Is it possible to install the OS X (operating system) on an external hard drive?

Y

Yea Ok Wali

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 28, 2011

11

0

NYC

• Dec 20, 2011

• #1

Ok so say your trying to run two software programs that are about 90 and 50 GB respectively. Both of which require the OS to run, and you don't want to put both on your computer basically leaving you with no space. Is there a way to install the OS on an external and run said programs from there?

Any and all help appreciated.

 

GermanyChris

macrumors 601

Jul 3, 2011

4,185

5

Here

• Dec 20, 2011

• #2

Yea Ok Wali said:

Ok so say your trying to run two software programs that are about 90 and 50 GB respectively. Both of which require the OS to run, and you don't want to put both on your computer basically leaving you with no space. Is there a way to install the OS on an external and run said programs from there?

Any and all help appreciated.

Click to expand...

I do on a FW drive

 

simsaladimbamba

Guest

Nov 28, 2010

22,670

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located

• Dec 20, 2011

• #3

Yes, I have done so on USB and Firewire HDDs.

How to format a new HDD/SSD to install Mac OS X or make a bootable copy onto​

 

Y

Yea Ok Wali

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 28, 2011

11

0

NYC

• Dec 20, 2011

• #4

simsaladimbamba said:

Yes, I have done so on USB and Firewire HDDs.

How to format a new HDD/SSD to install Mac OS X or make a bootable copy onto​

Click to expand...

care to elaborate please? EDIT: didn't see that link gonna check that out to.

 

Y

Yea Ok Wali

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 28, 2011

11

0

NYC

• Dec 20, 2011

• #5

Also just so I'm sure. This only process only erases everything off the external you decide to use, and not your actual computer right?

 

simsaladimbamba

Guest

Nov 28, 2010

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located

• Dec 20, 2011

• #6

Yea Ok Wali said:

Also just so I'm sure. This only process only erases everything off the external you decide to use, and not your actual computer right?

Click to expand...

It erases only data on the HDD you selected to format. As the OS is stored on the HDD you have not selected, it will not be deleted (and couldn't be, as the OS runs from it and can't delete itself that easily).

To learn more about Mac OS X:

Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios​

 

Y

Yea Ok Wali

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 28, 2011

11

0

NYC

• Dec 20, 2011

• #7

simsaladimbamba said:

It erases only data on the HDD you selected to format. As the OS is stored on the HDD you have not selected, it will not be deleted (and couldn't be, as the OS runs from it and can't delete itself that easily).

To learn more about Mac OS X:

Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios​

Click to expand...

Ah gotcha.

 

Y

Yea Ok Wali

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Jun 28, 2011

11

0

NYC

• Dec 31, 2011

• #8

simsaladimbamba said:

It erases only data on the HDD you selected to format. As the OS is stored on the HDD you have not selected, it will not be deleted (and couldn't be, as the OS runs from it and can't delete itself that easily).

To learn more about Mac OS X:

Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios​

Click to expand...

I'm about to give this a try (just got an external). Don't kno if you got my PM, but I'm not exactly sure how I'm suppose to use carbon copy cloner to copy the OS to the external. Any instructions for this?

Thanks

 

simsaladimbamba

Guest

Nov 28, 2010

22,670

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located

• Jan 1, 2012

• #9

Yea Ok Wali said:

I'm about to give this a try (just got an external). Don't kno if you got my PM, but I'm not exactly sure how I'm suppose to use carbon copy cloner to copy the OS to the external. Any instructions for this?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Can this help?