Can a macbook boot from an MBR partition?

I was thinking of setting up a spare hard drive of mine to dual boot windows 7 and snow leopard but the way I'm planning on doing it is to modify the snow leopard install disk to install onto a hard drive with a Master Boot Record scheme based of a guide online. I was wondering if I am succesfull in installing both operating systems to an MBR hard drive if it would still boot on a macbook, or rather if macbooks suport booting from MBR hard drives?

Read http://support.apple.com/kb/PH6382 even though it is for Time Machine use it says MBR may lose partitions. Mac OS X wants to see GUID or Apple File System partitions.

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Can all macbooks boot from usb(stick,hdd) and firewire(hdd) an os: linux, win, mac os x, opensolaris, etc

Subject: BOOT FROM EXTERNAL STORAGE DEVICE - After this setup properly
Can all macbooks boot from usb(stick,hdd) and firewire(hdd) an os: linux, win, mac os x, opensolaris, etc?
what about:
Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4-inch Laptop(OLD VERSION) (4GB RAM 120G HD 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 15.4" Matte Screen, 4GB memory, 120 GB 7200 rpm hard drive) White

Yes,
Disconnect everything hooked up to the PC except the keyboard, mouse and monitor.
Then use this method to flash the BIOS. It is the safest way to go.
USB Device BIOS Flashing in DOS
DOS Flash (DOSFlash.exe, FlshUefi.cpu) is the DOS-compatible System BIOS flash utility that can be used from a DOS bootable storage device (where "DOS" refers to any of a number of compatible operating systems such as FreeDOS, MS-DOS or DR-DOS). FlshUefi.cpu is the required driver for DOSFlash.exe. To flash the System BIOS from a bootable USB storage device, you will need to copy the contents of the DOS Flash folder to the USB device, boot the PC from the USB device, and execute the DOSFlash application. To see a more complete description of the DOS flash utilities, view DOSFlash.txt located in the DOS Flash folder. This folder also contains the required binary image of the BIOS. The binary image file is named xxx_MMmm.bin where "xxx" is the BIOS family, "MM" is the major version number, and "mm" is the minor version number. This file can be copied to the root directory of any USB removable medium for use with the F10 setup "Flash System ROM" option
View Contents of DOS Flash Folder
The links on this post don't work. I copied the section from the BIOS flashing instructions for the specific section you need.
Paul

Can a MacBook boot from a Firewire hard drive?

I've been trying to install OSX from the restore disk onto a freshly formatted external firewire drive, and the installer says that the drive is not bootable. What am I doing wrong?

I figured it out. You need to partition the drive,
and in the partition options there is an option for a
GUID partition which enables booting from an Intel
Mac. After partitioning in this manner, the install
is moving forward. It coulda been easier, but at
least it works.
I think you can specify GUID from the erase section as well by clicking the Options button.

If I upgrade my Mac mini to Lion, can I still boot from Snow Leopard on another drive/partition?

If I upgrade my Mac mini to Lion, can I still boot from Snow Leopard if it is on another partition/drive?

Yes

Why can't I boot from the OS X DVD on my Intel iMac?

I'm trying to boot from the Mac OS X Tiger CPU Drop in DVD that came from the Apple Refurb Store with my Intel iMac.
I have tried holding down the C key on start up and it doesn't work. It boots like normal to the hard drive
I have tried using the Start up Manager, but all it can see to boot from is my installed OS X system on the hard drive and my Windows Boot Camp partition.
The CPU Drop in DVD is all that shipped with my machine. Can one even boot with it?
My problem is Photoshop Elements refuses to start up, giving me EXCBADACCESS and KERNINVALIDADDRESS alerts. It crashes every time about half way through starting up. Trashing it's preference folder doesn't fix the problem. In fact, my Preference folder keeps filling up with folders labeled with jibberish names.
I found a discussion thread that I should boot from the original disk that came with the machine and use Disk Utilities, but I can't even boot from the DVD drive.
What step am I missing?
TIA
Kathryn

Hi knittsings!
It's only possible to boot an Intel-based iMac from a grey-labeled DVD, so if you received a black-labeled DVD, someone made a mistake packaging your refurb. The correct DVDs should have been in the smaller box with the User Guide and other small, square documents, along with the mouse and remote. If you find the grey-labeled DVDs in there, just keep the drop-in DVD, they won't need it back since they make them:)
If you don't find them in there, call Apple, or log into your account on the Store page and find your order's link for customer follow-up/issues.
Message was edited by: myhighway

After installing Lion I can't I boot from the Techtools CD.

After installing Lion I can't I boot from the Techtools CD. I have purchased the upgrade for Photoshop CS5 because CS2 does not launch in Lion 10.7.3. However I need to get the serial number for CS2 for the upgrade. I have waited over 30 minutes for the boot but never get more than the Apple logo. Any ideas anyone?

