How to Install Windows XP or Dual Boot Windows On Mac
Since Mac had its own OSes that is Mac OS, but some of the user around would be pleased that if their own Mac can be able to have both version of GUI that is Windows XP and the Mac OS.
After the launching of the new Intel-based Mac, many of the people been trying and was also hoping that this could be it. They can really try on installing Windows XP on their Mac and at the same time, they actually run the Mac OSes.
The Problems
* Macintosh uses a different MBR
* MacBooks use EFI, XP x86 uses BIOS
* The modified Darwin Bootloader is made for EFI w/ EFI supporting operating systems
Here are the tips and tricks on how to install Windows XP or even Dual boot windows on Mac.
The Required Programs and Tools
* Acronis Disk Director Bootable CD
* Acronis True Image
* Another computer with a clean install of XP. No programs installed at all.
* A MacBook obviously!
* A Windows Vista DVD (not for installation purposes!)
* Vista boot files
* bcdedit.exe
* BCDedit restore file
Follow the Steps to Install your Windows XP On Mac
Step 1 : Using the Bootable Acronis Disk Director CD on the MacBook, shrink the Mac partition. Create a new partition of type NTFS/HPFS in the remaining space.
Step 2 : Setup / Install a clean version of XP on a PC with no OS on it.
Step 3 : Extract Boot.7z to the root drive of your XP installation.. So you have directory named Boot on your drive C:
Step 4 : Copy the file bcdedit.exe to the root drive of your XP installation. That is on root of Drive C: BCDedit.exe
Step 5 : Copy MacBook.bcd to the root drive of your XP installation
Step 6 : Use sysprep to “reseal†your XP install and remove all hardware info from the setup (thanks to Kristan for the reference of Sysprep).
Step 7 : Use Acronis TrueImage CD to make an image of your XP install.
Step 8 : Use the bootable Acronis True Image CD to recreate the image on the partition you just made on your MacBook.
Step 9 : Use the Bootable Vista DVD to boot on the MacBook.
Step 10 : Select “Repair Startup†-> Next -> CMD -> Run too.
Step 11 : Browse to drive drive C: directory of Boot (which is the partition you created on the MacBook and then extracted the Acronis TrueImage file to). (cd boot)
Step 12 : Run “fixntfs.exe -lh†without the quotes
Step 13 : Browse back to root of drive C:
Step 14 : Run “bcdedit.exe /import MacBook.bcd†without the quotes
Step 15 : Eject the CD and restart.
Step 16 : In Mac now, hack the Darwin Bootloader to add another entry that chainloads Drive(0) Partition(2). With GRUB it would look something like this… I’m not sure if Darwin is the same, but this step is very simple, and has nothing to do with EFI.
title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1
Step 17 : Restart
Step 18 : By selecting “Windows XP†on the Darwin Bootloader you should be chainloaded to the Vista bootloader, which should in turn boot the entry “NeoSmart Windows XPâ€
Step 19 : If everything has gone well, XP will boot!!
Step 20 : Go to this website, and give a thanks comment to them.
The Pro and Cons
:: Pro ::
The genius that created or discover this tips and tricks are “Ramblings of a Computer Guru” and had the post title “Windows XP On Mac?” on their website. So if you guys and gals out there, read about this tips and tricks on Installing Windows XP on Mac, should give a big thanks to their sharing of tips. All the tips and tricks mentioned above should give credit to Ramblings of a Computer Guru.
:: Cons ::
However, after you have thanks the great guru, there is another side that you may want to read about. Why they claimed that, this tricks of installing Windows XP on a MacBook may not work. Their claiming of How Not to Boot Windows XP On An Intel-Mac. As allocinit.net mentioned that the tricks might be a mistaken tips made by Ramblings Of Computer Guru. You can read more about their articles on How not to boot Windows XP on an Intel-Mac.
XBLOG TEST-GET :
I never try this, but why not you try this.
* Have anyone try taking out the MacBook Pro’s Hard Disk “T” with no OSes in it, and use on a PC “A”.
* Try use the new Microsoft Vista Beta Version or Microsoft Windows XP to setup the Hard Disk “T” on the PC “A”.
* After installing the Windows OSes on the Hard Disk “T”, use a Mac that existing have a OSes on it, change the file systems of the Hard Disk “T” by using the convert from the Mac OS System.( Doesn’t know whether does this utility exist or not.)
* Then put back the Hard Disk “T” in the MacBook Pro and try booting it up..
Will this work? Your answer is ..
You must be logged in to post a comment.
February 2nd, 2006 at 2:58 am
Thanks for sourcing out the information. Really looking into this tricks. Thks.
February 2nd, 2006 at 6:16 pm
thanks for the info. very useful.
Sanketh