[Resolved] Can't boot from external HD?

ChrisMan287 · 11:05 PM

I made a copy of my HD using CCC and can boot it if I select it as my startup disc under System Preferences but if I shut down the computer and hold down the option key, the external is not selectable from there even though it's connected via FireWire 800.

Any idea why?

EDIT: I've tried everything. It won't boot no matter what.
EDIT: My external cannot be booted on a PPC

MisterKeeks · Nov 30, 2012, 05:41 PM

Nevermind...

Intell · Nov 30, 2012, 05:42 PM

Is it formatted with APM? PowerPC Macs will only boot from an APM formatted drive.

ChrisMan287 · Nov 30, 2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterKeeks

Try holding option at startup and choose it there.

When I try that I can only select my internal. My external doesn't even come up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

Is it formatted with APM? PowerPC Macs will only boot from an APM formatted drive.

It was freshly formatted with APM. I can boot it if selected as the startup disc but not otherwise.

ChrisMan287 · Nov 30, 2012, 07:59 PM

I repaired the permissions on the external and tried to power it via USB before connecting it via FireWire 800 to my laptop and it's still not working.

Would it have to be via FireWire 400? I might as well give that a try anyway along with via USB.

Do you guys see anything wrong here?

ChrisMan287 · Dec 1, 2012, 01:41 PM

Update:

I think I figured out the problem. Apparently there's a partition for the "SmartWare" and I think that's interfering with me being able to boot.

Is there any way to remove this partition? I've tried everything.

Intell · Dec 1, 2012, 01:46 PM

Format the drive with GUID or MBR, then back to AMP. That will get rid of any hidden partitions on it.

ChrisMan287 · Dec 1, 2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

Format the drive with GUID or MBR, then back to AMP. That will get rid of any hidden partitions on it.

Okay. I did that and I'm cloning the HD again. I'll update later on when I can try to boot.

MisterKeeks · Dec 1, 2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMan287

Okay. I did that and I'm cloning the HD again. I'll update later on when I can try to boot.

I too have a WD drive. It's pretty irritating that most every drive has junkware preinstalled that does nothing but get in the way.

ChrisMan287 · 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterKeeks

I too have a WD drive. It's pretty irritating that most every drive has junkware preinstalled that does nothing but get in the way.

Yup. No dice getting rid of it. I tried partitioning to GUID and MBR then back to AMP and it's still there. I'll attach some pics..

The first pic you can see the small partition at the bottom.

The second pic shows that there is some used space showing even though the drive was freshly formatted.

The third pic just shows that the OS is installed and I can boot if I use it as my start up disc but that is all.

ChrisMan287 · Dec 2, 2012, 12:10 PM

I don't think there's anything else I can do but quick question; If I install a new internal HD with no OS installed on it and I try to turn on the computer with my external hooked up via FireWire 800, will it automatically boot from my external or will I still be having the issue that I'm having?

I'm asking this because I wanted to buy a 250GB HD and if it'll automatically boot from my external, I'll just throw in the towel..

archtopshop · Dec 2, 2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMan287

I don't think there's anything else I can do but quick question; If I install a new internal HD with no OS installed on it and I try to turn on the computer with my external hooked up via FireWire 800, will it automatically boot from my external or will I still be having the issue that I'm having?

I'm asking this because I wanted to buy a 250GB HD and if it'll automatically boot from my external, I'll just throw in the towel..

Try booting from the external by holding down the following while powering up:

Command-Option-Shift-Delete

That combination should make the computer try to boot from any external it can find. I run Lubuntu Live from a usb flash drive this way.

crewkid89 · Dec 2, 2012, 03:31 PM

Which Western Digital Drive is this? My WD Mac specific drive is not bootable on a Mac, I don't know why.

Check WD's website to see if it is just the drive.

----------

I just found something:
boot without the drive plugged in while holding option until the selection screen comes up

after it finishes finding all the available drives then plug in your external. The drive should appear as bootable.

There is something goofy with the WD FireWire drives and apparently this makes it work.

source: http://sphaerula.com/wordpress/compu...xternal-drive/

ChrisMan287 · 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtopshop

Try booting from the external by holding down the following while powering up: Command-Option-Shift-Delete

When I do that, a white screen comes up with a folder that alternates between a "?" and the Finder icon but doesn't boot. It does that when I boot from my external by choosing it as my startup disc too, but only once then it boots.

EDIT: I just tried it again and this time it worked but used my internal to boot of course.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewkid89

Which Western Digital Drive is this? My WD Mac specific drive is not bootable on a Mac, I don't know why.

It's a 500GB My Passport Studio.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewkid89

I just found something: boot without the drive plugged in while holding option until the selection screen comes up. after it finishes finding all the available drives then plug in your external. The drive should appear as bootable.

I just tried that and it didn't work

I'm not understanding why this isn't working no matter what I do.

California · Dec 3, 2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMan287

When I do that, a white screen comes up with a folder that alternates between a "?" and the Finder icon but doesn't boot. It does that when I boot from my external by choosing it as my startup disc too, but only once then it boots.

EDIT: I just tried it again and this time it worked but used my internal to boot of course.

It's a 500GB My Passport Studio.

I just tried that and it didn't work

I'm not understanding why this isn't working no matter what I do.

There is some issue with the WD external drives and PPC Macs. I think you'd have to break the hard drive out of the WD casing and put it in a new external firewire case (after reformatting) to make it work. Search MR, there is someone else here who had that problem.

It's not a WD bare hard drive issue, it's some issue with the external casing/wiring.

I've never owned these types of external drives/casings -- only firewire MacAlly and Acomdata (now defunct!) and lately an Apricorn universal usb thingie that are made for macs.

