Michal Ždanský In the second part of Switcher, paradoxically, we will show you how to install Windows on your Mac. If you've been using Windows for years, it's sometimes really hard to find an alternative for certain programs - sometimes there simply isn't one. So if you are in any way dependent on certain programs from "Oken", you will certainly welcome the possibility of still having access to these programs.
There are several options here, Windows can be virtualized, the Crossover utility can be used for certain programs, or it can be used, i.e. Dual Boot. The last variant is intended primarily for those whose applications necessary for work/entertainment are more demanding on the system. Among them, I would mention mainly computer games.
Although the Mac gaming scene is much better than it was in the past, thanks in part to Steam, users of the Apple system still have a limited selection of titles. Especially if you have your games that you would like to play, Dual Boot is probably the only solution.
Apple computers are ready for dual boot, even offering their own utility to create an additional partition on the disk just for these purposes. In addition, on the installation DVD you will find Windows drivers for your specific model, so there is no need to search for individual drivers on the Internet.
For dual boot, I used a 13-inch MacBook Pro version 2010 and the operating system Windows 7 Professional 64bit, whose license I own. For example, if you want to install Windows on a Mac without an optical disc 7 Windows USB / DVD Download Tool.
- Update Max OS X.
- Start Boot Camp Assistant (Applications > Utilities).
- Creating a disk partition is very simple with this program, no formatting is required. You just choose the size of the partition using the slider and Boot Camp Assistant takes care of the rest. If you are wondering how much GB to set aside for Windows, keep in mind that the installation itself after updates will take up about 8-10 GB of space.
- Now in Boot Camp Assistant select “Start the Windows installer” and then “Continue. Then insert the Windows installation disc and choose “Start Installation”
- Next, you will be guided by the installer's instructions. When choosing the partition for installation, choose the one labeled BOOTCAMP and first format it to NTFS file system. After that, the installation should take place without any problems.
- After installation, take the MAC OS X installation disc and insert it into the drive. Use explorer to find the Boot Camp folder and run it setup.exe.
- Follow the instructions of the installer. It will require a reboot once the driver installation is done. Don't do that yet.
- Run the installed Apple Software Upgrade and let it check for any driver updates. This way you can avoid the problems described below.
- If you have read the last paragraph of this article (mainly the point about the graphics card) and followed the instructions correctly, you can restart the computer.
- Mac OS X still remains the primary system on boot. If you want to start Windows instead, you need to hold the "Alt" key right after starting the computer until the Apple logo appears. You can then choose which of the systems you want to run.
Problem solving
Most of the problems mainly concern the drivers, which may not be up-to-date on the included DVD. I've run into these three issues myself, luckily I've also found solutions to them.
- Graphics drivers – This problem persists mainly with 13-inch MacBook Pros. The problem is caused by bad graphics drivers on the included DVD and results in the system freezing right after Windows starts. It can be easily solved by installing the latest drivers directly from the site NVidia, before restarting the computer after installing the Boot Camp drivers from the DVD. Apparently, this ailment should also be solved by the update (see point 8), however, a sichr is a sichr. If you made that mistake and restarted your computer straight away, you need to start Windows in "Safe Mode" and then install the new driver.
- Apple drivers – Although third-party drivers install correctly, the problem is with those directly from Apple. For unknown reasons, it only allows certain languages for installation, and if you have installed Czech Windows, you will not need multitouch on the touchpad to work. If you try to install the drivers manually, you will get a language incompatibility message. Fortunately, this problem can be worked around. You will need an archiving program, e.g. WinRAR. Using explorer (or another file manager), locate the Apple folder located in Boot Camp > Drivers. Individual installers with the EXE extension will need to be unpacked using an archiver, preferably into their own folder. When you open the created folder, you will see a lot of individual files. Among them, find the one with the name DPInst.xml and delete it. Run it DPInst.exe and this time the installation will go through correctly. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, use the drivers from the subfolder x64.
- Sound drivers – It is possible that you, like me, will not have Windows sounds. Again, the included driver is to blame and will have to be installed manually. You will find the correct one <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1932/8043/files/200721_ODSTOUPENI_BEZ_UDANI_DUVODU__EN.pdf?v=1595428404" data-gt-href-en="https://en.notsofunnyany.com/">here</a> (eventual <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1932/8043/files/200721_ODSTOUPENI_BEZ_UDANI_DUVODU__EN.pdf?v=1595428404" data-gt-href-en="https://en.notsofunnyany.com/">here</a> for Windows XP).
