Remove OS X from internal disk, bad idea?

Discussion in 'macOS' started by al404, Jul 17, 2016.

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  1. al404, Jul 17, 2016

    al404 macrumors 6502

    al404

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2011
    Location:
    Novara, Italy
    #1
    I boot my Mac mini from external SSD and have TM backup and a backup on NAS of my system
    Initially I used to clone with CCC my SSD on internal HDD but I don't do it anymore, and some applications like 1password get disappointed when they find a copy on internal storage.

    I was thinking that I can remove internal OS X partition and use my internal HDD for other staff
    Note sure if that could cause some issue like on system update

    I also try to do it but disk utility wan't let my format the internal disk I guess that I can do it booting from recovery
     
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  2. maflynn, Jul 17, 2016

    maflynn Moderator

    maflynn

    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    Location:
    Boston
    #2
    There's no reason to keep the OS on the internal drive, if you will never use it. I don't think you'll run into any issues by removing it.
     
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  3. Fishrrman, Jul 17, 2016

    Fishrrman macrumors G5

    Fishrrman

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2009
    #3
    As maflynn wrote above, you CAN remove the OS from the internal drive, if you're using an external booter. The Mac doesn't particularly care -where- the OS is, as long as it can find it, and so long as it's bootable.

    HOWEVER (personal experience follows):
    I've been booting and running a late-2012 Mac Mini from an SSD in a USB3/SATA dock since January 2013 -- going on 4 years now.

    I partitioned my -internal- (1tb) drive, and I use CarbonCopyCloner to maintain a bootable backup of my SSD's boot partition on the internal drive.

    It's been running this way since I got the Mini and set it up, no problems at all.

    I don't use "1password", however, so I can't comment on that.

    Something to keep in mind:
    As nifty as SSD's are, be aware that when they fail, they just "stop dead". That is to say, no warning in advance, as you might get from a platter-based hard drive that is having problems.
    For this reason, I consider it ESSENTIAL to keep a fully-bootable clone of the SSD boot drive "close at hand". If something goes wrong, you're just "a restart away" from being back up-and-running as you were before.
     
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  4. al404, Jul 27, 2016

    al404 thread starter macrumors 6502

    al404

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2011
    Location:
    Novara, Italy
    #4
    mac mini i7 2012 and USB3 ssd
    i used to do a CCC copy of my eternal drive but some app seems to get confused when they see 2 systems even if the interna HDD was excluded from spotlight

    I did boot from recovery and wiped my internal storage
     
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  5. mmomega, Jul 27, 2016

    mmomega macrumors demi-god

    mmomega

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2009
    Location:
    DFW, TX
    #5
    If you boot up with a Windows install USB, OS X Bootable USB or Internet recovery, you can format the internal drive completely.

    I have over 30 Mac with no trace of OS X installed on them. I'll boot them up fresh out of the plastic wrap to a USB and wipe the drives clean.
     
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