Step-by step instructions for booting Windows XP on an Apple Intel-based Mac

“Ramblings of a Computer Guru” blog has posted step-by-stp instructions for booting Windows XP on a “MacBook” – we’re assuming that, if this works, it also works for Intel-based iMacs, which would be a good thing since those are actually shipping while we wait for the MacBook Pro to ship.

So, for those types who’d probably enjoy dumping 10 gallons of leaded gas mixed with two cups of sawdust into a running Audi A8’s gas tank just to see what happens, the step-by-step theoretical instructions are here. We have no idea if it actually works and there doesn’t seem to be any verifiable proof of anyone having successfully bastardized an Intel-based Macintosh using this method, yet.

If you try it, let us know how it all works out.

Of interest: The Windows XP on an Intel Mac Contest pot stood at $8,133 at 12:27 CST today and has not yet been claimed.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews reader “Too Hot!” for the heads up.]

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Related MacDailyNews article:
Is Steve Jobs prepping ‘The Cupertino Project’ – Intel-based Macs that will run Windows apps, too? – December 27, 2005
Prize to boot Windows XP on an Intel Mac reward surpasses US$7,000 – January 26, 2006
Growing reward pot awaits first person to get Windows XP running on Intel-based Mac – January 24, 2006

66 Comments

  1. Why wreck your Mac OS X drive with WinXP malware?

    We need a virtual machine, not a dual-boot. It seems like all the problems outlined are solvable with a VM. Heck, VirtualPC had to overcome much bigger obstacles than that!

  2. “why????

    Half-life 2. Far Cry. Fear. Black & White 2 (I mean playing it now instead having to wait for the mac port)….. nuff said.”

    I’ll give you that…okay, where’s the video walkthrough? I ain’t doing it for a while, but if it’s fail safe, I’ll think about it. I’d like to see it done though.

  3. Madhatter,

    What are you smoking? The iMac Core Duos smoked the iMac G5s in almost every benchmark on that second link, and on the first link, the guy admits he’s not sure how he’ll be able to go back to surfing the web on his G5 since the new iMacs feel so much faster.

    While you’re at it, why don’t you include this link in your sample:
    http://www.macspeedzone.com/html/hardware/machine/performance_in_the_raw/06/1_23.shtml

    To sum up, from your links and the one I provided here, you’d have to pay $1000 more to get a G5 that can beat the performance of one of the new iMacs.

    Next time you want to make a point, at least make it convincing.

  4. Mike – Your post was spot on! I was thinking 37 year old children living in their moms’ basements, but you summed it up well enough. I guess the answer is: “If I didn’t have a life, what would I waste my salary on? Oh, I know – how about spending thousands of dollars on the fastest computer so that I can play video games all the time. That way, I can virtually meet people, have virtual friends, collect virtual stuff, kill virtual people, maybe get virtually married one day and have a virtual family of my own, and eventually have my virtual son living in my virtual basement playing his own virtual computer. Gee, I’d virtually have a life.”

  5. Re “What part of ‘compared to equal G5 processors’ did you fail to understand?”

    All of it. It’s a nonsensical construct. There’s no such thing as equal G5 and x86 processors. And if there were, then it wouldn’t be interesting to compare them, because they’d be equal.

    Re “What a putz.”

    Ditto.

  6. Is that the best you can do?? Just say that people who like games must be children??

    I love Mac OS X but still like to play a few games every now and then. Should I stop liking to play a few games because you think it’s for “children”? – or are you just desparately trying to defend Apple by saying:
    ummm… well… ahem… you must be stinky, no I mean you must be a child… living in your mum’s basement… yeah because only children play ‘hardcore’ games like half life 2… yeah… I feel much better now… calling people who enjoy certain things names because I don’t approve.

    If I were to stop doing the things I enjoy just because others don’t approve I wouldn’t have ever switched to Mac OS X in the first place.

    Please, come up with something a bit better than calling people names… you just end up sounding like the thing your calling people… ie. “children”

  7. hehe. Anyone who mispells “loser” becomes one………….. turn on the iSpell checker, dude.

    on the real subject, why load XP on a mac? Costs twice as much as a pc and probably slower too.

  8. Only children, the mac fanatics have a limited view. Their leader is Steve, and if he didn’t make it, it isn’t necessary. If developers don’t write for the mac, it is because they are lazy. And speed doesn’t matter, until it does, and when it does macs are fast, according to the devotees, and barely breathing, according to impartial testers.

    There is a certain cyclical sadness inherent to this cult, and consistency. Macs are great machines, osX a great system, but neither are worthy of prostration. The world will awake tomorrow and 95% of the computing will be done by wintels. I will be out and about having a good time. Any Macist who truely believes the drivel he spews really ought not to leave the house, given the perceived danger. I will miss you, and pity your lack of games as well.

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