Is it possible to install Snow Leopard on an external hard disk?

Question

Is it possible to install Snow Leopard on an external hard disk?

I was wondering if it is possible to install Snow Leopard on an external drive that I use as a backup start up disk. Can I then boot up off of either disk? I would like to test Snow Leopard with my applications before I install it on my internal drive.

Thanks

2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on May 11, 2010 1:54 PM

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Answer 1

DonH49

Level 6

16,704 points

May 11, 2010 1:55 PM in response to Richard Skover1

yes

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Answer 2

May 16, 2010 9:40 AM in response to DonH49

How?

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

May 16, 2010 9:57 AM in response to gnawbone315

You can install from your install disk and migrate from your internal during Setup Assistant.
If all is well you can then use SuperDuper or CarbonCopy Cloner both free for cloning to clone the system on your external to your internal.

This is what I do when testing upgrades/updates.

-mj

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Answer 4

May 16, 2010 10:03 AM in response to macjack

I would like to put a "clean" OS X install on an external drive without messing with my existing computer at all (messing with = not reinstalling OS X on my existing computer).

I've had a ton of trouble with my Macbook Pro and I've finally got it running correctly (3 days in a row at the Apple store w/Mac genius) and I don't want to disrupt it at all.

If I boot my Macbook from the OS X install disk is it possible to install the OS on the external drive AND totally bypass my Macbook?

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Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

May 16, 2010 10:06 AM in response to gnawbone315

Yes, you can do that but you'll need to re-install or port over third party applications and any bundled software that came with your Mac on the original install discs.

-mj

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Answer 6

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

May 16, 2010 10:06 AM in response to gnawbone315

gnawbone315 wrote:
If I boot my Macbook from the OS X install disk is it possible to install the OS on the external drive AND totally bypass my Macbook?

yes. i would recommend a firewire drive but a USB drive will do, too.

boot up from the install DVD and select the external as destination for the installation.

J GG

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