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Booting Thunderbolt iMac from LaCie Rugged SSD
- Thread starter shelt
- Start date
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Hi Gamaro
Yes, i connect it to a PC with the USB connector. Then i use Diskpart to generate the partitions. It is imporatant to inject the Thunderbolt driver into the image else the Mac won't boot the drive when connected to the Thunderbolt port. After applying the image with ImageX (which basically is the same as the first stage of a Windows 7 installation, everything prior to the first reboot of the installation) i use BCDboot to install the System partition files onto the Thunderbolt drive. And yes finally i connect the Thunderbolt to the Mac and hold the option button. I select the Windows Thunderbolt drive, Windows boots and the second stage of Windows setup starts (hardware detection). Absolutely nothing is installed onto the Mac drive. The Thunderbolt drive contains the Windows boot and System Partition files.
Today i injected all of the Bootcamp drivers into the Windows wim file, as soon as my iMac is here i can install Windows and if everything goes like planned, all the drivers are installed automatically
Hi, I realise I am a bit late to this thread but I was very interested when, after searching the internet for some time, I read the method you use here. I've been trying to externally run windows on my mac without Bootdrive with the very same Rugged Thunderbolt SSD. I wondered if you could help with a couple of pointers. Say I have a new SSD that I am running Diskpart on in Windows (I am Natively a Mac user so please bear with me) what format and size do I need the drive and partitions to be? Also when you talk about injecting the drivers to the image using ImageX this is into the Windows 7 iso which I can then burn to a DVD for the install? Also, I am uncertain how exactly to use the BCDboot to set up the boot environment files on the partition. I'm sorry for all my questions I've only been learning about this for a few days. Many thanks for the info you've already outlined in your post it's been very helpful. Would really appreciate your guidance. Many thanks
Hi, I realise I am a bit late to this thread but I was very interested when, after searching the internet for some time, I read the method you use here. I've been trying to externally run windows on my mac without Bootdrive with the very same Rugged Thunderbolt SSD. I wondered if you could help with a couple of pointers. Say I have a new SSD that I am running Diskpart on in Windows (I am Natively a Mac user so please bear with me) what format and size do I need the drive and partitions to be? Also when you talk about injecting the drivers to the image using ImageX this is into the Windows 7 iso which I can then burn to a DVD for the install? Also, I am uncertain how exactly to use the BCDboot to set up the boot environment files on the partition. I'm sorry for all my questions I've only been learning about this for a few days. Many thanks for the info you've already outlined in your post it's been very helpful. Would really appreciate your guidance. Many thanks
I thought Windows could only boot on the internal SATA connections (no USB or Tbolt boot functionality). Has someone figured a way around this?
Cheers,
Page 3 had Snoezzz's comment which I quoted from.
I've downloaded the Windows AIK but am slightly at a loss as to how to inject the drivers to the .wim (install or boot?) using ImageX and DT command prompt. I guessing this stays on the drive rather than reburning the image.. I'm also slightly unsure what I am supposed to be doing with the system files for the system partition with BCDboot. Any advice with this would be massively appreciated. I'm running a 15" MacBook Pro Retina if that makes any difference.
Thank you
im just gonna wait until the 1TB Samsung EVO calms down in price and will swap the whole HDD in my 2012 iMac
Hi, I realise I am a bit late to this thread but I was very interested when, after searching the internet for some time, I read the method you use here. I've been trying to externally run windows on my mac without Bootdrive with the very same Rugged Thunderbolt SSD. I wondered if you could help with a couple of pointers. Say I have a new SSD that I am running Diskpart on in Windows (I am Natively a Mac user so please bear with me) what format and size do I need the drive and partitions to be? Also when you talk about injecting the drivers to the image using ImageX this is into the Windows 7 iso which I can then burn to a DVD for the install? Also, I am uncertain how exactly to use the BCDboot to set up the boot environment files on the partition. I'm sorry for all my questions I've only been learning about this for a few days. Many thanks for the info you've already outlined in your post it's been very helpful. Would really appreciate your guidance. Many thanks
Hello Dr Defrant. I just read your post, im in bed right now almost going to sleep but i'll answer your question tomorrow morning. I created a step by step manual in January by the way. If you're interested i can send you the link.
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Windows 7 can boot from Thunderbolt "natively". Windows 8 is also able to boot from USB. With a registry tweak, Windows 7 is also able to boot fom USB (tested with USB2.0, haven't tried USB3 yet).
Hello Dr Defrant. I just read your post, im in bed right now almost going to sleep but i'll answer your question tomorrow morning. I created a step by step manual in January by the way. If you're interested i can send you the link.
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Windows 7 can boot from Thunderbolt "natively". Windows 8 is also able to boot from USB. With a registry tweak, Windows 7 is also able to boot fom USB (tested with USB2.0, haven't tried USB3 yet).
Thank you so much that would be incredibly helpful
So the lesson children is simple. If your going to use an SSD on an iMac as of this date, it needs to be off the Thunderbolt port otherwise your TRIM function won't work. Shame though, cause the USB 3.0 actually had faster read times at 428 Mb/s.
I'm running my MBP with an old, in terms of SSDs, drive that doesn't support TRIM. When it was new the SSD would boot the MBP in ~12 seconds, but when I booted it a few days ago it took ~40 seconds. Also, almost all apps started on 1 bounce or less, now several are up to 2 bounces.
Fascinating, I had no idea Windows had finally progressed to this point. It is now a simple install to bootcamp Windows directly to a SSD installed in a Tbolt enclosure using the standard Windows 8 install DVD? No reg hack or modifying the Windows DVD? Just a regular install like you would do if the drive was internal? If this is true I will have to obtain an enclosure and attempt it.
