Win 8 from external, within OSX?

[game_over]

I've been google'ing for a guide to install Windows 8 to an external drive but most talk about running it by pressing a button a startup and booting it that way.

I'm wondering if there is a way i can boot from it within OSX? while stored on an external hard drive?.. or better yet, the option for both?

Is it possible?.. I'm asking a lot i know but i'd need to be able to use Windows 8 while i'm working within OSX, perhaps in a window?

I don't mind installing something on my mac to make this run but i'd rather have the windows installation on an external disk.

Even better would be the option to also boot directly into Windows?

Thanks in advance

[NeoTrunks]

I think the best way to do this is with a VM. You can go with Parallels for the best experience or Virtual Box with is free. But either one will allow you to install the VM on to your external drive and run it within a window or on a second screen or even another space within OS X. You can use Bootcamp to choose whether or not to boot into OS X or Windows, but you can only run one or the other and I am not so sure that Windows will allow you to install onto an external drive.

[f0rk_b0mb]

Boot into it from OS X? Well you could always go into settings -> startup disk and select your default boot disk. You can do the same in Windows after you install bootcamp tools (I think it's an icon in the system tray). This will make your mac boot into windows every time until you change the startup disk back. I've had some good experiences with Windows 8 on Virtualbox and I would highly recommend it. For best performance, dual boot on your internal hdd.

[n_K]

Yes you can use VMware workstation or parallels and it'll do what you want, and you can boot natively into windows too if you use something like rEFIt which will give you a screen when you bootup allowing you to boot off the external drive or just boot normally.

[game_over]

I've installed it and the language is in arabic or something

Any ideas? It's a brand new unused Windows 8 x64 pro disk.

[ingramator]

I've installed it and the language is in arabic or something

Any ideas? It's a brand new unused Windows 8 x64 pro disk.

Idea 1 you selected arabic as your install language man!!!

Idea 2 you should probably just reinstall because it is a bitch to change everything once its installed

Idea 3 you can have a live Windows 8 HDD (Win to Go) boot through a VM or boot Live! https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1134268-tutorialwindows-8-to-go-without-enterprise-edition/ for if your a non-enterprise user!

Hope that helps man :)

[game_over]

I didn't choose Arabic though, i just thought i would ask before doing the re-install. Thanks for the link will check it out.

I've tried to change everything but it's read right to left, even struggled following a video on youtube.

[Brian M. Veteran]

I didn't choose Arabic though, i just thought i would ask before doing the re-install. Thanks for the link will check it out.

I've tried to change everything but it's read right to left, even struggled following a video on youtube.

If you used Parallels unattended installation, it might be in there (or somehow accidentally set in System preferences).

One thing you can do, however, is boot a standard Windows 8 install which is on a USB HDD (must be installed internally) via Parallels. It's a PITA, but it's doable.

[game_over]

I got it working by doing a re-install, you are right about the unattended situation this is what caused it to be in arabic... What would you say is a good 'allowance' for windows 8 in terms of cores, memory, disk space and GPU? It runs ok but noticed some slight lag on splash screen animations, i wouldn't care but windows has too many of them, those solid screens with icons for every metro app that opens is pathetic.. i only clicked on a photo and was shot off into a metro app, eugh.