Installing Windows 7 on Mac 10.7.4

[Rover-dude]

Hey Everybody!
So, I just ordered Windows 7 through my college's bookstore and it will be coming in a couple of days. So, I was originally going to install it on a External HD, but I found out MAC can't boot from an external device.

Now, my first question is how should I install it? I was originally going to use Boot Camp, but I also read https://www.virtualbox.org/ was good. So any suggestions? By the way, I really don't want to buy Parallel Software, I'd rather use Boot camp.

My second question is, if I use Boot Camp, how big of a Partition should I make. I have a 500GB HDD installed, I am currently using about 80GB for files and apps. However, I am majoring in Systems and Networking support, and if everything goes smooth, this will be my main computer for class.

Next semester I am taking Windows Scripting, Web Design, CAD I, and Networking 1. This will be the only computer I use for web Design.

Then again, I do have a 1TB External drive that I can always use, but I want enough where I don't have to use that all the time.

Thank you in advance.

 

[MisterMe]

... but I found out MAC can't boot from an external device.

....

You found out wrong. PPC-based Macs can boot from FireWire-based volumes. Intel-based Macs can also boot from USB-based volumes.

 

[drambuie]

MisterMe is correct, however the problem is that Win 7 can't boot from an external USB or firewire drive. It can boot from eSATA, but that's because the SATA controller of eSATA is actually an internal controller. I don't know if the USB restriction has been removed in Win 8.

 

[Edie Brickell]

Windows 7 can only be installed via bootcamp and the drive space you want to give windows can be calculated at the time of installation. It's very easy to install win7 via bootcamp, then why from external USB or firewire. The windows 7 installation can take less than 10 GB but you need to keep much space for saving data on windows 7. Divide the drive into 2 partitions one for Mac and one for Windows further you can change the partition size in future.