Booting to external SSD drive?

[u26055]

Is it possible to boot to an external SSD drive connected via firewire with bootcamp in ML with a year old iMac?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

In other words, you ask, if it is possible to boot Windows from an external SSD? If so, sadly no. Maybe there is a workaround though.

As for booting Mac OS X (be it Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion from an external SSD or HDD, then yes, that is possible.

How to format a new HDD/SSD to install Mac OS X onto (or make a bootable copy onto)​

 

[u26055]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to do, boot to Windows from an external drive.

I will check out that link, thanks!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to do, boot to Windows from an external drive.

I will check out that link, thanks!

That link will not help with Windows though.

 

[u26055]

True, but I was thinking I could then put bootcamp on it & just have that disk with windows on and not my internal SSD in my iMac. Won't make much of a difference, but something to play with.

 

[hfg]

Yes, it is possible to boot Windows on an external SSD with a thunderbolt interface, and possibly with a USB-3.0 interface. It is reported that Windows will detect a slower FireWire or USB-2.0 connection and refuse to run as it is deemed to be "too slow".

There are several threads here showing how and discussing this topic already.

I am running Windows 8 on a Seagate GoFlex interface to a SSD via thunderbolt on a new iMac.

 

[u26055]

I'm using the GoFlex connector firewire, but not the Thunderbolt, I'll have to check that out. It's a fair amount more expensive, but I think it would utilize the external drive I have better. I have the previous generation iMac, so I wonder if that will cause problems? I know Googles my friend here.🙂

Thanks for the reply!