[SOLVED] Can you install windows on a external hard drive?

aployalka · Sep 12, 2014

I just bought a Macbook. I'm a new user to Mac OSX. However I shall require to use windows.
I have heard of 3 ways of using windows, ie, Parallels, VMWare's Fusion, Boot Camp.
I want to install windows on an external drive and then live boot it when I plug the hard drive. Is it possible? I hope, because, I really don't want to dedicate space from my internal hard drive. Kindly suggest.

Someone Somewhere · Sep 12, 2014

No. Windows will outright refuse to install.

There is something called Windows To Go, but you need an Enterprise license.

hoax187 · Sep 12, 2014

It is possible, but will require you to mark the external hard drive as local drive

I read a tutorial about this somewhere I don't remember but you can easily google it I think.

How ever I don't recommend that because if its a USB 2.0 HDD it will run windows slow,

I have a mac book myself and I use boot camp, and I use my external HDD for storage I think its better because of the macbook SSD your windows will boot and work faster

Just my opinion, if you still wanna install on external HDD, I'm gonna try to find the guide for you

Ijack · Sep 14, 2014

Yes, you can do it. Have a look at:

http://bleeptobleep.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/mac-install-windows-7-or-8-on-external.html

Make sure that you get a USB3 drive. (Thunderbolt would do also, but they are ridiculously expensive for much the same performance.)

plast0000 · Oct 10, 2014

there's a good tool that comes with OS X called "boot camp" you can use it to install Windows next to OS X

Search

[SOLVED] Can you install windows on a external hard drive?

aployalka

Reputable

Ijack

Someone Somewhere

Titan

hoax187

Honorable

Ijack

Splendid

plast0000

Distinguished

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page