I just got my macbook pro retina 2.3 ghz with a 256GB SSD. I want to install Windows 7 + Bootcamp on an external hard drive, and be able to boot from it, and access programs, games, and any files on it. Is this possbile? I havent yet purchased an external hard drive. Thanks in advance.
Sorry, but not possible. Windows will neither install on nor boot from an external device. You will need to use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition on your internal SSD. However, you can store files on an external drive (data drive.)
Okay so if I installed Windows 7 Bootcamp on my internal hard drive, and installed it, would I be to install and play Diablo 3 or Modern Warfare 3 if the files are on my external HD?
Usually applications' installers give you a default installation location and prompt if that's where you want to install it. You can change that to a different location, such as an external drive. This will likely slow down the game a bit if it has to load data from an external drive instead of the SSD.
You need to decide whether it's better to install everything on the SSD, thus, requiring a larger allocation of space for the Windows partition.
Not sure. Windows doesn't like to install programs to removable drives, but in all honesty I've never really tried except for self contained, mobile/portable, programs that do not place anything in the Windows registry.
How much slower do you think it will be? / If I got an external SSD wouldn't it be a similar speed?
Only if connected via Thunderbolt. Not so by USB or Firewire. I don't know how much slower. It may not even be noticeable. You'll just need to find that out yourself.
Thanks, and finally do you have any recommendations for quality thunderbolt external drives? (SSD or Standard)
Oh and the macbook pro retina doesnt have a firewire port AFAIK.
I assure you a Windows installer will not install to an external drive, nor can you boot the Windows installer from an external optical drive with the exception of Apple's USB SuperDrive when connected to a MBA or Mac Mini.
Now, with the help of a Windows PC and some third-party Windows software it is possible to create a Windows installer that will work from a USB flash drive.
The market of Thunderbolt drives is pretty thin and they are expensive (search Google.) Apple is supposed to produce a Thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor but it isn't yet available, AFAIK. 🙂
buy a usb 3 external hard drive. I have a rMBP with a 512 SSD and it reads and writes to a 1 Tb usb 3 external hard drive at 100 Mb/s, which is almost as fast as an internal hard drive. The thunderbolt drives will cost you 4 times as much.
Possible to install Windows 7 BootCamp on External HD?
