BootCamp + External Drive

[Stucky]

Hi everyone. So I did the changes to the windows XP installation in order for it to be able to install in a external USB disk. Then I tried installing it on one of mine USB external HDDs and it said that it can't install on that drive because it doesn't have access to it, blah blah blah, but I can see the partitions and even modify them. Then I read in here that you need to take your internal drive out. So I removed it. Still didn't work. Even tried it with another USB HDD and it still doesn't work.

I am using a windows CD with SP3 already inside and modified using the guide on the website that is on this thread. Does it need to be SP2? What am I doing wrong here?

I have a MacBook Pro 17" early 2007 with 10.6.3 in it.

Thanks everyone,
Stucky

 

[evanlakes]

Hey guys,

I'm new to this forum, but have been lurking for a while now. As a first post, I figured I'd let you all know that I think I just found a really simple way to either install Windows onto an external drive OR move an EXISTING partition (made with Boot Camp on the original Mac HD) onto an external drive. I haven't read through this whole thread though, so someone let me know if it has been mentioned. I will finish doing the process now, make sure everything runs fine, and after I do so, I'll post a guide here.

 

[balamw]

Hey guys,

I'm new to this forum, but have been lurking for a while now. As a first post, I figured I'd let you all know that I think I just found a really simple way to either install Windows onto an external drive OR move an EXISTING partition (made with Boot Camp on the original Mac HD) onto an external drive. I haven't read through this whole thread though, so someone let me know if it has been mentioned. I will finish doing the process now, make sure everything runs fine, and after I do so, I'll post a guide here.

Looking forward to it! Would be nice to have a working process that works for something other than XP and/or requires removing the HDD.

B

 

[robocat]

Guys i recenty lost my Mac Hd so had to get it all re Installed,
when trying to start bootcamp up im Getting this message
"Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again".

any ideas ?

 

[balamw]

"Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again".

Do you have more than one partition? Does your OS X partition not have journaling turned on currently? Did you partition the drive using APM instead of GPT? (Post a screenshot of the Partition tab from Disk Utility if you can).

B

 

[robocat]

Do you have more than one partition? Does your OS X partition not have journaling turned on currently? Did you partition the drive using APM instead of GPT? (Post a screenshot of the Partition tab from Disk Utility if you can).

B

\
Name : Hitachi HTS545025B9SA02 Media
Type : Disk

Partition Map Scheme : Master Boot Record
Disk Identifier : disk0
Media Name : Hitachi HTS545025B9SA02 Media
Media Type : Generic
Connection Bus : SATA
Device Tree : IODeviceTree:/PCI0@0/SATA@B/PRT0@0/PMP@0
Writable : Yes
Ejectable : No
Location : Internal
Total Capacity : 250.06 GB (250,059,350,016 Bytes)
S.M.A.R.T. Status : Verified
Disk Number : 0
Partition Number : 0

\This what u looking for ?

 

[balamw]

Partition Map Scheme : Master Boot Record

This doesn't look right. You need GPT and this may be why it isn't working.

I was looking for something more like this:

B

 

[robocat]

sorted the drive , took it to Apple store,
now when i start boot camp. i d/l the windows for Mac drivers but it will mac will not burn to disk or transphere it to ex flash drive .

 

[balamw]

Use the drivers on your grey os x intall disc. Tell it you already have it.

Download the Bluetooth and graphics drivers separately.

B

 

[theaero]

Thanks for this, it worked great for me. Saves having Windows on the same drive which is always good.

One thing I did notice which might be the same for other MacBookers (and other Mactel owners) who try this: I originally had the USB drive plugged into the port towards the front of the MacBook. Windows gave the error about not having control of the device so wouldn't install. Before giving up I tried the USB drive in the other port (nearest to the MagSafe connector) and it worked fine. Something to bear in mind perhaps - try all your USB ports if not successful on one/some.

Runs fine, even with the page file limitation (2GB RAM helps) and the drive being an old 4,200rpm Seagate from an iBook in a 2.5" enclosure. Still, better than nothing and better than having Windows on the same drive as OSX

EDIT: To format the USB drive, I did it first in OSX via Disc Utility as FAT32, then reformatted to NTFS via the Windows installer. Probably doesn't make a difference but it can't harm mentioning it.

Rather than removing your Internal Drive, couldn't you just complete the installation on another computer (Windows machine), isntall there, and then when the installation is complete, plug the drive into your Mac Comp?

 

[balamw]

Rather than removing your Internal Drive, couldn't you just complete the installation on another computer (Windows machine), isntall there, and then when the installation is complete, plug the drive into your Mac Comp?

The problem is twofold.

1) Windows will customize itself to the hardware you install on so the hardware won't be "right" for your Mac

2) Windows always prefers to write some stuff to the first HDD in the system to facilitate its boot process. This is (partially) why the instructions ask you to remove the internal so it has no choice but to make the external fully capable of booting.

B

 

[Jvvv]

What's the downside?

That doesnt work. I've already tried.

And if you have to keep your 5gb partition then you may aswell just keep you windows xp on it and then use an external for programs full stop...

It will take Apple to introduce an update to bootcamp to allow external hd installation and booting.

I'm new to MacRumors and I probably know less of what I'm doing than anyone else on this thread, so bear with me.

I'm attracted to an easy solution with a low probability of making a critical mistake, so the idea of starting with the minimal 5GB XP partition and then storing all files and programs on an external drive doesn't seem so bad. Am I right that this would bypass all the issues mentioned here regarding booting XP from an external drive?
What's the downside of storing everything on an external drive in this way? Am I missing something?

All I want to do with XP is play Steam games but I just need more space.

My specs:
OS 10.6.7, MacBook Pro 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

 

[basketkase045]

For what it is worth, when I have successfully performed this install I have always made an NTFS partition onto which I install windows and a second FAT partition on the external drive.

So does that mean i can partition my 750 gb external and have windows on just part of it?

Also has anyone tried with windows 7?

Thank you,

Kris

Edit: if i missed something ... sorry i have read about 7 out of the 10 pages so far.