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Move OS X and Windows BootCamp to external SSD?
- Thread starter Truefan31
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Using CCC will move your OS X environment to the SSD and create a recovery partition if your original disk had one, but won't move the Windows BootCamp over. For that, you can use WinClone to create a backup image and then restore it to the external SSD. Very easily done with both clone programs.
There may be issues with booting Windows from an external drive depending on which enclosure you choose to use ... some won't boot Windows on a Mac. Also be aware that the "trim" command for SSDs will work over a Thunderbolt interface, but not over a USB 3.0 interface.
Good Luck...
There may be issues with booting Windows from an external drive depending on which enclosure you choose to use ... some won't boot Windows on a Mac. Also be aware that the "trim" command for SSDs will work over a Thunderbolt interface, but not over a USB 3.0 interface.
Good Luck...
Move OS X and Windows BootCamp to external SSD?
So I can create the windows bootcamp partition on my internal hd. Then use carboncopycloner and it copies both the windows and osx over? I'd like to have half for each os on the ssd.
So do ccc first then winclone? It's a thunderbolt connection
So I can create the windows bootcamp partition on my internal hd. Then use carboncopycloner and it copies both the windows and osx over? I'd like to have half for each os on the ssd.
So do ccc first then winclone? It's a thunderbolt connection
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Partition and format your external SSD as you desire with standard "Mac OS Extended Journaled" for the OS X part, and "FAT" for the Windows part.
Then use CCC to clone your existing OS X environment to the external SSD and create the recovery partition if desired.
Then use WinClone to create an image of your existing Windows environment, and then run it again to install that image just created to your SSD. Actually, you can clone the two OS in any order you wish.
As part of your backup procedure, you can use WinClone to occasionally save a current image in case you need to reinstall Windows. CCC can be used to backup your OS X as well, or use TimeMachine.
Note: Once you create your external Windows image on the SSD, you will have to delete the internal one before you can run it. Windows can't handle 2 active copies at the same time. The easiest way to delete the internal Windows partition is to use "BootCamp Assistant", which will give you the option to delete the Windows partition and return the disk space to the OS X partition.
-howard
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I use VMware Fusion to run a virtual Windows off of the external bootable Windows environment on a Thunderbolt SSD. I can then access the Windows either way ... bootable for games (speed), or VM for other uses.
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How did you setup your Fusion? It wouldn't detect my partition no matter what I did.
Mac off external SSD
Windows off external SSD
Both works 100% seprately
However, Fusion won't detect the windows partition to import it. It makes me create a new one so I don't want to do that.
The only way it worked for me was I had to use the internal HD for boot camp and Fusion detected it right away.
So right now my iMac is setup the following:
Mac off external SSD
Bootcamp off internal 1TB
Both work 100% separately but now I can use parallels/fusion to use existing boot camp inside Mac.
I simply use the WinClone procedure in the previous post, delete the internal Windows partition, and run Fusion selecting the "add" option for a new BootCamp VM. I have done this many times without any problems with my Mac Mini and iMac (I can't seem to decide if I want Windows internal or external ... and change my mind every few months it seems).
Somewhat similar ... My Mac Pro has OS X and Windows on SSDs mounted to PCIe cards on the backplane bus, which are treated as "external drives" to the system. This works here as well.
I simply use the WinClone procedure in the previous post, delete the internal Windows partition, and run Fusion selecting the "add" option for a new BootCamp VM. I have done this many times without any problems with my Mac Mini and iMac (I can't seem to decide if I want Windows internal or external ... and change my mind every few months it seems).
Somewhat similar ... My Mac Pro has OS X and Windows on SSDs mounted to PCIe cards on the backplane bus, which are treated as "external drives" to the system. This works here as well.
I'll do some testing later this weekend. I'll partition my SSD and try to winclone my internal windows to it. Hopefully parallels see the partition to import it.
Awesome info. This is what I needed to know. I want half for windows and other for Mac for improved speed. I'll use the internal drive for storage
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I'm told I have to use windows 8 though for EFI to be able to use externally
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I'm told I have to use windows 8 though for EFI to be able to use externally
I have used this method for both Windows 7 and now Windows 8 (8.1), both times also using VMware Fusion to access them as a VM as well.
There are several threads with alternate methods for doing this on these forums, and I have tried them all and they work as well. But this simple method works for me every time ... and I use CCC daily, and WinClone often for backup/clone purposes.
My favorite external enclosures which will boot Windows are the LaCie "Rugged" (buy with SSD up to 500GB ... or buy HD refurb units and replace disk with SSD) and the Seagate "GoFlex" Thunderbolt adapter (you can get the plastic disk shells on eBay to enclose your SSD for a finished look).
There is a lot of activity on the Forum regarding external Windows install on the new Mac Pro ... and Windows 7 seems to be unable to exist on these new systems. Perhaps that is what you are hearing?
With the 8.1 update to Windows 8, you can boot directly to the old style desktop to avoid the "Metro" thing, so I am using Windows 8.1 on the bootable systems (I still have a standalone Windows 7 VM hanging around in case I need it ... haven't so far.
-howard