Can I boot from an external ssd via thunderbolt?

My MBP is super fast with an SSD second drive.
in my Imac, can I get that same speed if I boot from an external SSD drive through thunderbolt port? or would the ssd have to be inside the imac? I guess I want to know if the thunderbolt connection is slower than if I had the SSD inside the Imac?

Don't know if the Thunderbolt port is bootable but its speed exceeds the 6Gbs negotiated speed of SATA III drives.

Similar Messages

Can I boot from an external drive with a "Virtual CD"

I just purchased a Hitachi LifeStudio external hard drive for use as my Time Machine backup. When I plugged it in to my MacBook running 10.6.4, I realized that it had one of those "Virtual CDs" that contained the manufacturers crapware, similar to Western Digital's MyWare or whatever its called. It shows up in disk utility as an actual separate disk and not just another partition that can be wiped.
I reformatted the drive using GUID and and created 3 HFS+ Journaled partitions. One was going to be for the 10.6 installer, one for the 10.6 boot, and one for my time machine backup. I restored a 10.6 install dvd disk image I created using disk utility to the 10.6 installer partition (with erase destination checked) then option booted my mac and the partitions did not show up. The only thing I could see was my internal hard drive.
I have done this many times before and it has always worked so Im trying to figure out what Im doing wrong. The only thing I can think of is that the "Virtual CD" that Hitachi put on this external drive is stopping the Mac from seeing the bootable partitions I created. I even went into system preferences>startup disk and blessed the 10.6 install partition. That didn't work either, the computer just booted to my internal drive.
So my questions are. Is it because of this "Virtual CD" that I can't boot from my external drive? If so, is there a way around it? I already searched their web site and emailed their tech support asking for a firmware update to remove the virtual cd.
Thanks in advance.

Yes, it's a known issue. You've already referred to the issue with WD systems. WD has a long list of products that are either not compatible with Macs or won't boot a Mac.
There are practically no problems with bare drives, but once installed in an enclosure there is no guarantee that the package will function as a bootable device. This is especially the case if the manufacturer uses some sort of "virtual" scheme intended for using the device as a sort of one button backup device.
External drives don't have to specifically say anything about being Mac bootable or compatible. It's up to the consumer to verify compatibility and usability.

How can I boot from an external drive?

I am unsuccessful trying to have the external backup drive to boot the Powerbook. I tried first a USB Lacie Mobile Disk, then thinking USB was the problem I got a FireWire Little Disk of the same brand. None will boot even if the disk appears in the startup disk control panel. When I boot with option key, the choice is no longer there. Maybe they require a power supply other than the USB power lead? Any experience?

USB drives are not bootable for PowerBooks. FireWire drive usually needs to be used with the power supply since it consumes more power than the USB
Right! So there is no way to boot from an external without a power source.
Thanks Arnie.

I can't boot from my new SSD...

Hello,
I have a Corsair Force GT. I copied my actual hard drive on the SSD with an external cable and Carbon Copy Cloner.
I restarted the macbook (pro mid-2012) and boot by pressing the option key and it worked !
So I installed it inside my macbook using the optical bay. And now, when I try to boot from the SSD it doesn't work... But when I boot from the original hard drive, I can use the SSD as a second hard drive.
(in system preferences I can't select the SSD as default boot disk. I only see the original hard drive)
Could someone help me, please ?

Shootist007 wrote:
And by the way your warranty is now void. Good Luck.
Since the OP 1 year warranty is now voided out, would they still be able to get Apple Care?

Can I boot from an external Firewire drive?

