Install and run OS X 10.6.8 on usb drive

[ryanEM3]

Hey guys,

I did a little bit of research on this topic before posting but couldn't find any good tutorials.

So I am wondering if it's possible to format a 32GB usb flash drive (or SDHC card) as GUID and install snow leopard (10.6.8) on it as if it was an SSD hard. Has anyone had any experience doing this?

Now the reason I want to do this is that I have purchased a new hard drive for my macbook pro (mid-2009) and I have two Dental school testing programs on my old drive that can't be transferred anywhere else because they can only be installed on one machine and only once. So I was thinking that if I clone my hard and create a bootable version on a USB or SD card then I could just have it with me anywhere I go and use it on any computer by just booting from it.

Any ideas?

By the way, I am planning on using either SuperDuper! or CCC for the cloning.

Thanks

 

[Intell]

It works. But it isn't the fastest. You could even use a 16Gb drive.

 

[ryanEM3]

It works. But it isn't the fastest. You could even use a 16Gb drive.

Thanks for the reply.

Faster compared to what? Although speed isn't really an issue for me as long as I can get the exam software to work without having to pay for activation again.

 

[ufkdo]

Thanks for the reply.

Faster compared to what? Although speed isn't really an issue for me as long as I can get the exam software to work without having to pay for activation again.

Most 32 GB USB sticks reads/writes around 20 mb/s. It's slower than a 5400 rpm hdd, way slower than 7200 rpm hdd and pathetic as compared to SSD.

 

[ryanEM3]

Most 32 GB USB sticks reads/writes around 20 mb/s. It's slower than a 5400 rpm hdd, way slower than 7200 rpm hdd and pathetic as compared to SSD.

I understand. I wasn't really looking for the fastest option.

How about creating a virtual machine in virtualbox from a cloned drive?

That is another option since my new hard is a 500GB 7200rpm drive.

 

[Ice-Cube]

For your needs I would suggest getting a external firewire drive instead. Its faster than USB and a lot more durable compared to usb sticks. Besides, you can partition the external drive and use the other half for storage.

 

[GS Owner]

Interesting read.

For "stuff" & Giggles I was thinking of putting Lion on one of my 32GB USB Flash Drives.
Now I know I can do it.

And for the record: When I DO start up Lion on my Internal drive, I usually play a quick game while the modem wakes up from Sleep. That's what really slows me down: Waiting for the modem to wake up.

 

[SookieSam]

Hey guys,

I did a little bit of research on this topic before posting but couldn't find any good tutorials.

So I am wondering if it's possible to format a 32GB usb flash drive (or SDHC card) as GUID and install snow leopard (10.6.8) on it as if it was an SSD hard. Has anyone had any experience doing this?

Now the reason I want to do this is that I have purchased a new hard drive for my macbook pro (mid-2009) and I have two Dental school testing programs on my old drive that can't be transferred anywhere else because they can only be installed on one machine and only once. So I was thinking that if I clone my hard and create a bootable version on a USB or SD card then I could just have it with me anywhere I go and use it on any computer by just booting from it.

Any ideas?

By the way, I am planning on using either SuperDuper! or CCC for the cloning.

Thanks

Hello ryanEM3,

Will SL fit within 32GB? I don't know what the size of a vanilla install of 10.6.x is.

This proprietary software that your using ... there should be a provision that will allow you to reinstall these applications on your new hard drive without you having to pay again inorder to use them. (hard drives fail all the time)

As far as the cloning of registered/proprietary software goes, this is hit and miss. Some software companies will allow you to do this and others won't. I know that Microsoft and Adobe are forgiving in this regard. It's been my experience that specialty (vertical market) software is not.

What would I do if I were you? I think I would opt for an external USB "real" hard drive. With FireWire, you may end up playing games with what ever port type is available on the particular Mac you want to plug into.

As an aside, you can create a bootable clone of your hard drive using the Disk Utility program on your MacOSX installation disc that came with your Macintosh computer.

cheers,

SookieSam

 

[blueroom]

I've installed SL on a USB drive and a class 10 SDHC card. Both were 16GB and both dirt slow but functional (barely, lots of pinwheels). An external USB 5400RPM drive was much faster and FW800 feels about the same as the internal stock 5400 Hitachi in a 2010 MBP.

 

[ryanEM3]

@SookieSam
It was not easy to fit it on my 16GB Sandisk Cruzer Contour. I used CCC and excluded a lot of folders and applications to shrink it down from 130GB to 13GB.

As for the software, I had contacted the company about it and they said that I would have to pay a $30 fee for a new activation key. So I figured I would give it a shot before I had to cough up the money.

As far as functionality, the software seems to be working and no registration warnings yet. Although SL is sluggish but it will do for now until I get an external hard.

I've installed SL on a USB drive and a class 10 SDHC card. Both were 16GB and both dirt slow but functional (barely, lots of pinwheels). An external USB 5400RPM drive was much faster and FW800 feels about the same as the internal stock 5400 Hitachi in a 2010 MBP.

You are right. I just cloned and installed it on my flash and it is really slow. Constant pinwheels but I just plan on using the testing software and nothing else.

I haven't got a chance to install my new MBP hard but once I do, I will try the virtual machine route.

Thank you guys for the reply.