Erasing internal drive and macOS on external.

[yellowhelicopter]

I'm currently using M1 and Ventura 13.4.1 installed on external drive, the drive is encrypted.

Now I want to erase my internal drive and reinstall macOS on it from scratch. I'm wondering will the system still be able to boot from the external drive after I fully erase internal and install newer version of macOS on it, like if it was a new computer? I'm asking because internal may keep some important information for booting from external, especially when its encrypted like in my case.

 

[eldho]

I'm currently using M1 and Ventura 13.4.1 installed on external drive, the drive is encrypted.

Now I want to erase my internal drive and reinstall macOS on it from scratch. I'm wondering will the system still be able to boot from the external drive after I fully erase internal and install newer version of macOS on it, like if it was a new computer? I'm asking because internal may keep some important information for booting from external, especially when its encrypted like in my case.

I would be very nervous about that given the issues of booting from an external drive on apple silicon anyway - but I am not knowledgeable enough to be sure. I am curious as to why you are wanting to do this. You can erase all your personal stuff by a simple click which leaves the OS as new so I see little point in reinstalling it which would presumably achieve what you want to do but rather more safely.

 

[yellowhelicopter]

given the issues of booting from an external drive on apple silicon anyway

Well, I've had no issues with that. It works perfectly for me (as well as Monterey before) except somewhat slow boot time.

I am curious as to why you are wanting to do this. You can erase all your personal stuff by a simple click which leaves the OS as new so I see little point in reinstalling it which would presumably achieve what you want to do but rather more safely.

Hmm, you mean "Erase Content and Settings" option or just manually erase home directory and programs? If the first, my initial question is valid for that option too. I'm not sure if I'll be able to boot from ext after using it.

 

[eldho]

Well, I've had no issues with that. It works perfectly for me (as well as Monterey before) except somewhat slow boot time.



Hmm, you mean "Erase Content and Settings" option or just manually erase home directory and programs? If the first, my initial question is valid for that option too. I'm not sure if I'll be able to boot from ext after using it.

Yes I was meaning the "erase content and settings" option. Given that the OS is kept in a separate volume now that the user cannot access in any normal manner you should still be able to boot from an external drive as the part that is used for that should not have changed at all. Of course what should happen and what actually happens might be a bit different. Good luck if you do go ahead with that.