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User profile for user: jogshy
jogshy Author
User level: Level 1
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MacMini boot from USB

Hi,

I'm a developer who wants to port a Windows app to Mac.
I have in mind to buy a MacMini but I want to know if it's possible to boot MacOSX from an USB stick.

I ask this because I need to test my app vs other OS like an old OSX 10.5 or vs future ones(like 10.7 Lion) without removing the HDD or to re-install. I would like also to install other non-Apple OSs into other USB sticks like linux or winXP and boot from it.

Thanks.

Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Jan 31, 2011 10:51 PM

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User profile for user: Niel
Niel
User level: Level 10
727,301 points

Posted on Jan 31, 2011 10:54 PM

but I want to know if it's possible to boot MacOSX from an USB stick.


Yes, as long as the Mac mini meets the requirements for that particular OS version and isn't newer than it. You can also do this by creating a second partition on the drive, noting the points above.

I would like also to install other non-Apple OSs into other USB sticks like linux or winXP and boot from it.


Yes for Linux. Windows XP booting is only supported from an internal drive.

(56572)
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User profile for user: Niel
Niel
User level: Level 10
727,301 points

Jan 31, 2011 10:54 PM in response to jogshy

but I want to know if it's possible to boot MacOSX from an USB stick.


Yes, as long as the Mac mini meets the requirements for that particular OS version and isn't newer than it. You can also do this by creating a second partition on the drive, noting the points above.

I would like also to install other non-Apple OSs into other USB sticks like linux or winXP and boot from it.


Yes for Linux. Windows XP booting is only supported from an internal drive.

(56572)
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MacMini boot from USB

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