Using a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc that you provide, Apple’s new Boot Camp Beta software enables you to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Macintosh computer. After installation, you can start up your computer using either Windows XP or Mac OS X. The Windows XP operating system and files are stored in a separate partition on the startup disk, so installing Windows won’t affect your Macintosh files or operating system. Boot Camp Assistant simplifies Windows installation by helping you create the Windows partition and burning a CD with software drivers than enable Windows XP to work with your Macintosh hardware. Then, Boot Camp Assistant restarts your Macintosh using your Windows XP installation disc so you can install Windows.
Here’s what you’ll need to install and set up Windows XP on your Macintosh:
• An Intel-based Macintosh computer, with:
• a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and trackpad
• Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later
• the latest firmware update
• At least 10 GB of free space on your startup disk
• Boot Camp Assistant (installed by BootCampAssistant.pkg in /Applications/Utilities/)
• A blank recordable CD or DVD
• Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later
Installing Windows XP on your Macintosh computer involves the following steps:
Step 1: Update your computer’s system software and firmware, if necessary.
Step 2: Run Boot Camp Assistant which helps you with these tasks:
• Burning a Macintosh Drivers CD: You’ll use the Macintosh Drivers CD, after you install Windows XP, to install Macintosh-specific drivers and other software.
• Creating a partition for Windows XP: Boot Camp Assistant creates a second partition on your computer’s internal startup disk for the Windows XP operating system.
• Starting the Windows XP installation: Boot Camp Assistant gets you started with the Windows XP installation.
Step 3: Install Windows XP.
Step 4: Install Macintosh-specific drivers and other software on your Windows XP volume.
Important: You must use a single-disc, full-install Windows XP CD that includes Service Pack 2. You cannot use an upgrade version of Windows XP, or install an earlier version of Windows XP and update it later to SP2.
More info in Apple’s full Boot Camp Beta Installation & Setup Guide here.
Information and download link for the public beta of Boot Camp is available here.
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Related articles:
Apple’s ‘Boot Camp’ a watershed, could dramatically expand Mac market share – April 05, 2006
Apple’s ‘Boot Camp’ is bad news for Windows-only PC box assemblers – April 05, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Reuters: Apple’s new ‘Boot Camp’ could draw millions of new Mac buyers – April 05, 2006
Apple shares surge over 6-percent in early trading on ‘Boot Camp’ news – April 05, 2006
Apple introduces Boot Camp: public beta software enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP – April 05, 2006
I can’t wait to get home and try this.
I’ve been waiting SO LONG to play Solitaire and Mine Sweeper!
I can’t wait for the user stories to start rolling in. Man, these are exciting times!
Microsoft was too slow to provide Virtual PC to the Intel Macs. So here it is.
cant wait to get my first virus on my mac.. yeah!
now I can try a virus too. Lucky me!!!
Yeah, sales of Virtual PC are going downhill from here.
Ummm, can you use a physically separate hard disk to install Windows? Or does it have to be a partition on the same physical disk?
‘Cuz brotha, I gotta tell ya, I’m a wantin’ ta keep that sheet separate froms my good junk, a’ya’all, Chee? I mean, I just don’t wanna go gettin’ that Windows all up’n my hizzl, ‘s all.
I understand that first comment was made in jest…but these are great versions for Mac.
http://www.freemacware.com/minesweeper/
http://www.freemacware.com/solitaire-xl/
Nice thing is if you get a virus in Windows on your Mac, it won’t affect your Mac OS X install since the Mac OS X partition isn’t visible when booted in Windows.
I can’t wait either.
is it not possible that a virus on your Windows partition could lock the hard drive up so that the start-up screen where you choose which partition to boot into wouldn’t come up?
This would essentially freeze you out of OS X as well. Yes/No?
andy c – i thought virtual pc wasnt available on intel macs (universal) so i dought sales will fall, and if microsoft sell a few extra copies of windows im sure they wont mind :p
You don’t get it folks.
If Apple can create an easy way to boot Windows on an Intel mac, then the reverse is true. Someone will come up with a way to boot OS X on non-apple computers.
So the OS and the hardware are becoming decoupled.
I think Steve saw this coming as part of the Intel path and decided to fire the first shot. But OS X on a Dell is just as possible, and just as legal, as Windows on a Mac. Apple does NOT have to sanction it, any more than Microsoft has to sanction XP on a Mac.
The implications are many-fold:
For one thing, Apple will be caught in an OS-2 like situation where developers will lose incentive to develop mac software. So the biggest Apple developer will be…Apple.
For another thing, Vista will have its captive audience going ga-ga over translucent windows and exposé, and its modest security improvements, just like they went ga-ga over Windows 95.
Now that Apple has discovered, though iPod, just how profitable it is to sell directly to Windows users, it will now sell computer hardware to Windows users too.
Apple will keep selling its software, at a tidy profit, to the 5% or so who really like it and are willing to pay for it.
Mac will NOT challenge Windows for OS dominance. Mac will be a boutique OS, and will decline after Vista finally comes out. Not becuase it’s a just result, but because thats the way it is.
Look at it this way: If a 5 year old, un-secure, and ugly OS like XP can STILL have 90% market share, basically, Microsoft can bottle its farts and sell it to the masses. Yes, people will line up for Vista and it will be huge. Even if Mac is better, 9 out of 10 customers will have no idea.
I have windows xp home from waaay back, I cannot in a right mind bring myself to go buy another copy with service pack 2 already on it
not gonna happen =/
Hey Mervyn, your “paradigm” has so many holes in it that I don’t really know where to begin.
One of the biggest points you omitted: What will happen when Apple starts trumpeting this feature in their advertisements?
And they will.
eWorldian,
TOOOO FUNNY!
And a good name, too, for those of us who remember.
BIOS V EFI
don’t forget that.
“Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later”
Service Pack 2 or later?!?!?!? There hasn’t been a Service Pack 3 yet. Oh, right, I think they are referring to the Vista beta.
Funky Dunky:
What advertisements?
Whenever someone installs OS X on a PC, they break the law. Installing XP on a Mac, however, is perfectly legal. So, it will always be more popular.
This kills off Virtual PC for Microsoft. I can see them already moving those developers over to the Vista division to help it.
The apple EUA directly states OSX can only be used on APPLE BRAND computers. Even if it is possible, it will be illegal.
legal or not, people have been booting OSX on generic hardware for over a month….including some AMD chips I hear….
http://www.osx86project.org/
granted the procedure is not easy, but this is actually old news. Apple just made it legal for their hardware, and accessible to nongeeks….
This also means that Linux guys can do this as well, Who sez you need xpsp2?
As long as Apple doesn’t officially support it, and every system update is liable to break it, I don’t think that osx86 will become stable and easy enough for average people to use.
Even boot camp will probably be out of reach of mom&pop;.
This is great news! I can finally run all those windows applications I have invested in.
1) McAfee virus scan
2) webroot spy sweeper
3) McAfee firewall
Cool…