Running Windows On A MacBook Pro

This weekend I finally became the proud owner of an Intel-based MacBook Pro. I've remained a PC user all these years because I've already invested a lot of money on Windows-based software and hardware. Switching to a Mac —as tempting as it was—meant I'd have to get new software. Last week, Apple announced that their new Intel-based Macs would be able to run Windows XP natively. This may have been Apple's smartest move since the release of the iPod. Now Window-loving users can switch to Apple computers with no problem.

What is Boot Camp Beta?

You probably heard the news regarding a software download called Boot Camp, which is currently available for a limited-time. Boot Camp allows you to run two operating systems (Windows and OS X) on Intel-based MacBook Pros. You are basically partitioning (dividing) your computer's hard drive so one half runs Windows, while the other runs OS X. This doesn't mean you can run them at the same time. You must select which operating system you will be using when you power-on your computer. It also means that files you store on Windows XP may be 'read-only' files on the OS X partition. It's like having two computers in one. This is only possible on Intel-based computers so if you have an older Mac system, you won't be able to run Windows XP.

Boot Camp basically does three things. It provides you with drivers that you need after installing Windows so it works with Apple's hardware. It allows you create a second partition for Windows and it guides you through the Windows installation. The software is still in beta (testing stage), but it will be included in the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" release. Keep in mind that if you decide to run Boot Camp, you do so at your own risk. Apple does not provide technical support during or after installation. To run Boot Camp you will need to have an Intel-based Mac with the latest Mac OS X (10.4.6), a single copy of Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2 (no upgrade discs, OEM versions or Media Center versions), printed instructions and a blank CD.

Side note: If you have a Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 version, you may want to read how Barb Bowman was able to install it.

Ten-hut! Boot Camp, Install!

Although the name sounds like a training session, it's really far from being a real challenging exercise. Installing Boot Camp and running Windows XP on your Mac is surprisingly easy. Before I installed anything on my MacBook Pro, I read all the instructions available online. I wanted to make sure I didn't miss a step or overlooked an important detail that could be detrimental to a successful install. So after unpacking my new MacBook Pro and filling out registration forms, I installed the latest firmware. Since this was a new system, I didn't need to backup my files. But if you're already a MacBook Pro user, make sure to backup your files before installation. I also printed out the installation guide which you must follow step-by-step and proceeded to run Boot Camp. The process was very self explanatory. It basically took me less than 10 minutes to complete the install. Keep a blank CD on-hand for the this step which is required for burning the driver disk. In this phase you also get to partition your hard drive. You must now figure out how much space to allocate to each operating system.

Windows Front and Center!

Now you're ready to install Windows XP with SP2, no exceptions here. Apple is very explicit on this requirement, which means you will most likely have to buy a copy of Windows XP SP2 (Home Edition is $199/ Professional $299). This process will take about 30-45 minutes. Now you will be guided through the Windows XP installation. Two very important things happen here. You must select Windows Partition Option C to continue—selecting any other option may delete Mac OS X. You also must format your Windows partition by selecting NTFS (Read-Only) or FAT (Read and Write). After Windows installation is complete, you must eject the Windows XP installation disc, and insert the driver disk you created with Boot Camp which should auto-run and guide you through the driver installations. These drivers allow Apple hardware to work with Windows XP.

You Are Now a Mac-Win User

That's it! You can set Windows XP as your default start-up operating system if you plan on using it more often than Mac OS X. To change environments, simply reboot your Mac, hold down the Option key until you see two hard drive icons and choose the operating system you want to use. I've been using Windows on a Mac, but I can't wait to play with Mac software. The fact that I can switch operating systems is really fascinating, being that you normally need two separate computers to be able to do this. I will keep you updated of challenges I face using this new system. But in the mean time, let me know what you think about Macs running Windows? Also if you have installed Windows, what problems have you faced?