yeah, but do I need to install OS X on the external? and if I do, if I'm creating 3 partitions for 3 computers do I need to install OS x 3 times? I'm guessing yes- but I'm clueless with this stuff.. I admit that I am terrible at back ups and need some guidance...lol..
hiya jemeinc,
Hope this information will help you, and those like you.
Personally I would only install a OS on a external drive, IF i needed to boot of them. For example, your working on a MacBook and your one the road and the internal drive malfunctions and cease to boot.
Alternatively, you need to run a different version of the OS or an entirely different OS on a regular basis BUT don't have sufficient space on the primary drive (internal) - You can in theory set up windows to run on a external drive, however.. actually doing it takes some manual tweaking, best left for the enthusiasts. Apple's supplied BootCamp won't allow you to install Windows to a external drive.
If you purchase an external drive and your planing is to use it for additional storage/backup etc. Besure to check the packaging, if it's not specified as a MAC drive, you'll need to open OSX's Disk Utility and format/partition the drive... this will prep the drive for Apple's HFS+ disk format. That's it. The whole process take no more then a few mins.
Why? Cause most external drives are pre-formatted for Windows as FAT32. Although OSX can read and write to those formats, it's not recommended especially if your using it as a Mac partition - re-formatting the drive doesn't void the warranty in any way what-so-ever!