Cheers,
Thank you so much that would be incredibly helpful
I'm sorry i totally forgot about it yesterday... Here is a step by step guide, maybe this will answer all of your questions. If anything is unclear or if you need any help, just let me know.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18TBlULjR_qr5WO_HaGrFO4QoKMnCPlObhFL0KahSQuQ/edit?usp=sharing
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Im not sure if Windows 8 can be installed onto an external drive if you use the standard DVD installation method (Windows 7 is definitely not able to install onto an external drive using the DVD installation).
But you can install Windows 7 on an external drive with the ImageX commandline tool from Microsoft. You need to manually prepare the external drive though (partitioning etc.). This also works for Windows 8. The tools i used are all official Microsoft tools normally used for creating, modifiying and preparing Windows for "remote" deployment. In the end no registry hacks or whatsoever are used. Basically the only difference compared to a DVD installation is the first stage of the Windows installation (all steps before the first reboot during the Windows 7 DVD installation) which are actually performed manually using my method. After these initial actions you boot from the Thunderbolt drive and the second stage of the Windows installation starts.
Just an FYI regarding booting my mid-2011 27" i7 from the new 256GB LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt SSD. In short, it works perfectly so far, and no surgery required.
No worries, thank you for the link and the guide! Answers pretty much all of my questions. I do have a couple more however. I have the Mac drivers installed on a pendrive and when running windows on a bootcamp partition installed these after the windows installation without a problem. Is it still all right to do the Mac drivers this way (obviously with the ones you suggest removed) or is it better to inject them too? I understand why I need to with the Rugged driver. Also I've been reading a bit about TRIM and will this automatically be used on booting the disk providing the SSD I'm using has it? I'm using a samsung 840 pro which I will put in my Rugged enclosure after sorting it out via USB. Lastly do you happen to know if this works on the 15" macbook pro retina? Sorry for all the questions just trying to get the last few pieces of info before I attempt this later!
Thank you so much for your help
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OK, I see. Not something my 80 y/o mom is going to do.
Might still play around with it but probably just stick with my dedicated Windows laptop to perform Windows tasks like games and VMware for Office and other Windows only apps provided by my employer. Very interesting development though. The day Microsoft makes it as simple to install to external drives as Apple will be a great day. Of course having to support all those different chipsets and disk controllers from countless OEMs makes it a much more challenging proposition.
Cheers,
I posted a new thread in the Mac peripherals section, and only then did I come across this.
Those of you using the Samsung 840 Pro, what are you using to house the drive? It seems like a solid performer, but I'm having trouble finding a good enclosure.
Don't really care what it looks like...
Those of you using the Samsung 840 Pro, what are you using to house the drive? It seems like a solid performer, but I'm having trouble finding a good enclosure.
Don't really care what it looks like...
I am using the Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt adapter with my Samsung 840 Pro SSD. This Seagate device has been on the market for some time and has a pretty good track record. It is not an enclosure, as such, but rather a holder/interface for the SSD. Not too pretty, but it works just fine for me.
There are probably other choices.
Please post your final solution.
I did see that product.
From your comment, can I assume that your SSD itself isn't covered? Does the drive simply pop onto the Seagate adapter?
From your comment, can I assume that your SSD itself isn't covered? Does the drive simply pop onto the Seagate adapter?
Yes, the SSD plugs directly into the connector on the thunderbolt adapter.
A small spacer is needed underneath the SSD to ensure that the SSD is parallel with the thunderbolt adapter.
I use a small felt washer about 3 mm thick.
Correct, the SSD is not covered.
A small spacer is needed underneath the SSD to ensure that the SSD is parallel with the thunderbolt adapter.
I use a small felt washer about 3 mm thick.
Correct, the SSD is not covered.
You can usually find the empty enclosure-shells on eBay for both the portable and desktop versions of the GoFlex adapter series which will not only make it look "finished", but also has a magnetic "grip" with the base for better mechanical stability.
Thanks for confirming. If I go this route no doubt I can find something around here to prop it up.
Oh, didn't think of that. I assume the shells are from Seagate, so I'll include that in my search. I'm not so concerned about the look, just something functional that I'll keep out of the way, but knowing I can enclose it if I want is helpful.
Anyone else have a suggestion for an enclosure?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trk...&_nkw=goflex+enclosure&_sacat=58058&_from=R40
looks like mostly desktop ones at the moment ... check the sold items for more. Might want to create a auto notify to see what is listed daily to grab one at a good price.
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They run fine with a SSD in the enclosure. Remember, they normally have a hot hard disk running in there!
There are also some magnets in the portable shell which mate with magnets in the Thunderbolt adapter to create a more solid bond when plugged together. No spacers needed either.
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One thing to be aware of...
I and others have had problems when using the portable GoFlex Thunderbolt adapter (bus powered) with 500GB SSDs, probably power regulation issues which can brick the SSD. Apparently the power supplied is ok for hard disk drives, which is the only way Seagate sells them. Smaller SSDs seem to work fine on the bus powered adapters, and there are no reported problems with the line-powered desktop Thunderbolt adapter.
-howard
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There is a WHOLE load easier way. Just install windows on your internal drive using the Bootcamp Assistant as normal.
And then use Winclone to migrate the Windows installation over to whatever external device you like, and then delete the original internal Windows installation.
Winclone does cost you $30 but it's a useful tool to have for backing up your Bootcamp installation, resizing it, moving it whatever.
This whole process is dead easy and doesn't need any fiddling about editing installation files or anything else.
Yup I already tried this and it does not work on MBPr. Good application to have for backing up my windows drive but it did not allow me to boot without a bootcamp partition.
So you are saying the bootcamp installation will not boot your MBPr if it is on an external drive?
Is your external drive Thunderbolt? It's a whole load more difficult to get Windows to boot off a USB device.