Tutorials on bootcamp at DVinfo.net

Brian Luce · April 26th, 2009, 04:33 PM

I want to run windows on my macbook. Google ranks lots but I've discovered the hard way the all tutorials are not created equal. Any one know of a good FREE web based tutorial on installing windows?

Robert Lane · April 26th, 2009, 05:33 PM

You don't need any outsourced tutorials on the process; Boot Camp has a very straight-forward PDF set of instructions built-in. It's recommended that you print it out in case you run into trouble during the install process. It covers both XP and Vista installs.

Michael Wisniewski · April 26th, 2009, 08:17 PM

Here's the Apple Support page for Bootcamp, but like Robert said, it's pretty straight forward. If you want to use an external computer monitor and want to make it your primary display you will need to use Vista.

Brian Luce · April 26th, 2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Wisniewski

Here's the Apple Support page for Bootcamp, but like Robert said, it's pretty straight forward. If you want to use an external computer monitor and want to make it your primary display you will need to use Vista.

Wow, talk about a dealkiller. No external monitor with XP? That's unfortunate since that's how I use the Macbook 90% of the time. Vista is something I've learned to run away from.

Noah Kadner · April 27th, 2009, 12:14 AM

Or go Parallels or VMFusion. Bootcamp gives you the best possible performance but it also requires you to restart and boot into a different OS every time you want to use it. The virtual windows programs have great performance as well and you can run them in a window in OS X.

Noah

Nick Gordon · April 27th, 2009, 04:19 AM

+1 for Parallels/VMWare. I use Parallels on iMac and MacBook Pro to run XP, and works like a dream.

Nigel Barker · April 27th, 2009, 07:12 AM

Another vote for VMware Fusion. One immense benefit versus running Windows natively is AutoProtect which gives the ability to revert to an earlier snapshot of the whole virtual machine. Thus when Windows screws up (or you screw up Windows) as will inevitably happen then you just restore a snapshot from an hour ago, the day before or whenever & within a minute or 2 you are back up & running.

Robert Lane · April 27th, 2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

Wow, talk about a dealkiller. No external monitor with XP? That's unfortunate since that's how I use the Macbook 90% of the time. Vista is something I've learned to run away from.

I'm sure that's not the case; I run a MBP with BootCamp/XP SP3 and have my 30" ACD as my main monitor without issue. In fact I run Flight Simulator in full-res and things work great (see grabs). I don't see why the MacBook would be any different since the Preference Pane for controlling externals is identical as is the software codec that handles display commands. You should be fine, Brian.

Michael Wisniewski · April 27th, 2009, 07:06 PM

Yes, the external primary monitor issue could just be my setup. At the time I only tried XP SP2, and I'm using a Samsung external monitor with a late 2008 MBP. The option was there, but grayed out. I have a feeling SP3 might have been the ticket.

April 26th, 2009, 04:33 PM	#1
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Tutorials on bootcamp I want to run windows on my macbook. Google ranks lots but I've discovered the hard way the all tutorials are not created equal. Any one know of a good FREE web based tutorial on installing windows?

April 26th, 2009, 08:17 PM	#3
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Here's the Apple Support page for Bootcamp, but like Robert said, it's pretty straight forward. If you want to use an external computer monitor and want to make it your primary display you will need to use Vista. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

April 27th, 2009, 07:06 PM	#9
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Yes, the external primary monitor issue could just be my setup. At the time I only tried XP SP2, and I'm using a Samsung external monitor with a late 2008 MBP. The option was there, but grayed out. I have a feeling SP3 might have been the ticket. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

April 26th, 2009, 05:33 PM	#2
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,823 Images: 15	You don't need any outsourced tutorials on the process; Boot Camp has a very straight-forward PDF set of instructions built-in. It's recommended that you print it out in case you run into trouble during the install process. It covers both XP and Vista installs.

April 27th, 2009, 12:14 AM	#5
Noah Kadner Better than Halle Berry Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 435	Or go Parallels or VMFusion. Bootcamp gives you the best possible performance but it also requires you to restart and boot into a different OS every time you want to use it. The virtual windows programs have great performance as well and you can run them in a window in OS X. Noah

April 27th, 2009, 04:19 AM	#6
Nick Gordon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 166	+1 for Parallels/VMWare. I use Parallels on iMac and MacBook Pro to run XP, and works like a dream.

April 27th, 2009, 07:12 AM	#7
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Another vote for VMware Fusion. One immense benefit versus running Windows natively is AutoProtect which gives the ability to revert to an earlier snapshot of the whole virtual machine. Thus when Windows screws up (or you screw up Windows) as will inevitably happen then you just restore a snapshot from an hour ago, the day before or whenever & within a minute or 2 you are back up & running.