Using a external Optical Drive

The MacBook Pro can boot from an USB or FireWire optical drive, but basically not from one which is connected to another computer.

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Hello,

Niel wrote:
The MacBook Pro can boot from an USB or FireWire optical drive, but basically not from one which is connected to another computer.

does this also apply when I want to install Windows to Bootcamp ? Will I be able to boot the Windows installation from an external CD ?

Thx

I understand the answer to this is 'No', not with Bootcamp.

I don't know whether you can boot from an external drive using Parallels or another of the 3rd-party apps.

Neville

and if I use rEFIt ?

Sorry, rEFlt is not in my usable vocabulary. Pls explain.

Neville

Sorry.
rEFIt is a boot manager http://refit.sourceforge.net/

Thanks. I've looked up the website and it seems that it won't enable Windows bootup from any kind of external drive. This is said to be an Apple firmware constraint.

Neville

Hi, I've been having similar problems to the original poster, but in my case I already have a USB external DVD drive, and have tried booting from an install DVD on it. You say it should boot from something like this, but I've been unable to get it to do so. Even when working properly on my desktop, and offering the contents of the DVD, it still doesn't list the DVD as a viable Startup Disk option.

Do you have any tips?

Also when you boot while holding the option key down ??

When rebooting with option down, and tried it holding C down.

When holding option, it doesn't list it in the drive list.

+USB external DVD drive, and have tried booting from an install DVD on it+

It works fine with a Firewire external optical drive but I don't have one with a USB interface to test ...

does the drive spin up at boot ?? or show any signs of power-on ??
does it have the option to feed dc power to it ??

The drive does spin, and does power up. It's powered by one or two USB slots, as needed. I am using them both, but I don't think it needs it.

So, no DC option, though I suppose I could hook the extra USB to a usb power adapter.

Should I try to find a USB to Firewire adapter? The 1st gen does have a firewire port.

I did a bit of a research for you and realised what you are attempting is not a huge success story ..you can however install using a flash usb if that helps :
http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html

It says it's for intel macs, but I'll give it a try.

In any case, I'm just a bit peeved, because the documentation on the disc itself says an external DVD drive can be used to install it... Very frustrating.