Bootcamp Idiot Needs Help

[Washac]

I have a spare 640GB HD sitting in my Mac Pro after updating the main HD.

I am thinking of setting it up for Bootcamp but need some really basic help to get this going.

I posted this here because it will be only be for games and WinUAE, it will never go online.

I need a real idiots for this.

How much HD space will I require ?
How do I install it ?
What Windows to install ?
How do I boot into Bootcamp ?
How do I Boot out of boot camp ?
Can I just copy files across to the Bootcamp drive?
Will I need virus software ?

Real basic stuff is what is required.

I assume that using a totaly separate drive rather than a partition is the better choice also ?

 

[The-Pro]

How much HD space will I require ?
What Windows to install ?
How do I boot into Bootcamp ?
How do I Boot Out of boot camp ?
Will need virus software ?

- Depends on what how much stuff you want to install. I only have a 55GB partition in my MBP because I have 3 games installed and that bouts it. Then I have another 40GB partition on an external HDD where I have some more game installed.
BF3 is about 15GB installer, MW3 like 14GB. So you need a fair amount of space if you want to install a variety and lots of games.
Since its 640GB drive and its very complicated to increase the bootcamp partition once it created I'd say make a 100-200GB partition (of course depends how much you wan to install) just to be on the safe side.
- Probably best if you install Win7, and preferably a 64bit version.
- Turn on your mac pro, press and hold the alt key (on the keyboard) when the grey screen appears (but before the apple logo can be seen). Then select the dive you want to boot from.
- If you have your OSX disk chosen as the main startup disk then you only need to restart your mac pro from windows and it will automatically boot into mac. To set which disk to boo from go into system preferences-->Startup Disk and choose the Mac OSX one.
- Preferably yes. Just some free anti virus software (like avira) would do. I don't use any and haven't had any viruses yet.

 

[Washac]

Hello

See told you I was an idiot

I just found the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide on the Apple site

Just two questions left :-


What is the best version of Windows to install, it will be for games nothing else.
If I download files needed for Windows etc on my Mac I assume that I can just
copy them over to the Bootcamp Drive ?

 

[brisbaneguy29]

Install windows 7, but make sure you get a 64bit version, or like me you will be stuck using only 3gb of RAM, not matter how much you have installed.

For games Home premium should be fine, just make sure you get a 64bit, not a 32bit version.

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

I use Windows 7 32-bit, 64-bit I couldn't work audio drivers with. But try 64 bit first and if that works then great. I don't bother with anti virus stuff since I only use Windows for games.

 

[Huntn]

What is the best version of Windows to install, it will be for games nothing else.
If I download files needed for Windows etc on my Mac I assume that I can just
copy them over to the Bootcamp Drive ?

64bit Windows 7.

FYI, FAT32 is the older Windows file scheme fully accessible by Mac and Windows. NTFS is the newer Windows file scheme, which is required by Vista and 7 to install. For whatever the reason, the MacOS can't do much with NTFS. It can read it and pull copies of items off Windows (while leaving the original files in place).

As a rule, you want to be running Windows to download files for it. You would be able to download some things while running MacOSX and then access them in Windows, however as a rule, for your sanity, what happens in Windows should stay in Windows. And you especially want to be running Windows when downloading games. As far as cross partition access, it's not a two way street. When you are running the MacOS, you'll be able to read the Boot Camp Windows Partition, but you won't be able to write stuff to it while using the MacOS. However, while I don't do it, I believe Windows can pluck stuff off the Mac partition. But I prefer for the most part to keep the environments separate. However if you use an external drive formatted in FAT32, both Mac and Windows files can be stored on it.

Be sure you read the Boot Camp instructions closely. The MacOSX can only format partitions in FAT32. After creating a partition to run Windows in, when you run the Windows installer, you'll have to reformat the partition as NTFS. Don't worry, the Bootcamp Guide explains it clearly.

 

[TallManNY]

I just did Bootcamp this weekend. I have a thread posted with people giving advice which you can look for. I will throw in a few things I learned. First, you have to use Windows 7 as Bootcamp no longer supports earlier versions of Windows. I partitioned out 99 GBs, but the various stuff used in formatting and windows used up more than I thought it would. After installation I was only left with 66 GBs free, which is fine but will result in me having to delete stuff in a few years assuming games continue to get bigger and bigger. I'm glad I didn't go any smaller and if I had to do it over again, I would probably throw on another 10 to 20 GB. I've 1,000 on the drive to begin with so I would still have 400 GB free on the OS side.

Don't forget to run the update of Windows after the install. It seems like it does that automatically, but it didn't for me. I had 59 updates to run after the install was done.

I did Windows Home Premium, which was $180 on Amazon. But I understand that I could have used the System Builder version which is only $100.

Oh, and update to Explorer 9 after the install, it seems to me a good improvement over Explorer 8 and overall a snappy browser. Of course you can get your preferred browser as well, but for now I'm just allowing the partition to be a pure windows experience.

