If I have an external SSD and connect it to my mac (Mojave) via USB-C, and install Windows on it, then could I boot the mac into Windows from the drive, without needing to have a partition inside my computer?
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Is it possible to boot Windows from an external drive?
- Thread starter Drifty_Child
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There's nothing about the Mac that prevents this. Windows does however not officially support external installations. You can get it to work no problem, but it is an unsupported configuration by Microsoft and may require workarounds to get it to install.
It it this way in Boot Camp? Or can Boot Camp only install on the internal drive?
Windows To Go https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_To_Go
List of tools to create Live USB systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tools_to_create_Live_USB_systems
List of tools to create Live USB systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tools_to_create_Live_USB_systems
Boot Camp will only install Windows on the internal drive. You will need an unsupported work around to install Windows on an external drive.
As chscag said, BootCamp won't help you, since Microsoft sees it as an unsupported configuration running on an external drive, Apple wouldn't want to set up unsupported Windows configurations and get all the blame. (even though it works just fine)
I just installed Windows 10 on a Samsung T5 external SSD drive on Sunday with this tutorial:
Only had one set back which was to disable startup security for external drives. Other than that it was pretty easy and since you download the boot camp drivers from Boot Camp Assistant you'll have all the drivers you'll need.
Only had one set back which was to disable startup security for external drives. Other than that it was pretty easy and since you download the boot camp drivers from Boot Camp Assistant you'll have all the drivers you'll need.
That's a wonderful video! I'd love to follow those steps. Although it seems Microsoft no longer offers the April version of Windows 10. I wonder if the November version works with this method, or if the opportunity is lost. Which month version did you use?
I do this with my Samsung T3. lifesaver.
just don’t expect all the big Annual updates To work. Security updates work but Windows ToGo efi boot issues dont allow some updates. so you’ll need to fresh install if you want the newest system updates. Not an issue for security updates tho.
just don’t expect all the big Annual updates To work. Security updates work but Windows ToGo efi boot issues dont allow some updates. so you’ll need to fresh install if you want the newest system updates. Not an issue for security updates tho.
I see. Will trying to update break things, or will it simply tell me that I can't update?
I had an old iMac that I would boot into Windows from time to time. I used an actually PC to install Windows 10 on to an SSD. I then used a docking station similar to this to connect the SSD to my iMac.
When I would boot or reboot, I held down the "Option" key and selected the the Windows SSD.
One thing to note: I had to download Bootcamp to get the drivers I needed for keyboard, monitor, WiFi, etc. I manually installed only the drivers I needed.
When I would boot or reboot, I held down the "Option" key and selected the the Windows SSD.
One thing to note: I had to download Bootcamp to get the drivers I needed for keyboard, monitor, WiFi, etc. I manually installed only the drivers I needed.
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I have been trying numerous times to install bootcamp windows on my external drive and got success only unto till the graphic driver updates and thereafter I only get black screen and cannot proceed.
I have a MacBook air mid 2011 with Intel HD3000 graphics.
On trying to install intel driver I still get black screen. This is with windows 10 version 1909, 1903, 1806 but no joy.
Would anyone have any solution to this. I have spent days removing, formatting and proceeding again and again but it leads to same result. All goes well till the drivers start updating and bam! black screen.
Even if my MacBook Air is unsupported as per bootcamp configurations it should still work.
I have a MacBook air mid 2011 with Intel HD3000 graphics.
On trying to install intel driver I still get black screen. This is with windows 10 version 1909, 1903, 1806 but no joy.
Would anyone have any solution to this. I have spent days removing, formatting and proceeding again and again but it leads to same result. All goes well till the drivers start updating and bam! black screen.
Even if my MacBook Air is unsupported as per bootcamp configurations it should still work.