Snow Leopard/Windows 7 Installation Question

[Kashchei]

Is it possible to install Windows 7 on an internal disk via Boot Camp and then remove this disk and use it as an external drive? I have two drives for my mini, one in use and one in an external case; unfortunately, neither have room for everything plus Windows. If the answer to this question is no, then I'll buy a bigger drive. I'd just like to avoid this if possible (I already have a ton of external drives and not enough ports to plug them into). Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[balamw]

Is it possible to install Windows 7 on an internal disk via Boot Camp and then remove this disk and use it as an external drive? I have two drives for my mini, one in use and one in an external case; unfortunately, neither have room for everything plus Windows. If the answer to this question is no, then I'll buy a bigger drive. I'd just like to avoid this if possible (I already have a ton of external drives and not enough ports to plug them into). Thanks in advance for your help!

Windows really does not like to be on a removable drive. Ever.

While there are modifications that let you keep XP on an external USB drive, it's not a sanctioned way to run Windows and could break with any update they send down the pike.

Unless you mod your mini to have an eSATA port ... http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22618&esata in which case the "external" is actually treated by Windows as an internal fixed drive.

B

 

[Cboss]

I'm pretty sure you can just install it directly to the external drive. There shouldn't be any need to install it on an internal drive and then remove that drive.

Unless I'm not understanding what you're asking...


Edit: Never mind, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[balamw]

I'm pretty sure you can just install it directly to the external drive. There shouldn't be any need to install it on an internal drive and then remove that drive.

Unless I'm not understanding what you're asking...

Nope. Windows won't install or boot from an external USB drive by default. The USB stack is reinitialized during boot which would unmount your boot drive. (Not a good thing).

There are some hacks to stop the USB stack from doing this, but not they are just that, hacks.

B

 

[Kashchei]

Windows really does not like to be on a removable drive. Ever.

While there are modifications that let you keep XP on an external USB drive, it's not a sanctioned way to run Windows and could break with any update they send down the pike.

Unless you mod your mini to have an eSATA port ... http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22618&esata in which case the "external" is actually treated by Windows as an internal fixed drive.

B

Thank you so much for your help! This is a perfect example of why I love this website so much: friendly users willing to share their expertise so that everyone can use and enjoy their Macs--our shared obsession--to the fullest extent. Thank you again so much, and please forgive my verbosity!