Anyone have information regarding the nMP and Bootcamp, specifically can Windows 8 be run natively from an external Thunderbolt drive? I would not want to partition my single internal drive just to run Windows natively.
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Bootcamp
- Thread starter Rad
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If I'm not mistaken, bootcamp install doesn't allow windows to be installed to an external drive, regardless if it's a MacPro, iMac or any Mac.
I'm curious about the FirePro GPU drivers for windows, I hope it'll be optimized for OpenGL softwares; 3D CAD
Did you try this on the nMP? Or are you talking about one of the cheese grater models? There is a difference in how the OS treats thunderbolt connected drives...
silvetti
macrumors 6502a
You can install boot camp in TB device, not USB.
Step 1: Use boot camp to install Windows 7 x64 on your internal drive (this is what I used, Im sure Windows 8 x64 will work).
Step 2: Complete installing boot camp drivers and apply software updates. Ensure Thunderbolt is functional.*
Step 3: Install and use Winclone*on your Mac to make a backup image of the Bootcamp Partition.*
Step 4: Once youve made the backup image, restore that image to your External Thunderbolt drive (Ive read that firewire 800 may work, I havent tried this). When asked if you want to replace the BCD file, yes- you want to do that. DO NOT REBOOT until disconnecting the external Thunderbolt drive.*
Step 5: Restart after disconnecting the destination drive from step 4.
Step 6:* Use the boot camp utility to delete the Windows partition and reclaim the space.*CAUTION! This step will destroy your Windows boot camp installation, but hey- at this point you should have the image backed up with Winclone.
Step 7: Connect the external Thunderbolt drive and restart holding option. Select Windows 7 boot camp.
Step 1: Use boot camp to install Windows 7 x64 on your internal drive (this is what I used, Im sure Windows 8 x64 will work).
Step 2: Complete installing boot camp drivers and apply software updates. Ensure Thunderbolt is functional.*
Step 3: Install and use Winclone*on your Mac to make a backup image of the Bootcamp Partition.*
Step 4: Once youve made the backup image, restore that image to your External Thunderbolt drive (Ive read that firewire 800 may work, I havent tried this). When asked if you want to replace the BCD file, yes- you want to do that. DO NOT REBOOT until disconnecting the external Thunderbolt drive.*
Step 5: Restart after disconnecting the destination drive from step 4.
Step 6:* Use the boot camp utility to delete the Windows partition and reclaim the space.*CAUTION! This step will destroy your Windows boot camp installation, but hey- at this point you should have the image backed up with Winclone.
Step 7: Connect the external Thunderbolt drive and restart holding option. Select Windows 7 boot camp.
or you could simply install normally from the win8 disc to the external disk and install the downloaded bootcamp drivers... The Bootcamp assistant is not needed.
