Running Mac OS from a USB or external drive | Dr. Sachin Dev Duggal

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Hello Everyone,

Myself Dr. Sachin Dev Duggal, This is my first post!

I have two older (2017), 15" Macbook Pro devices with Monterey as the OS.

Is it possible to make an image of device#1 and run that image from a USB or external drive on device#2?

I've tried a couple tutorials online but no love (likely me not understanding instructions).  After imaging 500GB stick from device#1 and attempting to boot from it on device#2, I can select the USB device from the startup options screen but the OS on the USB will not boot.

Basically, it goes:

  • Format USB as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) + GUID Partition.
  • Create Monterey bootable USB installer (sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/500GBDrive)
  • Clone internal drive to USB (using Carbon Copy with changes only being cloned).
  • Attempt boot from USB on device#2.

For some more detail, when I boot device#2, I hold the option key till I see the boot device selection screen.  The USB is seen by the device and is shown as a separate icon on screen.  After selecting the 500GBDrive, the device will only show a black screen with a circled "X" and an address for what I'm assuming is Apple's official "how to boot" page.

I'm know I'm doing something wrong, but can't seem to see it.  Am I trying to do something that's not possible?

Please Help Me Out..
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