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install on an external iMac

What is the best way to install SN on an external disc? I'm running Lion on an intel iMac.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 9, 2012 6:16 PM

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4 replies

Jul 9, 2012 6:35 PM in response to calbob84

Borrowed from Kappy,



Drive Preparation


1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.


2. After DU loads select your external hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.


3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.


4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.


5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.


6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.


7. After formatting is complete quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard being sure to select the external drive as the target.


Note that you will need a Snow Leopard DVD. The above will only work for you if you can boot your computer from a Snow Leopard DVD. If you have a new model that came with Lion pre-installed then the above will not work because a Snow Leopard retail DVD cannot boot your model.

install on an external iMac

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