Running windows 7 from boot camp on imac...

[zoossh]

currently struggling with a new imac after my pc crashes.
i managed to bootcamp with windows xp sp1, which proceeded halfway through the installation and cannot install the drivers from mac os x install dvd, and have no sounds, otherwise working.

someone at work advise to install windows 7 beta, which i'm burning the dvd now..

before i engage into further steps tomorrow, can i ask the following questions?

1. can i partition into 3 partitions, mac os x, windows xp and windows 7? i did some reading which goes through very complicated steps and some say no. so to verify, there is no easy way to partition into 3 partitions, rite?

2. would i be able to read files of windows 7 partition when i run mac os x, and would i be able to read files in the mac os x partition when i run windows 7? i hope to have a common space (e.g. my documents) that both mac os and windows 7 can assess - is that possible apart from having the files on a thumb drive? does the use of fat32 or ntfs for windows 7 installation affects that?

3. should i use fat or ntfs for windows 7? is there any benefits for using just 32gb fat32 partition for windows 7? or should i just use whatever hdd space i think i need for windows 7 under Ntfs system?

4. i already have windows xp on bootcamp. do i need to remove this partition and repeat the bootcamp instructions for creating a partition for windows 7? or can i just go through the bootcamp instructions and partition the imac drive and write over the xp partition?

 

[2evans]

what version of osx are you running, and what version of bootcamp?

 

[flowerpot]

if u need windows due to work then no choice but for mi i just go with mac... why want to install windows in Mac... i never miss windows and i never look back since...

 

[zoossh]

what version of osx are you running, and what version of bootcamp?

mac os x 10.5 leopard, with the new imac
bootcamp 2.0

 

[zoossh]

if u need windows due to work then no choice but for mi i just go with mac... why want to install windows in Mac... i never miss windows and i never look back since...

no choice, still find mac quite restricting at the moment becos not familiar with it. i'm used to cutting and renaming on windows explorer.

 

[flowerpot]

no choice, still find mac quite restricting at the moment becos not familiar with it. i'm used to cutting and renaming on windows explorer.

i can understand.... when i did the switch... it was like the stupid mac cannot do simple things... the way its arrange, how it works all completely difference... i dun have a PC so no choice im force to use it... once u get the hang of it... how things works... its as easy as it can be...

 

[zoossh]

i can understand.... when i did the switch... it was like the stupid mac cannot do simple things... the way its arrange, how it works all completely difference... i dun have a PC so no choice im force to use it... once u get the hang of it... how things works... its as easy as it can be...

thanks. but in the meanwhile, i would like the windows to handle some of the old files and to maintain the order of my data...

 

[idor]

thanks. but in the meanwhile, i would like the windows to handle some of the old files and to maintain the order of my data...

Don't mind me doing some ad for my company.... Why not consider using VMware Fusion? :bsmilie::bsmilie: you can run windows in Mac OS. Thats what I have been doing... There are some things mac cannot do... e.g. p2p TV.... so i use my windows virtual machine for that purpose... :bsmilie:

 

[CYRN]

thanks. but in the meanwhile, i would like the windows to handle some of the old files and to maintain the order of my data...

you may wan to note that W7 RC hav expiry date.

 

[germ_boi]

or Parallels

 

[hazmee]

I installed Windows 7 on my Mac Pro via Bootcamp. It runs fine and hassle free. No probs at all. Don't bother with XP. You have to format your Bootcamp partition to NTFS. Fat32 is so old school.

OR you can try:

VirtualBox from Sun is free. You don't have to run Bootcamp and and its much easier to exchange files. No need to install drivers too.

 

[swerve]

You need Windows XP with at least SP2, which explains why your installation hanged.

To get this version, need to slipstream. Google for the instructions, its quite easy.

 

[DataCabbitKSW]

1) Yes, you can partition in such a manner. It isn't too much of an issue. The BootCamp software helps. Also make sure to get the absolute latest BootCamp software off of Apple's website.
2) Apple doesn't have support for NTFS, nor does Microsoft have support for HPFS+ (respective file systems of MS and Apple). FAT32 (or ExFAT) will be readable and writeable between all OS, but it has no permissions model and therefore is inherently insecure. Use your best judgement.
3) See #2, but be advised that NTFS is faster and is more secure. FAT gives everything access everywhere on the drive. There are tools to make it so you can read/write NTFS under Mac OS X, and HPFS+ under Windows, but they are not the most elegant from what I have seen.
4) I've seen multiboot setups with BootCamp. However, if you want to be safe, you can just replace the XP install with Windows 7. Go with the 64-bit if at all possible, and get the latest drivers for it through the most recent BootCamp (this applies mostly for Apple proprietary or Apple modded hardware, other stuff will be autodetected by Windows 7 usually). I think BootCamp 2.2 beta is out, I would have to go back and check the page. If you have trouble installing Windows 7, you can try posting over to the official Windows 7 RC Support Forum located here http://tinyurl.com/9fhdl5 . The Microsoft developers often hang out there and will help those that ask and provide the needed info. Their advice is usually pretty spot-on.