ChrisMan287 · Dec 3, 2012, 05:53 PM

I'm about to give up. No matter what I do, I can't boot from my external. I actually realized that even when put it as my startup disc, it still boots from my internal.

I also realized that neither CCC or SuperDuper! were cloning all of my files. See the first attached pic for that. Can that be the issue?

In the second pic, it's "booted" from my external and looks like it's booted but I can actually eject the drive so it can't be running from my external.

archtopshop · Dec 3, 2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMan287

I'm about to give up. No matter what I do, I can't boot from my external. I actually realized that even when put it as my startup disc, it still boots from my internal.

I also realized that neither CCC or SuperDuper! were cloning all of my files. See the first attached pic for that. Can that be the issue?

In the second pic, it's "booted" from my external and looks like it's booted but I can actually eject the drive so it can't be running from my external.

Use the Restore function in Disk Utility to make an exact copy of your internal drive. Just drag your internal drive to the "source" box, and your external to the "destination" box. Make sure to check the box marked "erase destination". This is necessary in order to be able to start up from the destination drive. At least, that's how it normally works.

archtopshop · Dec 3, 2012, 09:38 PM

I found the following page on WD's website. Sorry to say it appears your external is listed as not bootable on Power PC Macs.

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/...-to-install-on

So, my previous recommendation can be ignored.

ChrisMan287 · 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtopshop

I found the following page on WD's website. Sorry to say it appears your external is listed as not bootable on Power PC Macs. So, my previous recommendation can be ignored.

I tried it before anyway with no luck of course. So, this has been resolved I guess.. Not what I wanted to hear but at least I'm done wasting my time.

Anyone want a new-ish 500GB WD My Passport Studio? lol This drive is pretty much useless to me now.
EDIT: Drive sold. Thank you eBay!

Nov 30, 2012, 05:39 PM	#1
ChrisMan287 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NY.	Can't boot from external HD? I made a copy of my HD using CCC and can boot it if I select it as my startup disc under System Preferences but if I shut down the computer and hold down the option key, the external is not selectable from there even though it's connected via FireWire 800. Any idea why? EDIT: I've tried everything. It won't boot no matter what. EDIT: My external cannot be booted on a PPC __________________ 15" PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD ; 16GB iPad2. Last edited by ChrisMan287; Dec 3, 2012 at 11:05 PM.
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 05:41 PM	#2
MisterKeeks macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2012	Nevermind... __________________ Core Duo 1.83 Mac Mini, Dual 2.7 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.8 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.25 MDD G4, 1.6 GHz iMac G5, 900 MHz iBook G3, 800 MHz iMac G4, 500MHz iMac G3, 400MHz iMac G3
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 05:42 PM	#3
Intell macrumors G5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	Is it formatted with APM? PowerPC Macs will only boot from an APM formatted drive. __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 07:59 PM	#5
ChrisMan287 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NY.	I repaired the permissions on the external and tried to power it via USB before connecting it via FireWire 800 to my laptop and it's still not working. Would it have to be via FireWire 400? I might as well give that a try anyway along with via USB. Do you guys see anything wrong here? Attached Thumbnails __________________ 15" PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD ; 16GB iPad2.
	0

Dec 1, 2012, 01:41 PM	#6
ChrisMan287 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NY.	Update: I think I figured out the problem. Apparently there's a partition for the "SmartWare" and I think that's interfering with me being able to boot. Is there any way to remove this partition? I've tried everything. __________________ 15" PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD ; 16GB iPad2.
	0

Dec 1, 2012, 01:46 PM	#7
Intell macrumors G5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	Format the drive with GUID or MBR, then back to AMP. That will get rid of any hidden partitions on it. __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
	0

Dec 2, 2012, 12:10 PM	#11
ChrisMan287 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NY.	I don't think there's anything else I can do but quick question; If I install a new internal HD with no OS installed on it and I try to turn on the computer with my external hooked up via FireWire 800, will it automatically boot from my external or will I still be having the issue that I'm having? I'm asking this because I wanted to buy a 250GB HD and if it'll automatically boot from my external, I'll just throw in the towel.. __________________ 15" PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD ; 16GB iPad2.
	0

Dec 2, 2012, 03:31 PM	#13
crewkid89 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2011	Which Western Digital Drive is this? My WD Mac specific drive is not bootable on a Mac, I don't know why. Check WD's website to see if it is just the drive. ---------- I just found something: boot without the drive plugged in while holding option until the selection screen comes up after it finishes finding all the available drives then plug in your external. The drive should appear as bootable. There is something goofy with the WD FireWire drives and apparently this makes it work. source: http://sphaerula.com/wordpress/compu...xternal-drive/
	0

Dec 3, 2012, 05:53 PM	#16
ChrisMan287 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NY.	I'm about to give up. No matter what I do, I can't boot from my external. I actually realized that even when put it as my startup disc, it still boots from my internal. I also realized that neither CCC or SuperDuper! were cloning all of my files. See the first attached pic for that. Can that be the issue? In the second pic, it's "booted" from my external and looks like it's booted but I can actually eject the drive so it can't be running from my external. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 15" PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD ; 16GB iPad2.
	0

Dec 3, 2012, 09:38 PM	#18
archtopshop macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Great Lakes, USA	I found the following page on WD's website. Sorry to say it appears your external is listed as not bootable on Power PC Macs. http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/...-to-install-on So, my previous recommendation can be ignored. __________________ PowerMac G4 FW800: Dual 1.25GHz, 2GB RAM, 9800 Pro PowerMac G4 FW800: 1.25GHz, 2GB RAM, 9800 Pro PowerMac G4 AGP Sawtooth: 550MHz, 1.5GB, 9000 Pro iBook G4 12": 1.33GHz, 1.5GB RAM
	0

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