Boot disks can't change when the firmware changes, lock you out.
Techtools obviously uses Linux as a boot OS, so you need a Lion version.
CS6 coming out in about 30 days, for 10.7 and 10.8
How to revert your Mac to Snow Leopard

Can Solaris 10 boot from USB devices like USB thumb?

1. Any live CD build for Solaris 10? That's the one which can boot up from CD and run immediately.
No installation requirement.
2. Can Solaris 10 boot from USB devices like USB thumb?

You can find "live" CD and DVD images at OpenSolaris site: www.genunix.org/distributions/belenix_site. This OSolaris version is booted from CD/DVD drive and can be permanently installed on HD drive. Moreover You can find at this site suitable script for USB thumb preparation. However You should remember that the number of read/writes on USB thumb is limited (ca 400 and slightly more in more expensive versions).
Good luck.

Can't Boot from Snow Leopard Partition

I have a Macbook Pro from 2008. It previously just had one partition, with Lion on it.
I created a new partition for Snow Leopard
I installed Snow leopard from a retail disk on the second partition. The installation went fine, and I got the message at the end that the installation was successful, and to restart the computer.
When I restart it, it just goes to the gray Apple screen, with the spinning gear, and never gets farther than that. The gear is spinning.
I can still boot successfully into Lion. Once I booted into Lion, I chose the Snow Leopard partition as the Startup Disk, but the same thing happens - just the gray Apple screen and spinning gear. I've let the machine sit for half an hour in that state, but it still does nothing but the spinning gear.
Any ideas on why I can't boot successfully into Snow Leopard and how I can fix it?
Thanks.

I already knew that I'm free to follow my own course, but thanks for giving me your permission (???)
And would knowing the original OS of the machine make any difference in your "advice"? If it was originally Leopard, would that make it any different than if it was Tiger? Answer: No, because you don't understand the problem, and you don't know how to fix it.
Thanks.
If anyone ACTUALLY KNOWS anything about this problem, please post, as many others will benefit.
If you DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW anything about the problem, either DON'T POST HERE, or else qualify your information to indicate that you are guessing. I'm open to suggestions and speculation, but could you please CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR, and tell people that you are GUESSING what the problem might be. You don't need to act like you are some great authority and try to make your random guesswork look like an established fact.
If you were walking in New York City, and you ask someone how to get to Carnegie Hall, but the person doesn't even know where Carnegie Hall is, would you rather:
1) Have the person tell you a bunch of random wrong information that could cause you wander aimlessly for hours?
OR
2) Have the person politely tell you they don't know where Carnegie Hall is, and that you should ask someone else?
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, THEN DON'T ANSWER.
OR IF YOU ARE GUESSING OR MAKING A SUGGESTION, THEN QUALIFY YOUR STATEMENTS SO PEOPLE KNOW YOUR LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING.
YOU DON'T HELP BY GIVING WRONG INFORMATION. YOU DON'T HELP BY STATING YOUR GUESSWORK AS A FACT.
Why do people not have the slightest amount of common sense here? Are you getting paid to just post random wrong info here or something?

Can OS X boot from an external hard drive's partition?

I purchased a 500GB external hard drive in hopes of: 1. creating a bootable backup copy of a freshly installed version of Snow Leopard, and 2. a backup of files which I don't want on my Macbook (ie. school files from 8 years ago).
If I divide the external hard drive into 2 partitions, can OS X still boot from a partition? I heard from somewhere that OS X can only boot a volume, but not a partition...
As usual, thank you for any help you can provide!

miceblue425 wrote:
I purchased a 500GB external hard drive in hopes of: 1. creating a bootable backup copy of a freshly installed version of Snow Leopard, and 2. a backup of files which I don't want on my Macbook (ie. school files from 8 years ago).
Yes.
If I divide the external hard drive into 2 partitions, can OS X still boot from a partition? I heard from somewhere that OS X can only boot a volume, but not a partition...
Two names for the same thing: partition = volume.
As usual, thank you for any help you can provide!
Most external HDs are bootable. But some Western Digitals won't boot a Mac. Their list of which ones should and +should not+ boot: http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/stdadp.php?pfaqid=1787. But note the disclaimer that they don't support it +*at all.+*
For setup instructions, see #1 in Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks.

10.4.6 - can't boot from OS 9 partition or start up disk anymore ??

