Boot Windows 10 on external ssd for a new MacBook Pro

[Dylan31]

I installed windows 10 on an external ssd using bootcamp assistant around 2 or 3 years ago and I still use it on my 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro whenever I need to use windows.

I am currently thinking and waiting to get the new MacBook Pro 13 inch refresh next month. Can I use the same external ssd to boot my windows 10 on that new MacBook Pro? Or do I have to re format the ssd and go through the process of installing windows 10 on the ssd all over again but this time from the new MacBook?

I think remember plugging in my ssd into my brother’s 2016 MacBook Pro 13 inch and choosing the ssd from boot up when holding down the option key. I managed to get the the log in screen on windows but I was unable to log in. The keyboard and trackpad wasn’t working so I couldn’t do anything.

I followed 9to5mac’s YouTube video of installing windows 10 on an external ssd.

 

[Altemose]

I installed windows 10 on an external ssd using bootcamp assistant around 2 or 3 years ago and I still use it on my 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro whenever I need to use windows.

I am currently thinking and waiting to get the new MacBook Pro 13 inch refresh next month. Can I use the same external ssd to boot my windows 10 on that new MacBook Pro? Or do I have to re format the ssd and go through the process of installing windows 10 on the ssd all over again but this time from the new MacBook?

I think remember plugging in my ssd into my brother’s 2016 MacBook Pro 13 inch and choosing the ssd from boot up when holding down the option key. I managed to get the the log in screen on windows but I was unable to log in. The keyboard and trackpad wasn’t working so I couldn’t do anything.

I followed 9to5mac’s YouTube video of installing windows 10 on an external ssd.

Yes. The current Boot Camp software will need to be removed prior to connecting the drive to the new Mac. Likewise, this will break Windows activation and thus you will need to reactivate the installation of Windows. When connected to the 2016 MacBook Pro, Windows likely did not install the appropriate generic drivers on startup for keyboard and mouse.

 

[Dylan31]

Yes. The current Boot Camp software will need to be removed prior to connecting the drive to the new Mac. Likewise, this will break Windows activation and thus you will need to reactivate the installation of Windows. When connected to the 2016 MacBook Pro, Windows likely did not install the appropriate generic drivers on startup for keyboard and mouse.

Ah right... Thanks for confirming!

So is it just as simple as erasing the ssd and starting from scratch by following the 9to5mac guide again this time while its plugged into the new MacBook?

 

[Altemose]

So is it just as simple as erasing the ssd and starting from scratch by following the 9to5mac guide again this time while its plugged into the new MacBook?

You can either erase the SSD or uninstall the Boot Camp software and run the installer for the new correct software on the Windows install. Unless you are using this on a domain, Windows should be able to startup with the existing installation.

 

[Roxy.music]

I installed windows 10 on an external SSD using Bootcamp assistant around 2 or 3 years ago and I still use it on my 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro whenever I need to use windows.

I am currently thinking and waiting to get the new MacBook Pro 13 inch refresh next month. Can I use the same external SSD to boot my windows 10 on that new MacBook Pro? Or do I have to reformat the SSD and go through the process of installing windows 10 on the SSD all over again but this time from the new MacBook?

I think remember plugging in my SSD into my brother’s 2016 MacBook Pro 13 inch and choosing the SSD from boot up when holding down the option key. I managed to get the login screen on windows but I was unable to log in. The keyboard and trackpad wasn’t working so I couldn’t do anything.

I followed 9to5mac’s YouTube video of installing windows 10 on an external SSD.

I have just put a new post on here about the same thing, I just saw your post after I posted mine. I am not looking forward to doing it again as I tried it a few times it is such a long process.
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I installed windows 10 on an external ssd using bootcamp assistant around 2 or 3 years ago and I still use it on my 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro whenever I need to use windows.

I am currently thinking and waiting to get the new MacBook Pro 13 inch refresh next month. Can I use the same external SSD to boot my windows 10 on that new MacBook Pro? Or do I have to reformat the SSD and go through the process of installing windows 10 on the SSD all over again but this time from the new MacBook?

I think remember plugging in my SSD into my brother’s 2016 MacBook Pro 13 inch and choosing the SSD from boot up when holding down the option key. I managed to get the login screen on windows but I was unable to log in. The keyboard and trackpad wasn’t working so I couldn’t do anything.

I followed 9to5mac’s YouTube video of installing windows 10 on an external ssd.

That's the one I did, the guys good. Such a long process

 

[Alex W.]

You don't have to do this, you can just connect an external usbmouse to your MacBook and get through it again. Ive played around with this.

 

[Dylan31]

Oh. Do I need an external keyboard as well?

Is that a temporary solution, as I want to use the MacBooks keyboard and trackpad?

Or is that the only way I can use my Windows external drive, by using an external mouse and keyboard?

 

[Alex W.]

Oh. Do I need an external keyboard as well?

Is that a temporary solution, as I want to use the MacBooks keyboard and trackpad?

