Installing windows on external hard drive

[k57skye]

I want to use windows on my Macbook Pro, but only very occasionally. I read on this forum that it would be possible to install windows on my external hard drive and boot it up from that. If this is an easy option it would be perfect as I dont really want Windows filling up my computer for the little use it would have.

I did read the instructions, but couldn't fully understand the technique. Can anyone point me to a very simply "how to" thread? or can anyone give me some easy to follow instructions?

Thanks in advance.
John

 

[sickmacdoc]

I honestly don't think you will find a very simple guide to trying to boot Windows from an external drive in light of the fact that Windows itself was never designed to have that ability even in a PC environment. Because of that, virtually every "trick" to try to get it to boot from an external drive involves a good bit of hacking to provide the ability, hence not really a simple "Mac like" experience getting it to work.

Course just as soon as I say that, somebody else will come along and pop up an easy guide! All I can say is that I have sure never seen one since Boot Camp was introduced about three years ago.

 

[Consultant]

You can sort of do it, at least on flash drives, with certain limitations.

Running Windows from a flash drive isn't an exact science. Sometimes the process just doesn't work and there is no good reason why. As more PCs start to support booting from USB devices though, USB boots should become more standardized, and the technique should become more reliable.

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5928902.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html