Is it possible to get a full featured bootable 10.7.5 onto a USB flash drive? I'm can only seem to get it working with the OS installer, disk utility, Safari, and limited access to other features.
Yes, but minimally you need a 16 GB flash drive. You can install Lion, but you won't have a large amount of extra space for third-party applications and data. A 32 GB flash drive will give you some more leeway.
You must use the Lion installer to install Lion onto the flash drive.
I installed direct to a 32 GB flash drive and it didn't work. Is there a special install method?
Did you prep the flash drive first?
Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your 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.
Now, run the installer application. Click on the Install button. Click on the option to select another disk. Select the flash drive as the target and click on the Install button.
Yup. I've done all of this. I'm repeating the process just to make sure...
What brand of flash drive?
I didn't know LaCie made flash drives. I know they make external USB drives, but not flash drives. Have you asked them about your problem?
You might try these instructions. I have used them for both Lion and Mt. Lion:
http://www.macworld.com/article/1165337/create_a_bootable_lion_install_drive_for _newer_macs.html
Ciao.
Just as an extra note, an 8 GB flash drive is more than big enough to use for a Lion or Mountain Lion OS installer. The files themselves take up about 4.5 GB of space, so 8 GB is plenty. I've got flash installers for both Lion and ML on 8 GB flash drives and they work just fine.
Kurt wasn't the original question for a full featuredbootable Mac OS X which I don't think your solution of putting the installer on the flash drive will produce.
Allan
D'oh! Working off a flash drive, not just using it for installing. Sorry about that. I wouldn't use anything smaller than 32 GB in such a case, either.
I have a complete ML install on a 32G thumb drive, it works but is very slow in use.
I have a complete ML install on a 32G thumb drive, it works but is very slow in use.
Even with a flash drive rated with a high read/write speed, they are much slower than any hard drive. I can't think of any reason I would want to boot to one. If I do need a travel OS to boot to, I'd much rather lug an external hard drive that has both USB and FireWire ports.
If your computer supports USB 3.0 AND you use a flash drive with a fast rating like the Lexar Tritons, you will see performance that approximates FW800. Of course your computer's USB port must be able to support Superspeed.
No unfortunately, USB2, moves like a glacier, 😟
Full featured bootable Mac OS 10.7.5 on USB flash drive?