Or is that the only way I can use my Windows external drive, by using an external mouse and keyboard?

just until you reinstall all the bootcamp drivers again in windows. you don't need a keyboard, you can mouse it, but a keyboard can help a little.

 

[Dylan31]

Do I follow the same steps to install the drivers as I did at the beginning by following the 9to5Mac tutorial?

Will all my files/applications that are currently on there be undamaged?

 

[Alex W.]

They should be undamaged, depending on how you installed them and the current state of the drive / what's been done.

Just grab the WindowsSupport Software file from Bootcamp, toss it on a usb and then run it in windows.

 

[Dylan31]

Oh great. I think the there should still be a Windows Support folder on my bootcamp ssd if I’m not mistaken, as I don’t think I deleted it from when I originally set it up.

But do I have to download and use a new Windows support folder (from the NEW MacBook)? This is because the one I currently have is from my MacBook that I am currently using which is the 2015 13inch MBP

 

[Dylan31]

Update:

I have received my new MacBook Pro.

I am trying to boot windows from my external ssd but I can't get onto it. I have gone into recovery mode to change the startup security so that the T2 chips allows bootable media. But still nothing happens. It goes back into recovery mode when I select the EFI Boot (windows) option. Then it says it is unable to verify startup disk.

 

[SillyNameTime]

I too have a somewhat similar issue. I created the SSD, went through and set the T2 security to "turn off", choose my startup disk to the "win2usb" and it boots into the mac instead. I followed at first I followed the 9to5mac vid and had issues because with the current version of VMware fusion, my T5 would not show up. Fixed that with information from VMware community site (see below in case the link disappears or you don't want to wade through)

The Steps:​

========​

1. Power off the VM​

2. Right-click the VM from VM Library​

3. Press 'Option' Key from the keyboard and hold it​

4. Choose 'Open Config File in Editor'​

5. Add a new line with the string usb.generic.keepStreamsEnabled = "FALSE"​

6. Save and close the file, power on the VM​

​

(took me 2 days to find this solution)​

Then followed the Heads of Technology: How to Install Windows 10 on USB External Drive vid (it picks up where 9to5mac ends). Got through all of that only to not being able to boot into the T5 ssd. help!!!

 

[SillyNameTime]

I too have a somewhat similar issue. I created the SSD, went through and set the T2 security to "turn off", choose my startup disk to the "win2usb" and it boots into the mac instead. I followed at first I followed the 9to5mac vid and had issues because with the current version of VMware fusion, my T5 would not show up. Fixed that with information from VMware community site (see below in case the link disappears or you don't want to wade through)

The Steps:​

========​

1. Power off the VM​

2. Right-click the VM from VM Library​

3. Press 'Option' Key from the keyboard and hold it​

4. Choose 'Open Config File in Editor'​

5. Add a new line with the string usb.generic.keepStreamsEnabled = "FALSE"​

6. Save and close the file, power on the VM​

​

(took me 2 days to find this solution)​

Then followed the Heads of Technology: How to Install Windows 10 on USB External Drive vid (it picks up where 9to5mac ends). Got through all of that only to not being able to boot into the T5 ssd. help!!!

Found on another thread.

Double-check you've actually turned off "secure Boot", that works.

 

[thachhuynh]

I'm sorry. Can we split external SSD into multiple partitions and just install Windows on one partition, so we can use the rest for other data?

 

[Roxy.music]

I'm sorry. Can we split external SSD into multiple partitions and just install Windows on one partition, so we can use the rest for other data?

I don,t see why not , but why would you want more than two partitions? The most you can get is four partitions I have four on my 6tb drive.

 

[4743913]

I'm sorry. Can we split external SSD into multiple partitions and just install Windows on one partition, so we can use the rest for other data?

I don,t see why not , but why would you want more than two partitions? The most you can get is four partitions I have four on my 6tb drive.

Check out Paragon Software's Mac Toolbox. It has NTFS for Mac and HSF+/APFS for Windows so you can use any hard drive space in either OS without the need for partitioning. It's the most efficient use of space.

 

[burhanm]

I installed windows 10 on an external ssd using bootcamp assistant around 2 or 3 years ago and I still use it on my 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro whenever I need to use windows.

I am currently thinking and waiting to get the new MacBook Pro 13 inch refresh next month. Can I use the same external ssd to boot my windows 10 on that new MacBook Pro? Or do I have to re format the ssd and go through the process of installing windows 10 on the ssd all over again but this time from the new MacBook?

I think remember plugging in my ssd into my brother’s 2016 MacBook Pro 13 inch and choosing the ssd from boot up when holding down the option key. I managed to get the the log in screen on windows but I was unable to log in. The keyboard and trackpad wasn’t working so I couldn’t do anything.

I followed 9to5mac’s YouTube video of installing windows 10 on an external ssd.

Hi,

I'm also thinking of getting an external SSD and install windows 10 on that. I need windows for using visual studio to develop apps. I currently own macbook pro 2015 128GB and its pain managing the space. Will that work if I install windows on external SSD. If so, recommendations on getting what SSD would be very helpful