Can you run OSX from a portable HDD?

[Coflash]

Hello

I'm currently using Windows/Linux one of my Macbooks (testing)

Is it possible to also boot OSX on it from an external drive? Don't care if it's slow

Thanks

 

[dukebound85]

yes, just needs to be on a partition that is hfs

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Yes.

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

 

[SweeneyD24]

YES! Did it, days ago!

 

[Fishrrman]

Yes, as others above have said.

I suggest you initialize your external drive HFS+ (use Disk Utility).

Then, use CarbonCopyCloner (free to download and use for 30 days) to "clone" the contents of your internal drive to the external. (Note: I believe CCC copies _only_ Mac-related files, and cannot clone the Windows partition).

The result should be a bootable external drive that has the exact contents of [the Mac portion of] your internal drive.

CCC can also clone the recovery partition, as well.

 

[Madd the Sane]

Also, the partition scheme MUST be GUID. The other options might be bootable, but GUID creates a small partition at the beginning that EFI (the Mac BIOS) uses.