OSX on an external Hard Drive

[whoami]

Anyone know how to install OSX on an external hard drive????  And actually boot off that hard drive???   I am trying to install osx on an external hard drive so i can install windows on that same external hard drive.  I know I might be asking for a lot but there are a few things that I need to run off windows and I don't want to partition my internal hard drive for windows.  

[Joe]

I'd like to know the answer too. Actually I'd just like to install XP on an external drive without OS X and then boot from the internal to OS X and boot into XP via Bootcamp to the firewire external.

[Chilbear]

Have you looked into Parallels. It is very sweet. I have a dual monitor set up and run XP on the main and OS X on the extra.  Is the machine you are working with Intel? If not ignore me - in a nice way.

[jezza]

I think the easiest way to install OS X on to an external would be simply to make a clone of your current installation using something like http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

You can even clone your windows install and then just hold the option key at start up to select the volume you wish to start up from assuming you're using http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Not sure how it would work with virtual software though. Have I understood correctly?

[Joe]

I think the easiest way to install OS X on to an external would be simply to make a clone of your current installation using something like http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

You can even clone your windows install and then just hold the option key at start up to select the volume you wish to start up from assuming you're using http://www.aThe Dark Sidele.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Not sure how it would work with virtual software though. Have I understood correctly?

Oops...word filter at work on that url Jezza. I need to fix that.

Chilbear, I do use parallels but sometimes I'd like to boot into XP by itself using bootcamp.

[doubting_thomas]

Anyone know how to install OSX on an external hard drive????  And actually boot off that hard drive???   I am trying to install osx on an external hard drive so i can install windows on that same external hard drive.  I know I might be asking for a lot but there are a few things that I need to run off windows and I don't want to partition my internal hard drive for windows. 

Make sure the external drive is Firewire. Macs won't boot to an external USB drive.

[MonkeyBoy]

I use the software SuperDuper! that backs up my HD to an external firewire. I'm able to boot up off that external which saved me bum when my computer itself went down. I just grabbed another computer, hooked up the firewire and worked of the firewire until my other computer was repaired.
I schedule it to backup every Friday. Good software for that purpose.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

[kermit]

It's easy. You can install it on any firewire or USB (this must be intel based mac). I have os x (minimal plus diskwarrior and techtools) installed on my 4GB USB flashdrive, so I can boot from it and fix someone else mac if I have to.

Or just as others said: clone it with superduper or carbon copy clone (free). It works great. Just cloned last week.

[Joe]

I use the software SuperDuper! that backs up my HD to an external firewire. I'm able to boot up off that external which saved me bum when my computer itself went down. I just grabbed another computer, hooked up the firewire and worked of the firewire until my other computer was repaired.
I schedule it to backup every Friday. Good software for that purpose.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

Thanks for the link. I might have Bootcamp install XP to the internal. Back it all up to the external with SuperDuper. Then delete it from the internal. Although I'm still not sure I can boot from the external firewire into XP.

[Joe]

It's easy. You can install it on any firewire or USB (this must be intel based mac). I have os x (minimal plus diskwarrior and techtools) installed on my 4GB USB flashdrive, so I can boot from it and fix someone else mac if I have to.

Or just as others said: clone it with superduper or carbon copy clone (free). It works great. Just cloned last week.

Bootcamp will not let you install Windows to an external drive. I think that was what the original poster was wanting to do. Installing OS X to the external is the easy part.

[kermit]

Yes, you are right. I did not get that. Bootcamp will NOT allow you even to install on internal HD that is partitioned.

[whoami]

http://www.dualbootguru.com/bc%20-%20booting%20external%20hdd.shtml

http://www.bombich.com/mactips/dualboot.html
 

I still haven't tried it but it seems promising.