How do I run windows from my other drive on my mac

jaza · 06-13-2009, 06:55 PM

Ok, so I recently bought a new MacBook Pro with a 220 gb hard drive which i now realize is defiantly not enough to run mac and windows at the same time on it, but the reason i bought it is because my old computers mother board had blown up so its hard drive with all my windows data was still in tact i then took that out and bought a usb drive bay that i could put it in,, and i was woundering if i could boot from that on the mac or if that can't be done then the best way to transfer windows from an external drive like the one i have to my mac,, thanks in advance.

**jarod** · 06-13-2009, 09:05 PM

U can't just take a windows hard drive from another computer and run it in another computer. Its a windows protection feature. During windows installation, it is tied up with whatever significant hardware is in the computer.

U still can recover your data though by slaving the hard drive to the new computer. To use the old hard drive back, you will need to reformat it

jaza · 06-14-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarod

U can't just take a windows hard drive from another computer and run it in another computer. Its a windows protection feature. During windows installation, it is tied up with whatever significant hardware is in the computer.

U still can recover your data though by slaving the hard drive to the new computer. To use the old hard drive back, you will need to reformat it

Ok thanks, that sucks. But is there an easy way to copy all my windows data, like settings and programs to my mac? (from my old harddrive through it's usb case??)

sinclair_tm · 06-15-2009, 01:10 AM

The Mac will read the drive just fine, it just can't write to it (unless it is formatted FAT32 by chance). If you want to use the Windows setup as is, there is a way. You will need to buy either VMFusion of Parallels. These are programs that create virtual computers, or in other words, a software based computer that Windows thinks is a real hardware computer. Once they are installed and running, you can plug in the USB drive and they will either use it as is, or allow you to convert it to a virtual PC that they can use. You will need the Windows product key again for it to work right, as it will see a hardware change and ask for the key to reactivate.

jaza · 06-15-2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinclair_tm

The Mac will read the drive just fine, it just can't write to it (unless it is formatted FAT32 by chance). If you want to use the Windows setup as is, there is a way. You will need to buy either VMFusion of Parallels. These are programs that create virtual computers, or in other words, a software based computer that Windows thinks is a real hardware computer. Once they are installed and running, you can plug in the USB drive and they will either use it as is, or allow you to convert it to a virtual PC that they can use. You will need the Windows product key again for it to work right, as it will see a hardware change and ask for the key to reactivate.

ok so i downloaded parallels and installed it, how do i run windows from my external drive on it?? Thanks in advance

jaza · 06-15-2009, 03:06 AM

sorry i'll add in more detail,, i am trying to run it from my external harddrive and it wants me to specify an CD/DVD disc image (i'm guessing like and iso file) or insert a disk into the macs drive, no option to boot from the usb harddrive

sinclair_tm · 06-19-2009, 09:59 PM

There it is trying to install Windows if it asks for a CD. I do not use Parallels, so I do not know where to look, but Fusion has a migrate your PC option that will convert a Windows hard drive to a virtual PC.

ShosMeister · 06-23-2009, 07:48 AM

Don't use Parallels a lot but I scanned through the user guide and it shows a few options for using external USB drives. I'm sure there is a way to set it up to mount the external drive and then boot from it but you'll have to check the guides for exactly how.

Also, for migrating "Parallels Transporter enables you to migrate selected volumes or the whole of a physical or virtual computer into a Parallels virtual machine or Parallels virtual disk."

Looks like that's the way to go?

jaza · 06-23-2009, 11:42 PM

i can just download another one if parrells isn't a good one,, which one do you suggest?

06-13-2009, 06:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
jaza Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Mac OSX	How do I run windows from my other drive on my mac Ok, so I recently bought a new MacBook Pro with a 220 gb hard drive which i now realize is defiantly not enough to run mac and windows at the same time on it, but the reason i bought it is because my old computers mother board had blown up so its hard drive with all my windows data was still in tact i then took that out and bought a usb drive bay that i could put it in,, and i was woundering if i could boot from that on the mac or if that can't be done then the best way to transfer windows from an external drive like the one i have to my mac,, thanks in advance.

06-13-2009, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
jarod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Malaysia, Klang Posts: 517 OS: Win XP service pack 2 My System	Re: How do I run windows from my other drive on my mac U can't just take a windows hard drive from another computer and run it in another computer. Its a windows protection feature. During windows installation, it is tied up with whatever significant hardware is in the computer. U still can recover your data though by slaving the hard drive to the new computer. To use the old hard drive back, you will need to reformat it __________________ Optimus Prime: Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them.Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war. We must destroy the cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest.

06-15-2009, 03:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
jaza Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Mac OSX	Re: How do I run windows from my other drive on my mac sorry i'll add in more detail,, i am trying to run it from my external harddrive and it wants me to specify an CD/DVD disc image (i'm guessing like and iso file) or insert a disk into the macs drive, no option to boot from the usb harddrive

06-23-2009, 07:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
ShosMeister Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 400 OS: OS X 10.4.x	Re: How do I run windows from my other drive on my mac Don't use Parallels a lot but I scanned through the user guide and it shows a few options for using external USB drives. I'm sure there is a way to set it up to mount the external drive and then boot from it but you'll have to check the guides for exactly how. Also, for migrating "Parallels Transporter enables you to migrate selected volumes or the whole of a physical or virtual computer into a Parallels virtual machine or Parallels virtual disk." Looks like that's the way to go?

06-23-2009, 11:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
jaza Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Mac OSX	Re: How do I run windows from my other drive on my mac i can just download another one if parrells isn't a good one,, which one do you suggest?