Install Windows 7 Externally?

[bentom13]

**Bear in mind i am in the uk - but any help is much appreciated**

I was wondering if there was anyway possible to install windows on an external HDD and use it on my 5K iMac?

Also could i do it on a network device or would it have to be connected via USB?

I have a 512GB SSD and need all of the space i can get really, therefore i don't want to install it via bootcamp onto the SSD.

Also i am thinking about getting an external NAS devices, are there any recommendations under £100 - i am looking at a 2TB WD model that i can also connect my current external HDD to it.

Thankyou in advance!

 

[yjchua95]

**Bear in mind i am in the uk - but any help is much appreciated**

I was wondering if there was anyway possible to install windows on an external HDD and use it on my 5K iMac?

Also could i do it on a network device or would it have to be connected via USB?

I have a 512GB SSD and need all of the space i can get really, therefore i don't want to install it via bootcamp onto the SSD.

Also i am thinking about getting an external NAS devices, are there any recommendations under £100 - i am looking at a 2TB WD model that i can also connect my current external HDD to it.

Thankyou in advance!

Windows 7 - nope. At least not over USB.

Windows 8.1 - yes (the method below is for a UEFI installation of 8.1 in a USB/TB external drive).

Instructions:

Connect external drive to Windows VM. You must have a Windows VM in VMware/Parallels (or VirtualBox).

What you need:
install.wim file (obtain this from your Windows ISO)

Open elevated cmd.exe

Note: All commands aren't case sensitive, including pathway to files.

Type diskpart
Type list disk
Take note of the disk you want to select
Type select disk 1 (if your disk is Disk 1)
Type clean
Type convert gpt
Type create partition EFI size=100
Type format quick fs=fat32 label=EFI
Type assign letter=S
Type create partition primary
Type format fs=ntfs quick label=W2G (or any other name you wish for label)
Type assign letter=E
Type exit

Open up File Explorer. In your C drive, create a new folder named WIN2GO.
Put the install.wim file in this folder

Back in cmd.exe:
Type dism /apply-image /imagefile:C:\WIN2GO\install.wim /index:1 /applydir:E:\ (this process will take quite a while)
Type E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI

Restart your entire Mac. After the chime, hold down Option and when prompted to select your boot drive, select EFI Boot.

Proceed installation normally.

After installation, install Boot Camp drivers.

 

[Chippy99]

Windows 7 - nope.

Why do you say that? I am not saying you're wrong, I just don't understand.

I have a late 2012 iMac with windows 7 that I boot on an external drive.

Are you suggesting RiMac bootcamp doesn't support W7?

 

[rigormortis]

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7-to-usb-external-hard-drive-must-read/

 

[biohead]

Of course you can install Windows 7 externally - its not quite as straightforward as Windows 8, and it does require a thunderbolt drive. It doesn't require a Windows VM.

I bought a Buffalo Thunderbolt external, ripped out the spinning disk and put my own 480GB SSD in.

You need to create a small Fat32 partition on your internal drive - you can either do this manually (and create a partition around 2GB) or use the Bootcamp assistant (which gives a minimum size of 20GB). Then simply boot from the install disk, when you get to choosing the drive you simply choose your thunderbolt one, and let the install continue. The small partition created on your internal HDD is a required one where some system files get placed. This may be different on the newer iMacs though (mines a 2011)?

There is a thread on here: LINK detailing the process, worth a read.

 

[yjchua95]

Why do you say that? I am not saying you're wrong, I just don't understand.

I have a late 2012 iMac with windows 7 that I boot on an external drive.

Are you suggesting RiMac bootcamp doesn't support W7?

That's because you didn't install it the UEFI way. Windows 7 doesn't really work with an EFI installation properly.

And my steps basically takes care of the actual installation itself so that when you first boot into the external drive, it goes to setup immediately.

Besides, since it's an RiMac, Windows 7 doesn't play nice with HiDPI displays. Windows 8.1 has far better support for HiDPI displays.

----------

Of course you can install Windows 7 externally - its not quite as straightforward as Windows 8, and it does require a thunderbolt drive. It doesn't require a Windows VM.

I bought a Buffalo Thunderbolt external, ripped out the spinning disk and put my own 480GB SSD in.

You need to create a small Fat32 partition on your internal drive - you can either do this manually (and create a partition around 2GB) or use the Bootcamp assistant (which gives a minimum size of 20GB). Then simply boot from the install disk, when you get to choosing the drive you simply choose your thunderbolt one, and let the install continue. The small partition created on your internal HDD is a required one where some system files get placed. This may be different on the newer iMacs though (mines a 2011)?

There is a thread on here: LINK detailing the process, worth a read.

My steps don't require a TB drive specifically - it works for both TB and USB. So to save costs for the OP, I posted steps which will work for a USB drive.

Basically, what my steps do is that it creates an unofficial Windows-to-Go-like drive.

The added bonus is that, of course, you can even boot from the external drive when plugged into another Windows computer.

 

[biohead]

My steps don't require a TB drive specifically - it works for both TB and USB. So to save costs for the OP, I posted steps which will work for a USB drive.

Basically, what my steps do is that it creates an unofficial Windows-to-Go-like drive.

The added bonus is that, of course, you can even boot from the external drive when plugged into another Windows computer.

My post was specifically based on OP requesting Windows 7, which you wouldn't be able to do the Windows 8 way.

 

[yjchua95]

My post was specifically based on OP requesting Windows 7, which you wouldn't be able to do the Windows 8 way.

And my post was specifically based on OP requesting for an NAS or a USB drive.

TB is not necessary, and since it's a retina iMac, installing Windows 7 on it wouldn't be advisable, considering its dreary support for HiDPI displays.

 

[Chippy99]

I'm not sure anyone has written a Mac-specific tutorial yet.

But if you google WinToUsb 2.0 beta (for example, there are other methods) then you will find out how to get Windows 7 onto a USB drive and with some fiddling about this could be made to work with a Mac.

There's another method here:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7-to-usb-external-hard-drive-must-read/

But as I say, with Bootcamp involved, you'd have to adapt this a bit, but I am certain it's do-able. Since WinToUSB will clone an existing Windows implementation, it *may* be possible to simply install Bootcamp on your internal drive as normal, boot from it and then clone that installation using WinToUsb. You'd have to try it.

@yjchua95: I notice you've edited your "Windows 7 - nope" comment and added "At least not over USB". You may need to edit it again ;-)

 

[yjchua95]

I'm not sure anyone has written a Mac-specific tutorial yet.

But if you google WinToUsb 2.0 beta (for example, there are other methods) then you will find out how to get Windows 7 onto a USB drive and with some fiddling about this could be made to work with a Mac.

There's another method here:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7-to-usb-external-hard-drive-must-read/

But as I say, with Bootcamp involved, you'd have to adapt this a bit, but I am certain it's do-able. Since WinToUSB will clone an existing Windows implementation, it *may* be possible to simply install Bootcamp on your internal drive as normal, boot from it and then clone that installation using WinToUsb. You'd have to try it.

@yjchua95: I notice you've edited your "Windows 7 - nope" comment and added "At least not over USB". You may need to edit it again ;-)

Either way, it'd be best for the OP to not install Windows 7, since it's a 5K iMac. Windows 7's support for HiDPI displays is abysmal. The OP would have a far better UX with 8.1.

 

[Chippy99]

Either way, it'd be best for the OP to not install Windows 7, since it's a 5K iMac. Windows 7's support for HiDPI displays is abysmal. The OP would have a far better UX with 8.1.

Fair point.