Vista on External?

I know there are some threads already out there about this topic but.... If I partitioned an external HD NTFS (or whatever) will I be able to install Vista on it and boot from it? I really don't wanna install vista on my internal HD because I only have 60 GB of space. (OUCH) If it's possible, some sort of tutorial/how-to/walkthrough/picture book would help too.

My macbook's specs :

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core Duo
Processor Speed: 1.83 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 2 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB11.0061.B03
SMC Version: 1.4f12
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

(minus the serial number)

Lol I don't even know if you would need my macbooks specs...

External HD specs:

500 GB Buffalo DriveStation USB 2.0 and FireWire-400 External Hard Drive

Umm, currently it has two partitions in it:

a partition for Time Machine which is about 264 GB

and a partition for other stuff which is about 201.5 GB

I'm willing to take some space off the Time Machine partition because I don't really need that much space for the backups ;D

Now I don't have my copy of Vista Home Premium, and I'm probably not even gonna get it if this doesn't work... Seriously 60 GB is too small for another partition LOL

pollyolly100 said:

I know there are some threads already out there about this topic but.... If I partitioned an external HD NTFS (or whatever) will I be able to install Vista on it and boot from it? I really don't wanna install vista on my internal HD because I only have 60 GB of space. (OUCH) If it's possible, some sort of tutorial/how-to/walkthrough/picture book would help too.
My macbook's specs :
Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core Duo
Processor Speed: 1.83 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 2 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB11.0061.B03
SMC Version: 1.4f12
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
(minus the serial number)
Lol I don't even know if you would need my macbooks specs...
External HD specs:
500 GB Buffalo DriveStation USB 2.0 and FireWire-400 External Hard Drive
Umm, currently it has two partitions in it:
a partition for Time Machine which is about 264 GB
and a partition for other stuff which is about 201.5 GB
I'm willing to take some space off the Time Machine partition because I don't really need that much space for the backups ;D
Now I don't have my copy of Vista Home Premium, and I'm probably not even gonna get it if this doesn't work... Seriously 60 GB is too small for another partition LOL

Click to expand...

This is the first case of computer-related TMI (too much info) I've seen on this forum. The answer is not in your hardware specs, but in software. You could potentially install a virtual Windows with Parallels or Fusion (I recommend Fusion) on an external drive, but that'd make me so nervous! Superbig and extrabad problems would arise if your external, virtual Windows was running when the connection was lost or hiccuped. And performance would suffer, even over firewire. I won't tell you to do it, especially with Vista (eww!) but I think it is possible.

Neo said:

This is the first case of computer-related TMI (too much info) I've seen on this forum. The answer is not in your hardware specs, but in software. You could potentially install a virtual Windows with Parallels or Fusion (I recommend Fusion) on an external drive, but that'd make me so nervous! Superbig and extrabad problems would arise if your external, virtual Windows was running when the connection was lost or hiccuped. And performance would suffer, even over firewire. I won't tell you to do it, especially with Vista (eww!) but I think it is possible.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your opinion! =)
So by the connection being lost, do you mean if there's a power outage and my external loses power or something then it could ruin my Mac? *gasp*
I mean, if it's gonna put my Mac in danger then I don't wanna do it... =p
MY MAC IS MY LIFE!
lol

I was thinking of absentmindedly unplugging the drive to plug in some other device while the VM is running...the external HD losing power would be the same.
in any case, your Mac would be fine, but not putting away a VM properly is asking to delete it and reinstall everything.
BTW, you never mentioned why on earth you want to run Windows anyway(?)
Also, I just reread your first post, and in no case would you be able to BOOT from the external. BootCamp doesn't allow you to install to an external drive.

Neo said:

I was thinking of absentmindedly unplugging the drive to plug in some other device while the VM is running...the external HD losing power would be the same.
in any case, your Mac would be fine, but not putting away a VM properly is asking to delete it and reinstall everything.
BTW, you never mentioned why on earth you want to run Windows anyway(?)
Also, I just reread your first post, and in no case would you be able to BOOT from the external. BootCamp doesn't allow you to install to an external drive.

Click to expand...

Aww...that stinks =p
Lol isn't it ironic that it's called Boot Camp but you can't really boot from some devices? Or maybe I'm just going crazy for wanting to install Windows and having too many beers...

It will work at the very least you need a USB 2.0 recommend FW 800. I think you can do it through Boot Camp. I did installed from the MacBook it self (By putting blank 300GB and formatting and installed). Just be careful of the Ex.HDD if something goes wrong it's buggered and you have to start again.

northy124 said:

It will work at the very least you need a USB 2.0 recommend FW 800. I think you can do it through Boot Camp. I did installed from the MacBook it self (By putting blank 300GB and formatting and installed). Just be careful of the Ex.HDD if something goes wrong it's buggered and you have to start again.

Click to expand...

Ok, so how do you get Boot Camp to recognize your External? I ran Boot Camp Assistant and it's just showing my internal HD...God I feel like such a noobie...LOL

Bootcamp will partition the internal disk only. It's meant for that alone. Currently booting the OSs from external storage devices is not very well supported. However there are tweaks available for these. You need to use google.

pollyolly100 said:

Thanks for your opinion! =)
So by the connection being lost, do you mean if there's a power outage and my external loses power or something then it could ruin my Mac? *gasp*
I mean, if it's gonna put my Mac in danger then I don't wanna do it... =p
MY MAC IS MY LIFE!
lol

Click to expand...

No, it won't ruin your Mac, but it'll likely damager the VM you were running at the time.

pollyolly100 said:

Ok, so how do you get Boot Camp to recognize your External? I ran Boot Camp Assistant and it's just showing my internal HD...God I feel like such a noobie...LOL

Click to expand...

I said you have to take your Mac HDD out and put the External one in if its SATA 2.5inch HDD then insert the Vista Disc and it should install automacialy. When finshed you can put the leopard disc in to install the vista drivers for use with mac

northy124 said:

I said you have to take your Mac HDD out and put the External one in if its SATA 2.5inch HDD then insert the Vista Disc and it should install automacialy. When finshed you can put the leopard disc in to install the vista drivers for use with mac

Click to expand...

But the original disk needs to be put back. Once you take out the vista disk the problem again remains about booting vista from external drive.

All you need is a USB 2.0 minium prefably FW800 as it is faster. You rejecy the disc ou of the Mac replace the vista HDD with the Mac's one. Then insert Leopard disc after botting from Ex. HDD by pressing Option Key/Alt

Have you tried booting vista from external using the above method. It isn't that straight.