I have an OS 9.2.2 partititon as well as my 10.4.6 partititon on my main HD, plus a seperate HD which has 2 partitions on it. I have a Digital Audio G4 which has a Powerlogix 1.4Gb 7457 cpu in it.
I use my Mac for music. I want to boot up in from the 9.2.2 partition to run Nortons to defrag my other HD which I use to save all my audio files on. My Nortons will not run in Classic mode.
I haven't done this for a while, since 10.4.4 I think.
So no matter what I try, I can't boot up from my OS 9.2.2 partition via Start Up disc OR from my Nortons OS 9 start up CD. I just get a grey screen after the start up chime. Start Up Disc in 10.4.6 recognizes the OS 9.2.2 partition...
I really find it difficult to accept that 10.4.6 should stop me from being able to boot up from the Nortons disc but that is what it is starting to look like to me.
I can still use Classic mode in 10.4.6 and run OS9 applications in Classic.
Is it a 10.4.6 issue and would I solve it by downgrading to say 10.4.4 ??

Hi Murray;
I disagree with your comment; "I appreciate
Nortons is "ancient" but that's not really the
issue.".
I think it could very well be the issue. > Allan
src="http://homepage.mac.com/eckertallanp/2313.gif"
alt="tiger" align="right">
Thanks Allan. With all due respect I can't understand at all how Nortons could be the issue, at least so far as it relates to the bootable CD I have with 9.2.2 on it.
This morning I tried booting from the System disc that came with my G4 when I purchased it. It has a 9.1 System folder on it.
The start up disc preference in 10.4.6 recognized th 9.1 disc as an option but, just like trying to start from my 9.2.2 partition and the Bootable disc with 9.2.2 (and Nortons 6.0) on it, I could not get past the grey screen.
I was able to boot from the Apple Hardware Diagnostic disc or whatever it is called and the test results said that all was well.
I am at the office now (heaven forbid using Windows) but when I get home tonight I am actually going to try zapping the PRAM because I am staring to think it may be that.
Funny, zapping the PRAM used to be a standard tool in my OS7/8/9 days...kind of forgot it as an OSX tool but I have a funny feeling that might actually be the problem.
cheers

Can't boot from OS X partition

My Macmini can't boot from the OS X partition, but when i try to boot using the windows partition it works just fine. I've also tried to boot from the instalation dvd but it doesn't work either. When i turn it on, right after the gray apple appears it shuts down. Is there anything i can do besides formating the entire HD?

Your question seems to be a MS Windows question. If you use Boot Camp then post there. If you use Parallels or another virtualtization app to run Windows please post in those forums. Most users on this forum don't use Windows, some do but most do not.
Best of luck.

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/

Can no longer boot from ANY OS disc on MBP

I recently purchased a 15" 2.16ghz Core Duo Macbook Pro. It came with the original 10.4.5 discs. The previous owner installed 10.6 on it using a retail disc, then upgraded to 10.6.6. I had planned on upgrading the original hard drive. However, I cannot get the laptop to boot from the original discs or my own retail 10.6 disc. I've tried a number of different approaches (booting from an external DVD, holding down "C", holding down "option", attempting to mount in on the desktop first, etc.). Either the machine hangs or it ejects the disc (when using the internal drive). Nothing seems to work. Both the internal drive and external drive have been tested and work fine. Is it possible that when upgrading to 10.6.6 a firmware upgrade was done that won't allow the machine to boot from a disc containing an earlier version? I don't know what else could be causing the issue. The laptop has not displayed any other issues. Thanks for any suggestions or explanations.

I don't know how much help I'll be to you. Seems to have a lot of posts lately about not being able to start up from the install disks.
I assume you can still boot up from the internal drive.
When you hold the option key to start, does the screen come up with the option to choose a startup disk and is your Install Disk in when you attempt this?
While booted up normally, does the Install Disk open up with the install OSX menu? If so, does going through the install menu reboot the computer from the CD automatically?
Even if there were a firmware upgrade, seems like you would be able to use the 10.6 Install Disk to boot from.

Booting from a different partition of an external hard drive

Any chance anyone could offer some advice for my asthmatic iBook G4?
The internal hard drive has given up the ghost.
I have re-installed Mac OS X 10.3.3 on a NEW external portable drive which I have partitioned. I have copied the contents of the farked internal HD - Mac OS X 10.3.9 to partition 2 of the external drive. Partition 1 currently has the re-installed recovery version OS X 10.3.3 on it and is now the selected drive and volume to boot from. However I now want to change the boot volume from partition 1 to partition 2 which includes all the OS updates to 10.3.9 plus all my user preferences, etc.
I have tried everything but to no avail. Renaming the partitions by reversing the numbering has no difference. The Start Menu just recognises the same parition even though it is renamed as other partition and vice versa. The Start Up file in System Preferences won't recognise partition 2, only partition 1 and the farked internal HD. I have tried restarting the iBook while pressing the Option key with and without the recovery disc #1 in the CD drive. No difference.
I am thinking now that the Start Up menu is able to only recognise 2 drives - the internal and an external one which is connected by Firewire 400 port of which there is only one. Or only distinct drives. It can't recognise separate partitioned drives which would be pretty pi$$ poor. There are two other USB ports but I guess these are for other peripherals.
So how can I get my iBook G4 to boot from Partition 2 of the NEW external drive?
Just to re-iterate my iBook boots fine from the NEW portable hard drive partition 1, but this partition only has the OS X system as per the recovery disc.
My Mac is starting to really test my patience.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Message was edited by: AlAlexander
Message was edited by: AlAlexander
Message was edited by: AlAlexander

