BootCamp external SSD

[arisd]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about ways of running windows for gaming purposes on a 2019 iMac.

I don't necessarily want to use the internal hard drive and would like to examine the possibility of installing boot camp on an external drive. I am worried about potential bottlenecks and compatibility of windows 10 with e.g. thunderbolt. I've done a bit of reading online but I am unfamiliar with a lot of it and its not clear to me whether it can be done.

Anyone that can shed any light on the feasibility of this is very welcome to post - especially if they've actually done it in the event that it's feasible. What would the requirements be? E.g. SSD, thunderbolt cable, what kind of controller would be needed, pitfalls etc.

Thanks in advance
Ari

 

[macduke]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about ways of running windows for gaming purposes on a 2019 iMac.

I don't necessarily want to use the internal hard drive and would like to examine the possibility of installing boot camp on an external drive. I am worried about potential bottlenecks and compatibility of windows 10 with e.g. thunderbolt. I've done a bit of reading online but I am unfamiliar with a lot of it and its not clear to me whether it can be done.

Anyone that can shed any light on the feasibility of this is very welcome to post - especially if they've actually done it in the event that it's feasible. What would the requirements be? E.g. SSD, thunderbolt cable, what kind of controller would be needed, pitfalls etc.

Thanks in advance
Ari

Here is your 38 step guide: https://9to5mac.com/2017/08/31/how-windows-10-mac-boot-camp-external-drive-video/

Haven't tried it myself, but may do it someday when I need the internal space and when external SSDs drop in price a bit more.

 

[Lee_Bo]

I just resorted to keeping an older Dell Precision M4700 (i7, 32 gigs ram) in my bag just for gaming.

 

[Thomas Lund]

I did the 9 to 5 install yesterday and had to redo it twice to get it working on my 2019 iMac. But it works! Running Windows 10 off an external Samsung T5 SSD now

Some things that you need to know compared to the 9to5 video/install which is slightly old:
- when partitioning your drive on Mojave Disk utility, you need to click View->Show All Devices to be able to partition with the GUID Partition Map scheme

- do NOT download the Windows 10 October update, but use the April one. Unless you want to pay $30 for the WinToUSB tool

Other than that - smooth ride with the install. Do have a non bluetooth keyboard and mouse to be able to complete the Windows 10 install.

I still have not gotten my bluetooth keyboard and mouse working - and audio is not playing either. Those are the 2 last niggly parts.

 

[Mettwurst]

 

[upthetoffees]

I'm having some issues with this. 2019 imac, latest OSX with external T1 Samsung SSD drive and windows 10 iso.
All goes well until I have to boot up, I hit option and then select the right install and I see the Windows logo and it gets to about 55% then hangs and then I see 'recovery - your pc couldn't start correctly. After multiple tries, the operating system on your pc failed repaired - Error code 0xc0000001'

I think I did everything correctly for formatting of the ssd and usb key.

Will check the vid above thanks. I followed the guide that was based around VirtualBox.

Oh and also I couldn't use bootcamp as the only option was to install Windows 10 on the main OSX drive not loading the drivers etc as seen in the tutorials.

This step in the 9to5:

==
Step 04: Open Finder and go to Applications → Utilities → Boot Camp Assistant. In the menu bar, click Action → Download Windows Support Software. Choose Desktop for download location and click Save.
==

You can no longer do that, there is no option to Download Windows Support Software