Guide: Windows Boot Camp External SSD Thunderbolt

[robertojorge]

Hey guys, so i have been using external USB 3.0 SSD´s to boot OSX for the past years on some of the machines that we had like the Mac Mini Late 2012 and the Imac 21,5 Late 2013.

One of the things that i wanted to achieve besides the OSX on external was to have Windows boot Camp on a external SSD and now i have it So im sharing this guide with the comunity.

The Guide has 3 Videos:
1- Speed Test Results
2- StoreJet 500 SSD Review
3- How to Install Windows 10 on External SSD

Hope that this guide is helpful to some of you guys looking for a similar solution
All the Best
RJ

 

[WilliamG]

Thanks for the guide. I had actually tried to make this work on my 5K iMac and it doesn't work, sadly. I'm able to install Windows 8.1 and then upgrade to Windows 10 without issue on my internal disk partitioned with Boot Camp Assistant. But then after I use Winclone to copy it across to the external Thunderbolt SSD, it looks like it's booting (I get the Windows icon), but then it boots to a completely black screen with a cursor I can move around. Very odd. I can't do anything at that point.

Tried multiple times. I give up.

 

[robertojorge]

Thanks for the guide. I had actually tried to make this work on my 5K iMac and it doesn't work, sadly. I'm able to install Windows 8.1 and then upgrade to Windows 10 without issue on my internal disk partitioned with Boot Camp Assistant. But then after I use Winclone to copy it across to the external Thunderbolt SSD, it looks like it's booting (I get the Windows icon), but then it boots to a completely black screen with a cursor I can move around. Very odd. I can't do anything at that point.

Tried multiple times. I give up.

Hi William,

During the all process did you had any sd cards, USB hubs or any unnecessary peripherals connected?

I had a lot of issues, and just figured out that during the process we cant have anything plugged in.

What is the drive you are using out of curiosity. Is it the StoreJet 500? It should work on any thunderbolt but the only that i have tested was the StoreJet 500 so far.

 

[WilliamG]

Hi William,

During the all process did you had any sd cards, USB hubs or any unnecessary peripherals connected?

I had a lot of issues, and just figured out that during the process we cant have anything plugged in.

What is the drive you are using out of curiosity. Is it the StoreJet 500? It should work on any thunderbolt but the only that i have tested was the StoreJet 500 so far.

Hey. Remember, there are no issues running Windows 8.1 externally, or internally, and Windows 10 boots just fine internally. It's just Windows 10 won't boot externally. No other external devices connected (I had read they can cause issues). It's a Seagate Backup Plus 2.5" enclosure with a Samsung 850 Pro 1TB inside.

 

[robertojorge]

Hey. Remember, there are no issues running Windows 8.1 externally, or internally, and Windows 10 boots just fine internally. It's just Windows 10 won't boot externally. No other external devices connected (I had read they can cause issues). It's a Seagate Backup Plus 2.5" enclosure with a Samsung 850 Pro 1TB inside.

That is curious!! Could you do one last test?
Download the Win 10 image directly from Microsoft, and try the win 10 direct installation, just to be sure.

 

[WilliamG]

That is curious!! Could you do one last test?
Download the Win 10 image directly from Microsoft, and try the win 10 direct installation, just to be sure.

I already tried that. No dice. Installs fine on the internal, but won't boot the external clone correctly. No issues with Windows 8.1 on internal or external, so I've gone back to 8.1 for now.

 

[robertojorge]

I already tried that. No dice. Installs fine on the internal, but won't boot the external clone correctly. No issues with Windows 8.1 on internal or external, so I've gone back to 8.1 for now.

Ok, that's really weird. Have you tried on the Macbook Pro? What is your MBP model?

As i mentioned i have only tried with the StoreJet 500, but this should work with any thunderbolt Drive.

When you have some time try on the MBP (if possible off course).

In my testings:
- It works on Thunderbolt 1 - Imac Late 2013
- It works on Thunderbolt 2 - MBP Early 2015 (So it should work on the 5K)

It can be the Thunderbolt drive, unlikely but possible.

 

[WilliamG]

I gave up, but thank you. Will stick with Windows 8.1.

 

[robertojorge]

I gave up, but thank you. Will stick with Windows 8.1.

I Understand William, but in a few weeks / months if you decide to give a shot on another machine as the MBP please let us know.

Thanks
RJ

 

[JazzyJ]

I know this is know 9 or 10 years later I'm, writing this, in Dec 2024. But I thought that I'd add that I have a Mid 2012 Macbook Pro running Catalina and also run Windows 11 via an external TB2 drive. The 2012 Macbook Pro only has TB1 but it works fine. I'm using a G-Drive Mobile Enclosure (USB 3.0 / TB2) which I've put the SSD into, and I can boot with either USB3 or TB2 cables/ports.

What did I do? I had a old Dell Laptop that I installed Win 11 on. Then took the drive (SSD) out and put it in the G-Drive external enclosure. It booted up in Windows (using the USB 3.0 port on Mac and external drive) when holding down 'Alt' to select. Then I installed the relevant bootcamp drivers. Then installed 'updated Thunderbolt drivers' that I found here. That page links to the actual page (where a guy called Leandro Glossman here) has a download for the driver and instructions as to how best to install them. This is the DIRECT LINK to the thunderbolt drivers.

Finally on my mac, due to something or other (that's been documented in other sites) it doesn't load the audio drivers even if they're installed. So, I installed OpenCore on a SD card and I plug the SD card into the slot on the side of the macbook. When I boot I hold 'Alt' and select the EFI on the SD card and it boots with the audio drives. You can take the card out after it you want to.

So there ya go. Basically I wanted a Windows drive to use for some programs from time to time. This gives me a fast and efficient option - Windows 11 on an external SSD USB 3.0/TB2 drive. And the TB is really 'snappy'.