The only real problem I've had with drivers is that my headphone jack does not work. That seems to be a relatively common bug and I haven't found a solution for it, though I haven't looked hard.

 

[Dorje Sylas]

- Windows 7 64-bit (although if you have any older Windows XP programs you want to run you'll need at least Professional). The 64-Bit is important if you want to use more then 2 Gigs for RAM, which for gaming you do, especially in a MacPro.

- If you're feeling gutsy you could try the Windows 8 developer preview.

- OSX should be able to format in exFAT which is the new next version up from FAT32. Personally I formatted the drive in FAT32 and then had the Windows XP disk re-format the drive to NTFS. You really don't want to run the drive as FAT32. There are limitations on file sizes that are very bad these days. I believe it's something like 4 GB individual size limit.

- I'd give yourself a cool 200+ GB just so you have some fiddling room. That way you don't have to worry about trying screen recorders like FRAPS or loading up big Skyrim HD texture mods.

- If you don't expect to use the extra drive of OSX stuff, make it a double partition. One which will blanked to NTFS by the Windows install, the other as exFAT to act as a file transfer disk. This way you can download and have Sophos scan Mods and files you download fomr the internet on you Mac OSX side, then dump them into the exFAT disk for later retrieval on you Windows side. OSX can read NTFS but not write (without 3rd party tools). The exFAT second partition will be your bridge for "Drag&Drop" file transfer. A quick tip to keep your space down on the OSX side. If you hold Command as you move files between the OSX drive and the exFAT, it will actually move the file, not just make another copy, it will be removed from you OSX drive at the same time it is put on the exFAT. The visual notice is that the green + ball will go away as your dragging and holding down command.

- I have Windows XP (been meaning to put on developer 8), 10.6, 10.7, and may be going back and reinstalling 10.5. The best way to handle booting is to set your main OSX partition that you use regularly in System Preferences > Startup Disk. That way even if you go brain dead for a moment it will always take you to your "home". To switch, as others have said. Hold the option key.

- I live in a hot climate and fear for my motherboard/graphic card more then I fear for my fans, so I tend to use smcFanControl to pre-set my fan speeds higher before booting to Windows. My general methods is do a normal boot to 10.6, turn on the smcFanControl pre-set, restart while holding the option key, pick my Windows drive and play. smcFanControl setting persist through a restart but not a full shut down.

 

[Washac]

I finaly have Bootcamp up and running with 64bit Windows 7, thanks for all the pointers with this.

Now just need some good PC game

 

[Mr.C]

I finaly have Bootcamp up and running with 64bit Windows 7, thanks for all the pointers with this.

Now just need some good PC game recommendations

You might want to create a Steam account if you haven't already. There are lots of good games on there and they often have sales.

 

[ivanhoe888]

I just did Bootcamp this weekend. I have a thread posted with people giving advice which you can look for. I will throw in a few things I learned. First, you have to use Windows 7 as Bootcamp no longer supports earlier versions of Windows. I partitioned out 99 GBs, but the various stuff used in formatting and windows used up more than I thought it would. After installation I was only left with 66 GBs free, which is fine but will result in me having to delete stuff in a few years assuming games continue to get bigger and bigger. I'm glad I didn't go any smaller and if I had to do it over again, I would probably throw on another 10 to 20 GB. I've 1,000 on the drive to begin with so I would still have 400 GB free on the OS side.

Don't forget to run the update of Windows after the install. It seems like it does that automatically, but it didn't for me. I had 59 updates to run after the install was done.

.

Meaning I can't use Windows XP...??

 

[Huntn]

Meaning I can't use Windows XP...??

Bootcamp on Lion 10.7 and Snow Leopard 10.6 supports only Win7. I believe Bootcamp on Leopard 10.5 supports Vista (not sure about Win7).

I finaly have Bootcamp up and running with 64bit Windows 7, thanks for all the pointers with this.

Now just need some good PC game recommendations

Well, what genre do you like?

One suggestion: RPG- Skyrim
As mentioned, for variety Steam is a good service to check out. An older RPG that still holds a high degree of playability is Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. It's got great atmosphere. Interesting enough they are selling new copies of this game at Amazon for $65! (U.S) Get it on Windows Steam for a lot less.

 

[Washac]

Bootcamp on Lion 10.7 and Snow Leopard 10.6 supports only Win7. I believe Bootcamp on Leopard 10.5 supports Vista (not sure about Win7).



Well, what genre do you like?

One suggestion: RPG- Skyrim
As mentioned, for variety Steam is a good service to check out. An older RPG that still holds a high degree of playability is Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. It's got great atmosphere. Interesting enough they are selling new copies of this game at Amazon for $65! (U.S) Get it on Windows Steam for a lot less.

Thanks for this, but I do not know why I ask for recommendations.

 

[justinzi]

Thanks for this, but I do not know why I ask for recommendations.

Hello!!!
I have a problem with my boot camp assistant.
I can't select "install or remove windows 7"