretty sure that I have tried all the obvious soutions. Evedrything turned on, checked the cables, accessed dvd in wimdows and even ran restore disk in a desktop machine to the point that it told me I was trying to restore the wong computer. I downloaded a program called Win To Flash that allows you to copy a setup disk to an external hard drive, but that didn't work. HP restore disk does not have Setup file on it, so it wouldn't copy to drive. Tried just copying the disk to external and that didn't work either. Also tried switching drive letters D and E without any success.
Bios choices are:
USb floppy
ATAPI cd/dvd rom drive
USB diskette on key
Notebook Hard drive
Network Adapter
Original restore partition is long gone.
I would rather restore it with an external Hard drive, not an USB memory stick. I think both would work the same. I do have an USB floppy drive, if there is some way of starting installation from floppies.
Like I said, I really like the computer, even with all its faults, but I would like to restore it to its original Operating System.

Some progress, I got it to try to boot from an external hard drive. Downloaded a program called WINToboot. tried to run it, got as far as formatting my hard drive and might have loaded some kind of boot program. Would not copy my restore disks because they did not have set up program. Copied both restore disks to hard drive and tried to boot laptop. F0 produced choose external hard drive choice. Got "no OS found" error. only choice ctl alt del. I think I am headed in right direction. Just need to know what to load on external hard drive.

Can't restore from Disk Utility while booted from OS installation DVD

I'm absolutely astounded by this.
I have a new MacBook Pro 17". I restored my files to it and in short order, had it too full/fragmented to re-partition it for Boot Camp.
So I decided to image the disk and store that image file on a FireWire drive, wipe the system disk and restore it cleanly from the image file backup, hoping that would result in contiguous blocks used so that I could then re-partition for Boot Camp.
When booted off the OS X for Intel DVD-ROM disc (10.4.6 - the one that came with my MacBook Pro), if I get out of Installer and into Disk Utility, if I select the internal hard drive and click the Restore tab, I can easily select the hard drive backup image with the button. But the "Destination Disk:" box is only accessible via dragging the disk to the box.
There's one little problem - there is no Desktop, so the disk(s) do not appear on the Desktop. There is no way to drag the target disk to be restored to into the Destination Disk: box. You cannot drag a disk out from the little sidebar inside the Disk Utility window over to the Destination box. I tried. You can't drag any disk anywhere from that sidebar. It's clear that the only way to drag a disk anywhere is if it's shown on the Desktop in Finder (which isn't running when the installation DVD-ROM is booted from). There is simply no way that I can find to restore a disk drive from a saved backup disk image when booted from the installation DVD-ROM.
Please tell me I'm ******** and missing something, or if there's a Better Way to do this. (I can't seem to run Retrospect while booted off the DVD-ROM, so I can't restore from my Retrospect full backup of the disk, either. Joy!)
(I'm really curious if there's a Better Way - especially because it appears I can't boot from an external FireWire or USB 2.0 drive, so I need something that will work in this extremely limited installation DVD-ROM booted environment, I think.)
MacBook Pro 17" dual 2.16 GHz ; Mac OS X (10.4.6) Booted from Mac OS X for Intel 10.4.6 installation DVD-ROM

You can use an external bootable drive with a MacBook Pro -- check your manual or the built in help. Your problem is that for some reason, you can't install a bootable system on one. There are several reasons why Installer won't enable you to do so: insufficient space, incompatible partition scheme (should be GUID) or file system (should be HFS+ or similar), or wrong installation option selected.
It is possible this is related to why you can't drag the startup volume to the destination box in Disk Utility. It must be an HFS+ variant file system.
I think you should check carefully with D.U. the partition scheme of all your drives & the file system format of all the volumes involved. Also run repair disk, as someone has already pointed out.
The behavior with the Restore function is not normal -- you should be able to drag a volume to the destination box from the list.

Disk Utility won't burn with external dvd burner!!! HELP?!?!?!

Hello anyone/everyone!
I need some help, I'm trying to burn a file using the disk utility. Only thing is that the disk utility wants to used the drive installed on my iBook (combo drive) and not my external DVD drive! I couldn't find a way to be able to chnage the default burner, and I was hoping that someone/anyone could help me out? The file is too large for a regular 800mb disk so I have to use the external dvd burner. Help me please oh wise-ones?!
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Find out if the external burner is Patchburn compatible. If it is, then apply it from http://www.patchburn.de/
If not, I'd sell the external burner and get one that is compatible like those from http://www.macsales.com/
You may find other tricks on http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/ as well.

IMac G5 won't boot from an external Seagate Freeagent FireWire drive

Hi guys,
So, the internal drive on my sister's iMac G5 finally died a few days ago. On my advice, she stopped in to Best Buy and bought a Seagate Freeagent Xtreme 1tb external drive (with FireWire). I had her connect the Seagate to her MacBook (in Windows Boot Camp mode) and use the Seagate Manager to disable the drive's power-saving mode. I then talked her through using her OS X Leopard DVD to (re)partition the Seagate (using the Apple Partition Map scheme) and format it as Mac OS Extended Journaled, and Leopard installed just fine on the external drive (from the G5, via USB).
However, now when she tried to boot from the external over FireWire (by holding down "Option" on power-on), it plays dead (no lights), and doesn't show as a viable boot device. When plugged into the laptop (also over firewire) it shows up just fine on the desktop. We would use USB to boot, but her G5 doesn't support booting over USB.
What am I missing here? We've been working on this for three days, and have gotten so freakin' close to having her iMac up and running again, but the cursed Seagate drive simply refuses to "kick in" at bootup and work on the G5!
Any ideas would be awesome,
Huxley

Honestly, that's exactly what I would do if I had hands-on access to the iMac, but such a swap is a bit beyond my sister's skill-set.
We never did figure out what the issue was, so I had my sister return the drive and order one from MacSales.com (aka Other World Computing) - if anyone will have a Mac-friendly drive, it's those folks!
Huxley

Booting From An External DVD Burner

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