Can you boot from USB?

[Falleron]

Well, the title says it all. Is it possible to boot a Mac from a USB device?? Something similar to Target mode??

[redAPPLE]

actually, i hope so. but, i don't think so. if you find out "PM" me.

thanks.

[strider42]

Well, the title says it all. Is it possible to boot a Mac from a USB device?? Something similar to Target mode??

it depends on the mac. For instance, the tray loading iMacs cannot boot from USB, the slot loaders can.

target mode on the other hand essentially turns a computer into a firewire hard drive and isn't really related to booting at all.

[blue&whiteman]

if its built in factory usb then it should work but if its a 3rd party pci card then no.

[Falleron]

it depends on the mac. For instance, the tray loading iMacs cannot boot from USB, the slot loaders can.

target mode on the other hand essentially turns a computer into a firewire hard drive and isn't really related to booting at all.
So, how do you do it?

[michaelrjohnson]

is the machine currently unbootable?

if not:
plug in drive, system preferences > startup disk, select that drive, then restart

if it is:
connect drive, reboot and hold down option key, if it is bootable, then you can just select the drive from there, it will start up off that drive.

[redAPPLE]

so a trayloading iMac is not USB (drive) bootable?