I have a 27" iMac Retina Late 2015 and I'd like to use BootCamp to install Windows 7 on a 256GB external Thunderbolt SSD drive.
Is it possible? If so - how?
When I launch Boot Camp Assistant, it only gives me the option to repartition the main disk.
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), 48GB RAM, 256GB Thunderbolt SSD
You can install a Bootcamp partition on your startup disk only, not on an external disk.
If you want to adventurous, please try http://bleeptobleep.blogspot.com/2013/02/mac-install-windows-7-or-8-on-external. html . Please ensure you have good backups of your data/files before you embark on such a journey.
bit more complicated, but very possible. check out this video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SxA_OsPEgk
question for you: i want to do the same, have any recommendations regarding thunderbolt SSDs (read something about "TRIM" support being a thing)
Trim: when you have a windows computer, it is there, and you don't have to do anything: it looks as if NTFS and the SSD controller are not having problems with it.
On a mac there are potential issues with the trim command. The macs with an Apple SSD built-in are having their controllers changed so that the trim command is harmless (hopefully). Non-Apple SSDs should better not be "treated" with the Trim command.
Bootcamp to Install Windows on External thunderbolt disk?
