Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: ZyanyaMJ
ZyanyaMJ Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Booting from external hard drive USB 2.0

I have an iBook G4 collecting dust in my garage because the internal hard drive is dead. I want to give it to my cousin just to surf the web so I took it to the genius bar and they were able to boot it from an external hd. Yesterday I purchased a 250 GB WD Passport external hd for $29 at Target. I was able to partition and format the hd from my MacBook Pro and have it PowerPC ready. Finally I was successful in installing Mac OS X Tiger onto it. Now that I am trying to boot from it on the iBook G4, I get nothing but the blinking folder with the question mark.


I have searched the forums and most people are quick to respond with the answer that a firewire hd is the only way to boot but I am hoping there is SOME other way around it, even if it means a lot of extra steps. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Jul 23, 2011 10:46 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,741 points

Posted on Jul 23, 2011 10:49 PM

Although you are welcome to try the reality is that precious few pre-Intel Macs can be booted from a USB drive.


In order to boot from any external drive you restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the icon for the desired boot volume then click on the downward pointing arrow button.

View in context
5 replies
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,741 points

Jul 23, 2011 10:49 PM in response to ZyanyaMJ

Although you are welcome to try the reality is that precious few pre-Intel Macs can be booted from a USB drive.


In order to boot from any external drive you restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the icon for the desired boot volume then click on the downward pointing arrow button.

Reply

Booting from external hard drive USB 2.0

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.
Learn more Sign up