 

[zoossh]

1) Yes, you can partition in such a manner. It isn't too much of an issue. The BootCamp software helps. Also make sure to get the absolute latest BootCamp software off of Apple's website.
2) Apple doesn't have support for NTFS, nor does Microsoft have support for HPFS+ (respective file systems of MS and Apple). FAT32 (or ExFAT) will be readable and writeable between all OS, but it has no permissions model and therefore is inherently insecure. Use your best judgement.
3) See #2, but be advised that NTFS is faster and is more secure. FAT gives everything access everywhere on the drive. There are tools to make it so you can read/write NTFS under Mac OS X, and HPFS+ under Windows, but they are not the most elegant from what I have seen.
4) I've seen multiboot setups with BootCamp. However, if you want to be safe, you can just replace the XP install with Windows 7. Go with the 64-bit if at all possible, and get the latest drivers for it through the most recent BootCamp (this applies mostly for Apple proprietary or Apple modded hardware, other stuff will be autodetected by Windows 7 usually). I think BootCamp 2.2 beta is out, I would have to go back and check the page. If you have trouble installing Windows 7, you can try posting over to the official Windows 7 RC Support Forum located here http://tinyurl.com/9fhdl5 . The Microsoft developers often hang out there and will help those that ask and provide the needed info. Their advice is usually pretty spot-on.

thanks. i have installed win7 on NTFS and split the 600GB HDD into 2 similar partition. my imac just came in for less than a week and i didn't check the bootcamp version. however i managed to follow the instructions (from internet) fairly well, except i chose NTFS instead of FAT and have to download and install the audio drivers (not working from the mac installation DVD) separately.

i used a thumbdrive for some temporary common files. currently system boot first into win 7 unless i press otherwise on booting. i know i might have make some mac users laugh, but i think i will slowly adapt to mac in the meanwhile but win7 is still the main workhorse, hopefully after a while i will be "bilingual"

as for security, what actually is meant by that? those are mainly storage and backup of documents, music, video, pictures, installation files, bookmarks and computer settings - which i update and organise all the time.

maybe i should reformat all my external HDD into ex-FAT so that the HDD is compatible to be edited from all OS formats. i heard the limit is up to 1TB, so maybe my 1.5TB would be the only problem...

 

[bousozoku]

I installed Windows 7 on my Mac Pro via Bootcamp. It runs fine and hassle free. No probs at all. Don't bother with XP. You have to format your Bootcamp partition to NTFS. Fat32 is so old school.

OR you can try:

VirtualBox from Sun is free. You don't have to run Bootcamp and and its much easier to exchange files. No need to install drivers too.

How do you transfer files to NTFS since Mac OS X can't write to NTFS?

 

[gwunwai]

I second the VMWare Fusion approach, for the exact same reasons (PPLive/TVAnts)

VMWare Fusion comes with a driver that allows you to configure folders on your Macintosh HD that are readable in your Windows installed in it. Having said that, you have to realise that it is a software emulator, and therefore means slower performance.

However, I think the main advantage is psychological. When your Windows is in an emulator, you start it as and when you need it, like an application. When it is installed in Bootcamp, there is less tendency for you to boot into OS X.

I really encourage you to give OS X a try. My biased opinion is that the more you use it, the more creative ways you find to play with it, and the more rewarding the experience.

PM me if you need any help with OS X?

 

[2evans]

How do you transfer files to NTFS since Mac OS X can't write to NTFS?

There are ntfs read/write apps you can install on mac osx. example, http://www.lifehack.org/articles/li...write-ntfs-windows-partition-on-mac-os-x.html

 

[hazmee]

How do you transfer files to NTFS since Mac OS X can't write to NTFS?

When you are in Virtualbox, there is a mode called 'seamless mode' where you can exchange files seamlessly.

 

[germ_boi]

To write from Mac to Windows NTFS partition, use MacFUSE (free by google)

 

[seankyh]

Always thought that Windows7 is able to emulate XP natively. So there is no need to install both XP and Windows7.
edit: okay so not so native but its there - http://news.cnet.com/windows-7-to-have-an-xp-mode/
Not used it myself.