The HD in a Mac has failed, and I need to install the OS on a USB thumb drive. When I go to install it it tells me I can't install it on that because it cannot boot from that drive. Is this because it's not formatted for that, or is there no way to boot it from an external drive? If it's a formatting issue, how can I format it to work on a Mac with a PC?
Installing on a thumb drive.
- Thread starter DvorakKey
- Start date
- Joined
- May 20, 2008
- Messages
- 44,213
- Reaction score
- 1,424
- Points
- 113
- Location
- U.S.
- Your Mac's Specs
- 2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2009
- Messages
- 3,308
- Reaction score
- 58
- Points
- 48
- Location
- Whangarei NZ
- Your Mac's Specs
- 27 iMac+Thunderbolt, iMac 21,
Perhaps it is time to decide on a future Back Up policy to take care of HD failures. Have a bootable back up on an Ext HD and then you are protected in the future. Older Macs will boot of an Ext HD thru the 400 Firewire
- Joined
- May 20, 2008
- Messages
- 44,213
- Reaction score
- 1,424
- Points
- 113
- Location
- U.S.
- Your Mac's Specs
- 2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
How to format what...the hard drive or the USB drive?
By the way...the hard drive in an iMac can most DEFINITELY be replaced...it just takes some skill & patience, and maybe a "You-Tube" video or two!
- Nick
Shop Amazon
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.