Using USB 3.0 with a boot drive is possible, but ensure your device supports it and the drive is compatible.
Using USB 3.0 with a boot drive is possible, but ensure your device supports it and the drive is compatible.
At home, i used Windows. At work, i used Mac. Sometimes i need to take my work home, but this has been a massive pain. I cant run Mac on my home computer, and i dont want to fight with Windows on my Mac at work. I got tired of dealing with the two, and since most of the programs i use are open source i installed my favorite Linux distro to an external hard drive and use that at both places. Right now it is just a laptop hard drive in a cheap USB 2.0 enclosure. It works pretty well, but i would like it to be a bit faster. I know USB 3.0 drive enclosure's are cheap, and getting a 240GB SSD wouldn't be too bad, but im told USB 3 requires a driver. If this is the case, would it still work as a boot drive? Hope this is a simple question, ~Judah
I examined this, thinking it could be a great concept. Probably not what you expected, though—most USB sticks aren't quick enough for a Windows setup. Updated: That one was a joke.
You can utilize a USB as a boot device... However, I don't suggest it if time is critical.
Most boards with built-in USB 3.0 support now include UEFI functionality, which should work smoothly these days. You may need to turn on legacy mode support if you want to boot from a USB 3.0 port. Systems lacking USB 3.0 will treat the drive as USB 2.0. USB drives are capable of running Linux efficiently. Officially, Windows can't be installed on USB drives because of licensing restrictions, and Microsoft has built-in protections against booting Windows. There are methods to work around these limitations. Consider keeping Windows at home, using a Mac at work, and storing files in the cloud for remote access.
Choose an SSD instead of a USB drive for better performance. Even with USB 2.0 limitations, the quick access time of an SSD more than compensates. Opt for the most affordable option available and don’t stress about exact speeds—500 MB/s is more than enough.
Thanks for the info. To sum it up, I’m considering Linux because of its nice software and good support, but the CLI and server tools feel a bit limited. MacOS works well for productivity, though it can feel heavy. Apple’s ecosystem is restrictive, which isn’t ideal for my needs. Linux has some serious downsides, but it meets my requirements and is portable. I’ll start by getting an SSD and a better case based on what I find. Thanks!