I have restored my internal system drive (27GB) to a 100GB partition on a 300GB external FW drive (as a backup).
Using System preferences I changed the startup disk to be the clone & rebooted to test.
No start and the only way to get going again was to turn the FW drive off & reboot.
Is it possible to boot from a FW drive?
Should a drive as described be bootable?
Any thoughts will be appreciated.
John

Thank you all for your input.
After some trial & error (& little sleep last night) I have made some progress:
Further research suggested that:
1. there may be a hardware issue with my Ex FW case (it has a Prolific PL-3507 chip)
2. Tiger (10.4.x) behaves differently from Panther (10.3.x) and possibly different versions of Tiger may behave differently
Also I have previously successfully used DU to move my OS from a 30GB to 120GB disk (both internal drives) under 10.3.9. This disk will boot when placed in a ext FW case.
I concluded that under 10.3.9 at least my case was OK & Apple DU was OK when run from the boot volume.
I also checked the clone made using DU under 10.4.3 by taking the HDD out of the FW case & installing it internally in my Mac - it wouldn't boot so DU hadn't made a bootable clone - it was never going to boot internally or externally. Ever.
Next step - SuperDuper! - worked perfectly - backed up & booted no fuss, no worries.
This confirms that the Prolific PL-3507 chip will boot an external FW disk under OS X 10.4.3.
I then referred to Lee Cullens' posts as quoted by Matthew Whiting (with a link above in this topic).
Lee has the answer (at least for my hardware/software configuration). For Apple's DU to produce a bootable clone it cannot be run from the disk which is being cloned (ie 3 volumes are needed
1st to boot from & run DU from
2nd to be cloned (the vloume to be backed up)
3rd to be colned onto - the backup
I tried DU from the boot disk again to "prove" it wouldn't work. While it appeared to clone correctly Permissions were all messed up & after over an hour of "Repairing Permissions" I gave up. The volume wouldn't boot even though system preferences saw it as a bootable volume.
I then ran DU from another volume (the one made using SuperDuper!). After verification (but not repairing permissions as I didn't want to potentially waste another hour!) it booted fine from the ext FW drive. I did however uncheck "Ignore Ownership" after Cmd-I on the volume from the desktop.
I conclude:
My hardware is OK (& probably others who may have similar issues)
Apple DU can make a bootable clone which will work on an ext FW drive PROVIDING 3 volumes are used - boot with DU on, from & to. Suitable for a bootable backup but a bit fiddly ( also free & regularly updated by Apple)
SuperDuper does the same job with less fuss (don't need a CD or 3rd volume + other features). As noted by Matthew basic cloning is free but I think the shareware cost will be worthwhile ($US27.95)
SuperDuper! here: http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Thanks to all for their input.
I now have an answer that I'm more than happy with.
John

How can I boot from an external HDD that has an OS install on it?

Hello,
I have Windows 8.1 installed on my 500GB LaCie external HDD and I am trying to boot my mac from it. I haven't had any success. Thus far, I am able to get to the Startup Menu from holding the option key and Windows does show up. However, when I try to boot it, it says "No Bootable Device Found."
Keep in mind, the hard drive has Windows 8.1 installed on it. It is not a drive to install Windows through Boot Camp.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Read Starting from an external USB storage device (Intel-based Macs)

Can PB boot from an External Firewire Hard Drive?

Can I set up an external firewire hard drive as an emergency boot drive, in case my internal drive goes south? Anyone have utility software recommendations for setting up boot drive or mirror drive, in addition to OS X's Disk Utility? Thanks.

Photon2:
Yes, you can set up your external firewire HDD as an emergency boot drive.
Here's what you need to do:
1. Your HDD must be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
2. (Optional) I suggest you partition your HDD so that the first partition is roughly equivalent to the size of your internal HDD. The rest can be partitioned for other uses. (See Dr. Smoke's FAQ Backup and Recovery) For step-by-step for formatting and partitioning please post back).
3. Use SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner to make a bootable clone of your internal HDD to the external firewire HDD/partition.
Please post back with further questions or comments.
Cheers
cornelius

Can I boot from an external drive

Can I run snow leopard from an external drive? If so, would my user directory need to be moved to it?
If not, would it create a new one on the external drive?

