Installing windows on external drive, or other method without formatting HD
I would like to install windows in order to run some CAD software (i dont want to take the performance hit of running in parallels and osx has an infuriating lack of a good cad program) but I also dont want to have to format my HD since I have all these software licenses set up that it would take forever to set back up again. Is there a way to install windows without formatting my HD in order to repartition it? maybe resize the partition or install windows on an external HD?
thanks!
Windows cannot be installed on an external drive. This is a Windows thing. If you want to use Boot Camp then your internal drive must have no other partitions. Boot Camp will then create a special Windows partition of any size you designate.
If your drive is already partitioned then repartitioning the drive or resizing existing partitions will result in some data loss. Essentially in order to restore the drive to a single partition you must first backup whatever data is stored on the partitions that must be removed. Alternatively, if possible move that data to the main volume (top volume in the partition mapping.) Doing this makes it possible to delete the other partitions, then resize the remaining partition to full capacity. This can be done on the fly using Disk Utility. Of course there's always risk of something going amiss, so it would be wise to have everything backed up.
Similar Messages
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Can boot camp install windows in external hdd connected via usb
i have win 7 img. in my mac also 500 gb ext hdd
can i install windows in that hdd?????
also i have selected the iso fle n its now downloading support software
so how much time it will take its 3 hours nowNo you can't install windows on external drive.
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recently I have stumbled upon installing 10.7 lion on external drive:
+Playing with partitions is not for the faint of heart. Installing OS X Lion to a USB drive or external hard drive is a safer but likely slower option.+
Q1: Is it possible to do so with windows?
I would like to install windows on external drive and use it only when needed (hardly ever, but sometimes I have to)
virtualization is not fast enough for me :{
I have a MacBook Air and SuperDrive, however when I plug superdrive there is no place for external drive,
Q2: Unless I use some kind of usb hub?
Q3: Will it work? Have anyone tried this?Hi,
OSX could be installed and run from external harddisk for quite some time.
Sadly, Microsoft choosed to not allow Windows to be installed and run from external harddisk.
However, you can find instructions on how-to do this nonetheless on the internet.
A good USB-hub (preferably one that is self-powered and not USB-powered) will let you use both the Superdrive and an external harddisk at the same time.
Regards
Stefan -
Installing Windows to external hard drive or using parallels?
Will installing Windows on external hard drive protect mac from viruses better than parallels? Which option is more sound, installing windows on external hard drive or using parallels? My main concern is mac protection. Thanks
Hi,
Thank's for your reply.
Using Parallels and creating a virtual machine, I think it should be possible installing Windows to an external hard drive, shouldn't it?
Message was edited by: Oleguer Vilella -
On a MacBook Pro - windows on external drive?
Hi Everyone,
I'm new to Macs. Looking to buy a MacBook Pro 17 inch, and I am wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to load windows on an extermal disk, firewire 800 or E-sata off an express 34 card?
If this isn't possible, can OS X be loaded on external drives?
I'd rather load windows on external drive than OS X.
Thanks,
ChrisYou'll need to repair or replace your SuperDrive as that is the only way Windows can be installed (downloading is what you do with files on the Internet). And it must be the built-in SuperDrive. The external one Apple sells for the MacBook Air and 2012 iMac will not work.
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Windows on external drive files
I read on dualbootguru.com that with a properly reformatted windows disk, it is possible to install windows on an external drive. However, the re-formatting process of this disk is extremely complicated. Does anyone one have pre-formatted files to download to save me a few hours? Thanks.
Thanks for your help.
I opened the html but its contents are only available as a web page, so at least they're not lost (thank you!) and I can theoretically access the bookmarks.
However, accessing bookmarks this way is really impractical since I won't know if the bookmarks toolbar has the info I seek or not. This means opting to use the webpage excusively as the more complete of the two, meaning loss of the bookmarks toolbar functionality .
I want to be able to use the toolbar exclusively, which means finding a way to restore the 2yrs worth of bookmarks now missing from it due to corruption of the most recent backup json file.
Is there a way to display the html bookmarks backup as toolbar objects? -
Moving Windows from external drive to a new internal partition
I have Windows 7 installed on an external drive connected to my Mac Pro, which I access by rebooting into Windows. I am transitioning from the Mac Pro to a new MacBook Pro and want to copy the Windows disk (with all its installed applications and data) onto the laptop's internal drive. Without creating a partition with Boot Camp and reinstalling Windows, how can I do this?