- Other problems – Have you tried turning the computer off and on :-)?
Many of you probably think that installing Windows on a Mac in the second article intended for "switchers" is a bit controversial. Yes, it is, however, the ability to still have the system one has been used to is the first step in justifying the purchase of a Macintosh for some people. After all, I am one of them.
Note: The tutorial above applies to OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
And the instructions on how to upload Mac OS to Windows wouldn't work??? Dik
Hello, I would like to know how the installation of windows will affect the performance of the Macbook. Thanks for the reply.
It will not affect performance in any way, it is a separately installed system on its own partition. However, the battery life will be cut in half when Windows is running. Hell, Windows eats significantly more than Mac OS X
Thanks for the nice article. I personally tried it and everything works as it should. The problem remains the broken sound under WinXP. I downloaded the drivers according to the link in the article. Can you advise me where exactly to put them so that WinXP will load them? Thank you in advance. Michael
When Vista came out, not many people liked it and everyone sang odes to the good old XP. A lot of people are still working on it today. So I don't know, did you mean to praise or chastise Seven with that? :-)
I would also mention an alternative where I live with my girlfriend and she doesn't want to get used to Mac OS, so I upload XP to her and we are both happy. I just didn't know that it can be selected even when starting the computer. So thanks, I'll try it tonight.
I would also welcome a Mac on a normal PC/NB...mainly because of the possible driver problem due to the large number of possible configurations.
I've tried to install Hackint00sh on a desktop PC myself, I even succeeded, but it's worth it. With a good HW configuration, OS X runs great, but stability is worse. There's a 1:1 chance that the system won't boot properly at all, and I've been unable to boot it other than from an installation DVD that has a bootloader on it. How many times the computer had to be restarted several times, even turned off, to boot the system correctly. So as I say, it's not worth the effort.
I managed to do it on a Dell laptop too. It started without a boot DVD, but the laptop had to be turned off manually when shutting down. I had problems mainly with wifi and sound drivers. It was easy to control thanks to the Windows keyboard and it crashed quite often. I tried to install hackint00sh virtually, but it didn't work at all.
Why not use OSX on Mac? If you only want to use widle, you don't need an apple computer for that!
Maybe you should give Mac OS X another chance, maybe after trying it for a while you'll find out how great this system is. It's a matter of habit.
I also didn't know how to get used to mac os, but I finally got used to it when I found out that many things are very simple.. many things seemed complicated to me at first, but now I'm happy.. at the beginning, I wanted to throw the macbook out the window
Look, Mr. Cestny, why are you crawling here again and grinding nonsense here? Obviously, none of this is for you, so find a picture of Apple HW somewhere, print it above your bed, and leave the rest of us alone. ;-)
Should I be Mr. Cestny? Why did the post I responded to disappear?
You are definitely not Mr. Cestny, we delete that regularly and always. For understandable reasons, we also delete almost all related reactions to his posts, because it almost always degenerates into a flame.
Thanks for understanding.
Editorial
To M. Žďánský: Thanks for the nice article. I personally tried the procedure and everything works as it should. The problem remains the broken sound under WinXP. I downloaded the drivers according to the link in the article. Can you advise me where exactly to put them so that WinXP will load them? Thank you in advance. Michael
I'll try to advise, even though I don't have XP. You need to unzip the archive. Then open the device manager, find the sound device in it, right click on properties. After that I guess to update the driver, you select your own and then you just select the unzipped folder as the location of the drivers. The drivers should install.
I recently bought a 27″ iMac, which I have to run Windows 7 for work and purchased software. I didn't want to virtualize, so I decided on Bootcamp.
Right after unpacking the iMac, I partitioned the disk via Bootcamp and installed Windows 7 Ultimate in English. After the installation was complete, I uploaded the Windows drivers from the Apple DVD, downloaded the Czech language pack from Windows Update, and that's it. Everything is running like clockwork. I didn't have to pull any other drivers, all Apple hardware worked instantly.
Windows even starts directly when booting, I don't have to press the ALT key.