I don't want to use the same OS. I need to go back to Tiger for a specific app.
So can it be FireWire or USB?
I assume a new user directory would be created. Should it have a different user name?
Could I see the older one and use files from it? If so, could I also use apps on it or would I have to install them again on the external drive?
Or would that confuse the Mac?
Would the original drive appear like another accessible drive on the desktop or would it appear as a drive I would have no access to?
I am on a network where I can see other macs and use files from them? Would this behave like that? I have access to my files as the same user on other macs, but no access to other users files.

Can you boot from an external USB hard drive? (Neo2 Platinum)

As I'm tempted to get a 160Gb drive for Linux and AMD64 XP installations. But obviously it needs to beable to boot from it.
Thanks

I read a post recently about booting from a usb memory stick - I assume the principal is the same. You need to make the usb drive bootable, in the same way that you would make a cd or a diskette bootable. In the example given about a usb memory stick, they suggested copying the contents of a win98 startup disk onto the memory stick. Then, run 'sys.com' on the drive letter of the usb stick from the startup disk. Then, enable usb legacy support in the bios, and access the boot order to tell it to boot from the usb or legacy, I'm not sure which.
What you're in essence wanting to do is to copy the xpcd to the usb drive, so the format and files, etc., are the same. Then, follow with the usb legacy stuff, etc....

Can't boot from my External USB since 10.5.6 Update

Hi to everyone and sorry in advance for my english.
Here's my problem:
I have a copy of Mac OS X in my external USB drive, just for emergency. Two days ago I decided to update the OS, so i reboot my iMac and everythings gone in the right way. So the disk had no problems.
I run Software update and I downloaded a 377 MB Update (from 10.5.5 to 10.5.6). The installation was successful and the iMac reboot. After first reboot I had a second reboot and now it happend. My screen is still grey with the apple logo and the black wheel that keep rollin'. The hard disk seems to be freezed.
Someone knows if there's something i can do?? I don't wanna reinstall Mac OS.
Thanks. Andrea.

Restart, holding down the OPTION key until the icons start showing up on the screen. When the spinning gear stops, select the internal HD, and click arrow underneath. That should boot the machine with the internal HD. From there you can run Disk Utility on the USB HD. By the way, your English is fine.

Can't boot from clone on external firewire 800 drive

Hello,
I have a 24" mid-2007 iMac 7,1 running Snow Leopard. I recently changed my set up to put a clean install of OS X 10.9.1 on a partition of an external SSD. I also moved the 10.6.8 start up system to a partition on the SSD. My internal iMac hard drive now has no system folder, only my data files. I have additional firewire drives for Time Machine, other data and media drives. Finally, I just bought a pair of 3TB drives that I partitioned into enough partitions to be able to clone both operating systems and all my data files for a rotating pair of offsite backups. All moving/cloning of drives was done with version 3.5.4 (Mavericks-compatible) of Carbon Copy Cloner.
I can boot from my external SSD (either Mavericks or Snow Leopard) fine and all external drives mount correctly in either case. After cloning all the partitions onto the backup drives, I tried to test the clones but I am not able to start up using either the Mavericks or the Snow Leopard clones when the backup external drive is connected via firewire 800. This is true whether I select the clone volumes in the Startup Disk preferences pane or hold down the option key during start up (note that the external drive with the clone partitions does not appear in the list of disk choices with the option key method). I get the "question mark in the folder" sign that the start up system is not being found.
I have changed the order in which the external drives are connected (normally the SSD is first in the chain), including trying when only the backup drive is connected directly to the iMac. I get the same result no matter what.
Curiously, the Mavericks and Snow Leopard boot clones start up via firewire 800 when the external backup drive is connected to my wife's 2009 13" Macbook Pro, indicating that the clones and the enclosure (an OWC Mercury Elite Pro quad interface, newer version with USB3) both support booting. Furthermore, if I connect the backup drive to my iMac using USB, the boot clones both work to start up the iMac.
This all points to an issue with the firewire bus failing to recognize the boot clones somehow during my iMac's start up process. I am rather puzzled about how to fix this.
I can get by booting via USB in an emergency but because my system is old, this is of course USB2 so its slow. If I had to use the clones to recover I'd rather be able to operate and restore at FW800 speeds.
If anyone has any ideas what might be going on, I'd appreciate hearing them.
Thanks in advance.
Greg

Did you ever get this resolved, Greg?