Thanks, EricHilal Malawi wrote:
Thanks, but that site doesn't have a clear answer.
Correct. As it clearly states, there are too many variables to have detailed solutions for every possible situation.
In the 'pink' box, which best matches my situation, the instructions begin with: "•You must be logged on to the account being moved...".
That's not clear at all. How do I log in to an account that doesn't exist yet? Connecting a hard disk that has a home folder to a new Mac doesn't allow me to 'log on' to that home folder's account, because it doesn't yet exist on the new Mac.
You may have to set up user accounts "from scratch." Then change the ownership and permissions on the old home folders so you can copy the contents of the sub-folders from the old home folders to the new ones.
If you're comfortable with permissions and Terminal, this may help: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20013630-263.html -
How can I force Time Machine to make a complete backup of my Hard Drive. I just installed a new external drive for Backup since my previous one failed. Now when I back up, Time Machine only backs up my data folder and the Users folder.
When I start a backup. Time Machine says "Oldest Backup: None; Latest Backup: None", so it seems like it should do a complete backup, but it only does a partial.Hi I'd like to jump in here. Your app showed me this:
Time Machine:
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 749.3 GB Disk used: 453.81 GB
Destinations:
Plastic Wrapper [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 999.86 GB
Total number of backups: 64
Oldest backup: 2013-07-24 23:25:11 +0000
Last backup: 2013-11-17 01:40:47 +0000
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 453.81 GB X 3)
Time Machine details may not be accurate.
All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
/sbin excluded from backup!
/usr excluded from backup!
/System excluded from backup!
/bin excluded from backup!
/private excluded from backup!
/Library excluded from backup!
/Applications excluded from backup!
Aside from the size of my backup drive, which I will increase at some point, I'd really like to have time machine backing up all system folders, especially Applications. How to I reset this hidden exclusions?
Thanks,
Darcy -
I lost all personal data while installing maverick in external drive. How can I recover lost data?
If all your files are missing
You may have logged in as a different user, such as Guest. Open the Users & Groups pane in System Preferences. Your name should be at the top of the user list, under Current User. See also this support article.
If files are missing from one folder
Change the Finder view mode; for example, from icon view to list view, or vice versa. -
On the noecovery page I followed instructions to install Lion of external drive, which I did. Then tried to install on HD, but got same message as no recovery disc could be made and only option was to restart to back Leopard. Don't want to take to geniuses since there must be a simple answer.
On the noecovery page I followed instructions to install Lion of external drive, which I did. Then tried to install on HD, but got same message as no recovery disc could be made and only option was to restart to back Leopard. Don't want to take to geniuses since there must be a simple answer.
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I just bought a new PC and now have ample space on my C drive to house my music Library which is currenlty installed on a external drive. What is the best way to install and move the itunes library to my C Drive?
If the entire library is on the external drive then simply copy the iTunes folder into <User's Music> on the new computer, then install iTunes. If you've already installed iTunes you will want to remove the empty iTunes folder in <User's Music> first.
If it turns out you only have the media folder on the external drive then take a look at this post...
tt2 -
If I have OS 10.6 installed on an external drive, can I start up from the external drive if I have 10.7 installed on my macbook pro?
Provided that the MBP supports booting from that version of 10.6, and the install was from a retail disk (not a different Mac model), then yes. If it's a newer Pro that came with Lion, it may not boot to 10.6.
Matt -
How do install program from external drive to mac book air
how do install program from external drive to mac book air
DVD or CD sharing: Using Remote Disc - Apple Support
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Installing Leopard on external drive / then making it internal
Hi There-
Please tell me if you think this scenario will work. I'm running out of room on my mac mini's hard drive, so I bought a new drive along with Leopard. I want to install leopard on the new drive in an external firewire cage and set everything up. Then when I'm satisfied, I can crack the mini open, pull out the internal drive with a working tiger install, put the external drive in (with leopard) and just let it boot.
Is it that easy?Yes that will work.
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Can i install windows phone 8.1 in other mobile phones(Android mobile phones or other)?
Csound1 wrote:
Either you will do this correctly or you will not.
You can not have a storage partition in addition to Mac OS and Boot Camp.
I can't help at all if you want to go your own way.
Good luck, backup before you lose data.
Ok, thanks
I want to check this tutorial http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-8-1-on-mac-without-boot-camp/ It´s about install Windows 8 without bootcamp.
I tell us
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