install win10 on external SSD to use with mac mini, possible?

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Jun 26th, 2022 7:37 pm

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Jun 26th, 2022 3:28 pm

redflag5050 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 5, 2009; 1035 posts; 234 upvotes; Montreal

Jun 26th, 2022 3:28 pm

install win10 on external SSD to use with mac mini, possible?

My NUC just died. In addition to the small original NVME installed, I added a 1 TB Crucial SSD which is half full.My wife has an intel mac mini that she rarely uses. I would like to install Win 10 on the SSD and boot into win10 externally. I'm waiting for the enclosure.Does the SSD have to be completely wiped or can I use the empty half and keep the data that is on it?

Any help, suggestions, links and info is appreciated.

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Jun 26th, 2022 3:40 pm

kramer1: Deal Addict; Apr 29, 2018; 1902 posts; 1373 upvotes; Vancouver

Jun 26th, 2022 3:40 pm

I think Windows should be fine as long as the drive has the partitions it needs. Apart from that yeah it should work. Tho iirc the Mac Mini does have space internally for another SSD. The ones with an optical drive have an extra SATA port if not needed

It is a pretty simple procedure, boot while holding "ALT", plug in USB Win installer and it should popup as a boot option. That is it, then follow the normal setup process. Once complete, get the BootCamp drivers and done

Can't Stop. Won't Stop. Game Stop

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Jun 26th, 2022 5:52 pm

EugW: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 20692 posts; 6895 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 26th, 2022 5:52 pm

My understanding is that BootCamp and Windows do not support Windows installations on external Mac drives. It can be done via unsupported means though.

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Jun 26th, 2022 6:39 pm

audit13: Deal Expert; Feb 24, 2003; 18678 posts; 5694 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 26th, 2022 6:39 pm

EugW wrote: ↑ My understanding is that BootCamp and Windows do not support Windows installations on external Mac drives. It can be done via unsupported means though.

This was the case for me with my mid-2014 13" Pro. I wound up installing a 256 GB SSD to install Windows 10 to the internal SSD with Bootcamp.

Jun 26th, 2022 7:19 pm

middleofnowhere: Sr. Member; Dec 6, 2020; 901 posts; 999 upvotes

Jun 26th, 2022 7:19 pm

Windows doesn't support USB booting but it can be persuaded using unofficial tools.

Some years ago, MS did offer USB booting as a feature of non-consumer versions of Windows, but ultimately abandoned the concept for suspiciously nebulous reasons.

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Jun 26th, 2022 7:37 pm

1madman1: Sr. Member; Feb 23, 2004; 852 posts; 138 upvotes; Richmond

Jun 26th, 2022 7:37 pm

I've accidentally booted into Windows 10 on an externally attached drive with my 2014 Mini before. I don't recall if it was USB or Thunderbolt interfaced though. Seemed to work fine, though slow.

Install was done internally on a completely different (2011) Mini, then attached externally to copy data over. The external drive booted by default because I forgot to plug in the internal drive.

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