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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Help booting windows on a mac
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Showing posts 1 - 9 of 9, (reverse)
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11/16/2008 10:01:14 AM · #1
Until recently, we owned a Windows desktop and a Macbook pro. Then the PC died.

Now I've pulled the hard drive, and I'm going to buy an enclosure so I can use it as an external hard drive.

I've found instructions on line for using Boot Camp to install Windows on an external drive and boot from it, but I can't find info on simply plugging in an existing hard drive w/Windows already installed.

Anybody know whether that's possible?
11/16/2008 10:11:08 AM · #2
Why don't use just use VMWare?
11/16/2008 10:15:56 AM · #3
Originally posted by levyj413:

but I can't find info on simply plugging in an existing hard drive w/Windows already installed.

Anybody know whether that's possible?

Booting from the external windows hard drive? Probably not. When windows installs, all the drivers relating to the motherboard, chipset, graphics, soundcard, display, network card etc. are installed and configured. If windows sees a drastically different configuration when it attempts to boot up, then the drivers won't work, and it won't boot.

Virtualbox is what I use to run XP from within OSX.

Message edited by author 2008-11-16 10:16:35.
11/16/2008 10:32:34 AM · #4
My problem is I don't own a Windows XP install disk. I mean, I'll buy one if I have to. I'm just hoping I can use the existing installation from my now-dead desktop.
11/16/2008 10:33:14 AM · #5
Originally posted by SnapperL:

Why don't use just use VMWare?

You still need a Win install disk, right?
11/16/2008 10:42:58 AM · #6
Originally posted by levyj413:

Originally posted by SnapperL:

Why don't use just use VMWare?

You still need a Win install disk, right?


Jeff, You will need a Windows install disk.
11/16/2008 10:45:29 AM · #7
I'm 99% sure that you will not be able to use your existing installation on the HD as a boot drive. You'll have to have a Windows install disk and create a new Windows volume on one of your hard disks, and then transfer your data over from the old drive.

I use Parallels on my Macs so I can run Windows either full screen or in a separate window whenever I need it. The bummer was I had to go out and plunk down money to purchase XP (ick).

-J
11/16/2008 04:53:44 PM · #8
There's a possibility you may not need to buy a copy of XP. When I switched out a ton of hardware in my desktop, it made me reactivate Windows, which doesn't require a disk. So what you may want to try is this: Plug in the external drive, and boot holding the option key. Hopefully it'll bring up the external as a bootable disk. Boot into the external, and simply reactivate Windows. You can then uninstall most of your old drivers and replace them with the BootCamp drivers.

Lemme know if that works.
11/16/2008 05:06:14 PM · #9
Originally posted by levyj413:

My problem is I don't own a Windows XP install disk. I mean, I'll buy one if I have to. I'm just hoping I can use the existing installation from my now-dead desktop.
\
Do you have the serial number from your XP installation printed anywhere on the desktop? (You'll sometimes find it on a small green sticker on the back or the top of the case)

If you can find your XP serial number, then it's legal to borrow someone's XP disk to do the installation, and then use your serial number when you get to that screen. Just make sure it's the same version (pro or home)
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