OK. If you're on a USB drive, please use the GUID partition scheme (Options button in the Partition tab of Disk Utility), since you're only going to be starting up Intel-based Macs from that drive.
Then, make sure you erase the drive and use the "Mac OS Extended" format.
Once that's complete, Smart Update the external using "Backup - all files". Then, select the drive in System Preferences' "Startup Disk" preference pane.
When you watch it start, see if you get a grey screen, Apple, spinning "pinwheel", etc. A blinking cursor at the upper left isn't something I'd expect to see at all.
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--Dave Nanian
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