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Cloning windows partition on to a new macbook from usb drive

  • 10-07-2012 08:02PM
    #1
    EI111
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 527 ✭✭✭


    Hey, I have an old hard drive from a broken macbook pro that has a windows partition on it. I just got a usb enclosure for it and am ondering if I can run windows on my new mac from usb or if there is a handy way to clone the partition on to my new macbook's harddrive. Would probably prefer to have it on the new drive so i don't have to run it off USB all the time.


Comments

  • #2
    K.O.Kiki
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,059 ✭✭✭✭K.O.Kiki


    Pretty sure it's not recommended (or even possible) to run Windows from USB.

    WinClone used to be freeware (it's $20 now), and there's always Carbon Copy Cloner.
    HOWEVER
    I would suggest to bite the bullet and reinstall Windows, especially since it's a new computer (different specs).
    Will save a lot of hassle in the future.


  • #3
    Dodd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,007 ✭✭✭Dodd


    K.O.Kiki Is right.
    Windows will start to load from the usb but will crash and then will not run again.
    If you take the usb out the mac will try to start in windows and not look for the OS X partition.
    You would have to start the mac and press the options button to select the mac HDD.


  • #4
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,946 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    Does the source drive ONLY have Windows on it? If it has OS X as well then boot into OS X over USB then use Carbon Cloner to clone both your windows and OS X partitions to the "new" Mac. Windows is setup to freak out if there is a change in the HD controller interface that it boots from, so going from SATA to USB will likely cause a BSOD. Depending on how different the "new" Mac is, you might have to "massage" windows to get it to work, but OS X will be a piece of proverbial urine.


  • #5
    Stainless_Steel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭Stainless_Steel


    Definitely recommend you do a fresh install onto the new hard drive. The bootcamp utility will ensure you have the correct windows drivers for your new laptop that way.


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