Make iPod bootable/Time Machine drive?

Discussion in 'macOS' started by marekkurlmann, Mar 7, 2008.

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  1. marekkurlmann, Mar 7, 2008

    marekkurlmann macrumors regular

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2007
    #1
    Is it possible to set up an iPod to act as a bootable and/or Time Machine drive?

    Optimally, I'd like to partition a large capacity iPod (e.g. 160 GB) into partitions for music/video, a partition to boot Leopard from, and a partition for a Time Machine backup. Is this possible? If so, how is it done?

    Is it possible to do something similar to this if partitioning is not possible? What are the risks?

    My goal is to use the iPod as a backup drive I can easily take with me on the road.

    Right now I only have a 30 GB 5.5G iPod that I'd like to test this out on. If successful, I'll buy a larger capacity iPod.

    Marek
     
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  2. stainlessliquid, Mar 7, 2008

    stainlessliquid macrumors 68000

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    Sep 22, 2006
    #2
    The ipod has a hidden partition on it which holds the system information, you cant mess with that or youll brick it. You can format the regular data partition however you want even if it makes your ipod unuseable (like formatting it in NTFS, you just have to restore it in itunes to fix it), but if you repartition the whole drive which erases the hidden partition then no more ipod forever (you cant fix it). Stay away from partitioning it, you can install OS X on it though since it is seen as just a regular external drive afterall. I dont know if time machine detects ipods and blocks it from using them, it would be stupid if it did.
     
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  3. richard.mac, Mar 7, 2008

    richard.mac macrumors 603

    richard.mac

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    #3
    i wouldnt recommend this as using an iPod to boot Leopard and for using Time Machine would make it constantly run and it would get quite hot, maybe even fail.

    its possible though. partition the iPod into three partitions. the Leopard partition would have to be >9 gigs and the Time Machine partition would have to be larger than your main hard drive size.

    then install Leopard on the 10 gig partition by selecting it in the installer and then while booted in your main hard drive select the TM partition in TM's preferences.
     
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