Limnos wrote:
*In order to produce a bootable copy of the system on another volume you have to copy it using a cloning utility. Plain drag and drop will not work with OSX*.
[CarbonCopy Cloner|http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html] (donationware)
[SuperDuper|http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html] (shareware)
[IBackup|http://www.grapefruit.ch/iBackup/index.html] (free)
The Restore function of Disk Utility included in OS X. [Kappy's directions|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8799711#8799711]
[Tri-Backup (commercial)|http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html] (payware)
[Silverkeeper|http://www.lacie.com/silverkeeper> (free) - version 2 has some issues (references: [here|http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/backup/index.html#d12jan2009], and [here|http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/backup/index.html#d13jan2009]) and it is recommended Tiger users stick with 1.1.4.
[Kappy's Backup Software Recommendations|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9065665#9065665]
[Overview of Mac OS X Backup Programs|http://8help.osu.edu/1247.html]
Drag and drop is what I did so I will have to use CarbonCopy Cloner. Thanks for the tip. I shall report back shortly.

Why can't I boot from my hard drive internally but no problem externally?

Being unable to 100% solve my problem based off solved problems I have decided to log in. I will start from the very beginning. The computer is the Macbook late 2009 unibody. I upgraded the ram from 2GB to 8GB. everything was going smoothly until like 2 months ago. My 250Gb Hard drive was geting maxed out and in the midst of downloading I was getting warnings to free space so I was deleting and downloading the same time.....and then boom...the computer froze. Couldn't forse quit or anthing only choice was to manually power off. when I powered back on the screen was grey and would not start. I reserched solutions and ended up resetting the PR ram. after that the screen changed to white and nothing happened for a long time I was stuck...until......:
I bought an external hard drive incasing. and like magic everything I thought I lost was right there booting externally. Now I'd be fine with that if not for the reason I bought the computer in the first place, which is to be ultra portable and kep me awake as I work nights as a security in various changing post on a nightly basis. lugging the external case around has complicated a system that was working fine to the point of death.
So over time I have acumilated these things:
a 16 GB hp flash usb currently holding the bootable snow leapard DVD installer
a 500GB wd scorpio blue hard drive from an old PC pased laptop
a 250GB toshiba hard drive (came with laptop snow leopard installed)
a 250GB can't think of the brand cause I'm using it now hard drive (mountin lion installed)
neither Hardive holding apple operating systems will boot internally but boot externally. I have tried putting snow leopard, lion and mountin lion on the scorpio blue but everytime I get the same result, an install failed error. So you may have guessed, I was hoping the scorpio blue as my last hope, getting an operating system on it maybe I could boot internally but for what ever reason it won't intall fully any mac os X. So at this point I want to know if it's possible for me to just put a windows operating system on it ad if it may be able to boot that way.
EXTRA INFO:
when partioning the hard drive, if I have it connected internally, the computer recognizes it but I get cannot unmount errors. externally everything moves smoothly but it won't install the operating system. Currently I'm running mountin lion externally and I have the big hard drive inside the computer and it shows up as "untitled 1" it contents is two folders "Mac os X Install data" (red icon attached) and "private" It tells me I don't have permission to look inside the mac os folder. if I drag a fle from my computer to untitled 1 it says "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)."
HELP! whatever it takes I just want to boot something without lugging this external case everywhere.

Hi Too_Talls,
I'm not quite sure I have totally understood you. Please correct me if I am wrong but this is how I've read your symptoms:
MacBook not booting
Plug in external hard drive, choose that as the startup volume. MacBook boots.
Remove internal hard drive and replace with hard drive that has OS installed. MacBook not booting.
Remove replaced hard drive, plug it in to usb port. MacBook starts up fine
Does the above correctly summarise the problem?
If it does, then the fault can only be one of two things.
The SATA connector is not fully seated into the hard drive.
The SATA connector ribbon cable is damaged and needs replacing.
The good news is that, obviously, everthing else in your MacBook is okay (logic board etc) else it would not start up when an external hard disk is plugged into the usb port.

Can a macbook boot from an MBR partition?

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