One would like to say that the Apple iMac is the best hardware for running Windows ;)
You do not need to press the Alt key because you have selected a Windows startup disk in the system preferences.
Apple hardware is really good according to some test (it was about laptops and I would have to look it up somewhere). Beat the PC maker.
Unfortunately I also have windows primary boot set, can you please advise how to change this? Thanks
Control Panel > Startup Disk > select Macintosh HD
Thank you very much for the advice about the start up disk, but I need help with one more thing related to the bootcamp. Unfortunately, my magic mouse doesn't work under Windows and I couldn't find drivers anywhere that would solve it. Thank you for the advice!
I even feel like Apple had a little bit of a campaign about how Apple computers are best for running Windows Vista.
Hello,
I have a question about Windows XP Professional..
It is possible for this operating system to work on a Macbook Air 11 laptop (introduced in October) thanks to Boot Camp - I don't want to switch to W7.
2) question: in the case of installing W7 on a laptop without a DVD rom, the program is Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, what program is there to install win XP on laptops without a DVD rom?
Thank you
Hello Martin,
I see no reason why WinXP Profi should not work on the new MacBook Air. But I definitely recommend Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3.
Try borrowing an external CD/DVD drive from someone, or connect the MacBook Air to another Mac via a firewire cable and turn on CD/DVD drive sharing. That way, using the connected Mac and its drive, you will be able to install the system on the MacBook Air :)
Maybe there are other ways (installation from the network or from a flash drive, but I don't have that experience).
Good luck.
Michal
PS: after installing Win XP, don't forget to install the Boot Camp drivers from the MAC OS X installation disc
Hello, I want to ask if it is possible (and if so, how) to set bootcamp to automatically display the mac os/windows selection when the computer starts and wait for a click?
thank you Radek
I have a question about a few things. I am also a recent owner of a MacBook Pro 13″. I have W7N 64bit Ultimate installed via bootcamp.
I'm mainly interested in how to simulate a real mouse on the trackpad, but I didn't think about it then.
How to control the backlight of the keyboard and display? The FN key does not respond to me, the upper row of keys still works only as F keys.
In the hardware manager, I found out that the iSight camera, bluetooth and partially the light sensor are not installed correctly. Can I find the drivers somewhere?
That's probably all then. I'm just getting used to MacOSX and I really enjoy the system. I wouldn't go into Win if I didn't need it because of the SW for work, which simply no one will write for Mac, since I'm the only one in the company who has a Mac. :(
For drivers, see Troubleshooting - Apple Drivers
Juice84man:
How to control the backlight of the keyboard and display?
Bootcamp: control panel: Keyboard list
check Use all…
I am mainly interested in how to simulate a real mouse on the trackpad.
Bootcamp: control panel: Trackpad tab – CHECK Secondary click – and select Bottom Right Corner from the drop-down menu
I don't know how to completely turn off the keyboard backlight.
just waiting for a MacBook Pro 13″ and the only problem I expect is not getting the MacOS software to work…. this system, when win is installed, is basically an alternative to MacOS, so I can work normally with Office 2011 and if I need SW on Win, I switch the OS and then go back to Mac? Otherwise, if the Mac goes to its OS, the battery life will not be affected by the fact that it is also Win?
Hopefully it's not described too complicated :-D
Díky
It is exactly as you describe it. However, every OS switch requires a restart. The presence of the second system will not affect the stamina in any way. However, the endurance on Win is about half.
Thanks for discovering the deletion of the DPInst.xml file, half a year of suffering is gone… :)
Good website! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I'm wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
You are a very intelligent person!
I also installed Windows specifically 15 2011bit on my MBP 7″ version 64. It was a little different for me, BootCamp Assistant offered me to download the drivers and burn them to a CD. I had this done. Otherwise, everything went practically as in the article. I also installed the Catalyst Control Center for Apple BootCamp. Otherwise, everything went without problems, updating, pouring the necessary programs.
I have it in such a way that I do my work under a Mac and Windows serves as my game console.
Hi, I've had an imac 27 for two years and a DVD was sent to me, I'm trying to install Windows 7 on bootcamp, but it doesn't work without a CD, apparently the imac doesn't support booting from an external device, both a DVD drive and a USB stick or disk. There is no way around it, I don't want to buy a new DVD for 3500, - is there any solution?