How to run Boot Camp on External Hard Drive?

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The new discussion is at Cloning of Windows Partition in Bootcamp

does it really work? Im using MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) Processor 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 Memory 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 is it really possible to bootcamp on my external hard drive? How about the Transcend Jet Drive Lite 130, able to bootcamp like the external hard drive? Please help me. I do not wish to bootcamp on my internal drive......

I Bought it from eBay and it works well . I think it was called Bootcamp partition for Macbook or something like that and it's installed on ultra fit SanDisk Pendrive (:

Has anyone yet done something similar under Windows 10 preparing a Disk for Windows 10 installation?

Diskpart is a little different but that's not the biggest problem. Install.esd seems to have replaced install.wim on Windows 10 installations and there's no AIK for Windows 10 yet.

Using the media creation tool writing to a hard disk isn't possible as it only does write to USB sticks and doesn't recognize the external drive as valid for that.

Any idea?

I tried with no joy. Period. Windows does not inherently install on an External HD on Mac. Using a tool such as AIK or a VM is no different and as much trouble as Boot Camp. Windows is a stable running environment with Boot Camp. Here are my personal tests and results using my Mac Mini as the lab rat.

Tools: Mac Mini (late 2012) 500 GB Internal SATA an External LaCie Thunderbolt 1 TB HD connected via Thunderbolt port and USB SuperDrive. Windows 10 Pro DVD created with MS Media Creation Tool. OS X USB Bootable Installer (El Capitan)

First test: Erased both HDD's GUID Partition Map, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and performed PRAM and SMC. Note: Windows 10 will not install on MBR on a Mac.

Booted up Windows 10 Setup. Would NOT create partition on Thunderbolt - End of Story. So I was able to install Windows 10 Pro on Internal HD no OS X involved. Great, uh, right! Windows ran fine as Stand Alone OS for a few days. Ran in to booting issues, graphic artifacts and numerous little things of that nature. Moreover, there was no Firmware control. Windows cannot set or update the Mac Firmware or (BIOS) - it's not BIOS. So there was no command+R function without going right into Internet Recovery.

Second Test: Windows 10 still installed on internal HD, I installed OS X 10.11.1 on the Thunderbolt HD. All is well and good except, I had to unplug the Thunderbolt to boot into Windows. This became a mess. No stability.

Third and Final Test: (Current Config) Give the Mac what it wants! That simple. I left OS X installed on the Thunderbolt HDD named "Macintosh HD". Erased the Internal SATA and named it highly "Macintosh HD II". I used Boot Camp Assistant and moved the size bar until the Min. Setting of 13 GB. Installed Windows 10 Pro and I haven't looked back. The 13 GB "Macintosh HD II" sits quietly and holds bootcamp data from OS X/Windows. I don't miss the 13 GB partition and I Do Not Use It.

To sum it up. OS X will install on an External HD Thunderbolt or USB. Windows, even it's own Setup will Not partition or format an external device for Install. Windows Cannot be the stand-alone OS on a Mac as well.

These are my personal tests and findings using the tools and configurations explained above. Time consuming - Yes. Frustrating - Yes, (self inflicted). Worth the effort - Yes. Learnt a lot. Gives more of a definitive answer in this extremely long post of everyone with experience saying NO. You can't install Windows on an External HD with just OS X and Windows and Mac alone. Period. Hope this helps someone who has the burning desire to ask again. 😐

Cheers!!

Wow, thank you so much for your post. EASY instructions, and everything went off without a hitch.

I'd like to suggest a typo in the instructions.. not sure if it is just me, though. instead of typing CREATE PARTITION 1, i had to type CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

try to use this link it will help you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE1Ym7qLmPU

use this link if you want to buy it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BootCamp-partition-for-MacBook-iMac-on-SanDisk-ultrafi t-64-GB-flash-drive-/321937398312?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

I am more of a fan of getting a 128GB drive, double the size, for half the price, and then installing WIN7 on my own. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-SanDisk-Ultra-Fit-128GB-USB-3-0-Flash-Drive- SDCZ43-128G-G46-Very-Small-/301834123986?hash=item4646b73ad2:g:fewAAOSwf-VWXUWH

Additionally, the listing you linked is most likely illegal, because he's not an official licensed Microsoft Windows reseller. If you aren't interested (or can't) pirate software (business related, or just supporter of proprietary software in general), do NOT buy that USB drive. You will be buying illegal software.

I almost want to report this guy as he's making MONEY off of what is essentially a scam. Maybe I will.

I think your failed attempt is not an indication that it is not possible to install Windows on an external drive. I followed the top-marked post in this thread and it worked for me the first time. Please don't post inaccurate information just because you couldn't get it to work...

heisian wrote:

Additionally, the listing you linked is most likely illegal, because he's not an official licensed Microsoft Windows reseller. If you aren't interested (or can't) pirate software (business related, or just supporter of proprietary software in general), do NOT buy that USB drive. You will be buying illegal software.

I almost want to report this guy as he's making MONEY off of what is essentially a scam. Maybe I will.

I followed the top-marked post in this thread and it worked for me the first time.

You are also breaking Windows Licensing terms (unless you have a Windows Enterprise and Windows-to-Go) by installing Windows on an external disk.

Windows Licensing is derived from hardware signatures, so the so called portability of an external drive is problematic anyway. It is better to have a minimal C: and have an external D: with all you applications and programs. Such a D: has no bearing on your licensing and can be ported to a newer version of Windows since it is NTFS.

Thank you for clearing that up, I guess it's easy to assume that owning a copy of Windows would allow you to install it in a custom fashion. However, further reading based off of what you said makes sense - the combination of hardware that makes up the computer is how the License is determined.

I prefer the OSX model of licensing. If you want the OS on an external disk, it is officially supported - How to install OS X on an external drive connected to your Mac - Apple Support .

Windows, yet may change it's licensing. 😉