PC emulation using external HDD

newbie1000 · newbie1000 #1 (**permalink**)

02-24-2009, 09:02 AM

Hi

I want to go over to a Macbook but I sometimes have to use some reasonably powerful PC Windows applications.

I've worked out that the ideal solution would be for me to have a Mac set up as a Mac but to also have an external HDD with Windows and all my PC stuff on. The idea is that when I'm on the move I could plug the HDD into the Mac sometimes to use the Mac as a PC but that when I'm at home I can plug that HDD into a desktop PC and boot from it. That way (at home) I get to have use of my Mac and a PC at the same time.

I called Apple but they insisted that the Windows stuff could only be stored on the Mac's internal HDD. This isn't ideal as it means I'd have to maintain one set of PC stuff on the Mac and another on the desktop at home.

Does anyone know of any solutions to my issue? ie a way to have a "HDD PC" that I can either run from the Mac or a PC

Thanks

bobtomay · bobtomay #2 (**permalink**)

02-24-2009, 11:00 AM

Windows will not run from an external drive. This is a MS limitation with it's OS. Doesn't matter if it's a Mac or you build the system yourself.

newbie1000 · newbie1000 #3 (**permalink**)

02-24-2009, 02:48 PM

I didn't know that Windows would know what it was stored on so if you changed the boot order of your PC to boot from USB first then it would do so (if you attached a USB HDD with Windows on it

Maybe I need to try this out in practice on the PC first then see if it can be applied to a Mac

Khris · Khris #4 (**permalink**)

02-24-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbie1000

I didn't know that Windows would know what it was stored on so if you changed the boot order of your PC to boot from USB first then it would do so (if you attached a USB HDD with Windows on it

Maybe I need to try this out in practice on the PC first then see if it can be applied to a Mac

Windows will not boot form an external drive. Period.

chscag · chscag #5 (**permalink**)

02-24-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbie1000

I didn't know that Windows would know what it was stored on so if you changed the boot order of your PC to boot from USB first then it would do so (if you attached a USB HDD with Windows on it

Maybe I need to try this out in practice on the PC first then see if it can be applied to a Mac

You've been told it won't work. And... it won't. It's a MS limitation and would be a violation of the Windows license and EULA. I suggest you try it out for yourself if you don't believe what was stated here.

You can run Windows XP, Vista, and even the public beta of Win 7 on a new MacBook or iMac. Or, by using virtual software. (Parallels, Fusion)

Regards.

brianwmay · brianwmay #6 (**permalink**)

02-24-2009, 04:37 PM

My copy of XP runs in my Parallels (3) virtual machine FASTER than it did on my Acer laptop.

I binned Bootcamp quite quickly when I realised how quick it actually was.

I ran QuarkXPress 7.0 in the virtual machine without problems or notable delays.

bobtomay #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,788 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	02-24-2009, 11:00 AM Windows will not run from an external drive. This is a MS limitation with it's OS. Doesn't matter if it's a Mac or you build the system yourself. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
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brianwmay #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 17, 2008 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 286 Mac Specs: MBP, iPad 2 64, 2 x iPod Touch, MBA, 2 x iPhone 3g	02-24-2009, 04:37 PM My copy of XP runs in my Parallels (3) virtual machine FASTER than it did on my Acer laptop. I binned Bootcamp quite quickly when I realised how quick it actually was. I ran QuarkXPress 7.0 in the virtual machine without problems or notable delays. Mac Junkie - MacBook Pro 2.4, 500Gb, 4Gb - MacBook Air (wife's), - iPad 2 64Gb - 2 x iPod Touch 32Gb and iPhones 3GS 32Gb Last edited by brianwmay; 02-24-2009 at 04:38 PM. Reason: Incompetence
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newbie1000 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2009 Posts: 2	02-24-2009, 09:02 AM Hi I want to go over to a Macbook but I sometimes have to use some reasonably powerful PC Windows applications. I've worked out that the ideal solution would be for me to have a Mac set up as a Mac but to also have an external HDD with Windows and all my PC stuff on. The idea is that when I'm on the move I could plug the HDD into the Mac sometimes to use the Mac as a PC but that when I'm at home I can plug that HDD into a desktop PC and boot from it. That way (at home) I get to have use of my Mac and a PC at the same time. I called Apple but they insisted that the Windows stuff could only be stored on the Mac's internal HDD. This isn't ideal as it means I'd have to maintain one set of PC stuff on the Mac and another on the desktop at home. Does anyone know of any solutions to my issue? ie a way to have a "HDD PC" that I can either run from the Mac or a PC Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

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