Tecra M2: Can I Boot from External USB/Firewire-HDD ???

Hi All,
how can I boot from an external USB Drive ?
The Bios 1.20, 03/15/2004 doesn't seem to support this on my Tecra M2.
I have an Maxtor 300Gig external HDD which can be connected via Firewire or USB. Usually I am using an Firewire PCMCIA-Card to connect this HDD, which has 3 partitions on it.
Would it also be possible, to Boot via PCMCIA-Firewire ?
Many thanks in advance.
Lembong

Hi
As far as I know its not possible to boot from a USB HDD. I know that in some cases its possible to boot from compatible USB FDD and CD/DVD drives but note from HDD.
This theme was disused a lot of time here in the forum.
Please check this other posting:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=4534&messageID=14824#14824
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=8963&messageID=31325#31325
Regards

Can't boot from external HD with Leopard on MacBook Pro or PowerBook

I can't boot from an external HD with 10.5.5 Leopard on either my MacBook Pro or my PowerBook G4. I had a PowerBook G4 from which I could boot from either an external FW400 drive or an external FW800 drive. At some point, I stopped being able to boot from any HD, but I'm not sure if it was after upgrading to Leopard or not? Recently I just bought a MacBook Pro 15" and transferred all my files over from the PowerBook to the MacBook Pro during the install. However, even with the new computer, still cannot boot from an external drive. I have Leopard 10.5.5 running on both the external HD and the internal HD.
Is this a common problem? Anybody know how to fix it?
Thanks!

That probably wasn't very clear was it? I have several ext. HD's, some with bootable systems and some just backups. One bootable disk was made with CopyCloner and the other was a clean format and only had an original install of the OS just to use for an emergency boot. They both booted just fine. Then at some point, they stopped being bootable. I have used the Control Panel "Startup" and also used the Option key boot and picked the bootable disk. Neither one boots anymore. It started doing this on the old PowerBook and then also refused to boot on the MacBook Pro. This is not the problem with the HD since it happens with any bootable HD. Something is going on at the system level and it was transfered from the PowerBook to the MacBook.
Thanks,
Bill

After 10.4.11 upgrade Macbook won't start can't boot from external HD

Hi guys,
I just suffer as all other that after try ti install the 10.4.11 update my macbook won't start, I have a external HD with a image of my macbook but went I press and hold the option key I only see the bootcamp parttion and my internal HD, I don't see the external HD.
How can I boot from my external HD if I have a bootcamp partition?
Thanks

I follow the robotobi post and solve this issue.
Thanks robotobi

Booting From An External Drive in OS 9.2?

I have a G4 with a bad internal ROM drive. I am currently running OS 9.2.
I would like to upgrade to OS 10.
I have an Iomega USB 2.0 external drive connected to my computer via the USB port in the back.
How can I boot from the disk in this external drive?
I tried holding "option"- it only found my regular hard drive.
I tried holding "cmd-opt-shift-del" but my mac got very confused and blinked a ? at me.
How can I boot from the external drive so I can upgrade?
Thanks
O.

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Mac OS X will not boot from USB drives on a PowerPC.
You need a Firewire optical drive to boot, and an AGP PowerMac G4 at that to boot Mac OS X. To identify your PowerMac G4, see this article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58418
Once you've identified it, boot the machine into Mac OS 9 on the hard drive and make sure your firmware is up to date:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117
And then you'll be able to install Mac OS X. Follow these precautions on my FAQ before doing so:
http://www.macmaps.com/upgradefaq.html
If it turns out you have a PCI PowerMac G4, you'll have to replace the optical drive internally to boot Mac OS X or Mac OS 9.
Also make sure your clock battery is under 4 years old before attempting to upgrade the firmware. It is a 3.6 V 1/2 AA battery you can buy from Radio Shack item 23-026.

Can I boot from an external ssd via thunderbolt?

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