Does Running Windows on Mac Open Mac Up To Viruses?

[GOTxEMxCOACH]

Hi guys,

I'm sure this is a repeat question, but I'm new to mac and new to forums. I got a mbp 2.5Ghz 2GB 250GB hard drive about a month ago for college with photo/video editing and gaming in mind. (Gaming is the reason I want to run windows)
I asked my friend who has the same macbook how to install windows onto my mbp so that I can install CS:S and he told me that if using windows will open my macbook up to viruses.

Is this true?
If not... what is the best way to run windows on the mbp for strictly gaming use?

Once again, sorry for a repeated post (i'm sure this has been brought up before) and thank you all for any help.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Nope. He's wrong. It can't happen.

 

[TEG]

Running Windows always opens the window to Viruses. However, 99.99999% of them will only affect your Windows Partition. So then you can just delete it and start again.

TEG

 

[Mindflux]

Nope. He's wrong. It can't happen.

wrong.

Running Windows always opens the window to Viruses. However, 99.99999% of them will only affect your Windows Partition. So then you can just delete it and start again.

TEG

Right.

 

[GOTxEMxCOACH]

Wow... thank you guys for your VERY prompt response.

What would be the best way to run windows strictly for gaming use?
What types of windows versions work the best for gaming?

Once again... thank you very much for your prompt response!

 

[Tallest Skil]

wrong.
Right.

Name one virus for OS X, keeping in mind that not only is a trojan not a virus, but that Apple finally did patch the DNS hole with the last update, rendering that trojan moot.

 

[TEG]

Wow... thank you guys for your VERY prompt response.

What would be the best way to run windows strictly for gaming use?
What types of windows versions work the best for gaming?

Once again... thank you very much for your prompt response!

I would suggest BootCamp for gaming.

Also, Tallest Skil, it is possible that a virus can do a LowLevel format of the hard drives that would destroy all partitions, and that's what will destroy OS X. I'm not suggesting that any Viruses will operate in OS X but that there may be some that can cause problems on the OS X partition.

TEG

 

[GOTxEMxCOACH]

I have a copy of windows vista home edition that came on a cd for my toshiba laptop which i used to have. Would that work for bootcamp?

 

[GOTxEMxCOACH]

?

 

[Markov]

I have a copy of windows vista home edition that came on a cd for my toshiba laptop which i used to have. Would that work for bootcamp?

Yup. Windows XP and Windows Vista will install with bootcamp. That includes 32 bit and 64 bit (as long as your proc. supports 64-bit).

 

[The Flashing Fi]

Yup. Windows XP and Windows Vista will install with bootcamp. That includes 32 bit and 64 bit (as long as your proc. supports 64-bit).

I would STRONGLY urge GOTxEMxCOACH NOT to use that DVD.

First of all, that DVD probably does a BIOS check, basically meaning that it won't install on his laptop.

Second of all, if he does manage to get it installed, that recovery disk will likely come with the toshiba drivers and will leave Windows a mess (you're not using the same hardware in that toshiba, leaving you with driver conflicts).

If, by some strange happening, you don't run into any problems, you need a CD key. The one on the bottom of the toshiba is for that laptop, and by using it on your laptop, you would be breaking the EULA. If you want to do that, that's your business. It sounds like you don't even have the Toshiba laptop anymore, so it's going to be tough to activate Windows without a key.

If you sold the laptop, and you retained the key, I strongly recommend that you don't use the key. If the person needs to reformat, they'll need the key, and they will be pissed when they find out that they can't activate because you used the key (it's an OEM key which means that it is tied to the computer it's activated on, and it CANNOT be transferred).

I recommend that you buy Windows. It will be much less hassle.

 

[GOTxEMxCOACH]

I would STRONGLY urge GOTxEMxCOACH NOT to use that DVD.

First of all, that DVD probably does a BIOS check, basically meaning that it won't install on his laptop.

Second of all, if he does manage to get it installed, that recovery disk will likely come with the toshiba drivers and will leave Windows a mess (you're not using the same hardware in that toshiba, leaving you with driver conflicts).

If, by some strange happening, you don't run into any problems, you need a CD key. The one on the bottom of the toshiba is for that laptop, and by using it on your laptop, you would be breaking the EULA. If you want to do that, that's your business. It sounds like you don't even have the Toshiba laptop anymore, so it's going to be tough to activate Windows without a key.

If you sold the laptop, and you retained the key, I strongly recommend that you don't use the key. If the person needs to reformat, they'll need the key, and they will be pissed when they find out that they can't activate because you used the key (it's an OEM key which means that it is tied to the computer it's activated on, and it CANNOT be transferred).

I recommend that you buy Windows. It will be much less hassle.

THank you for this comment. do you know how much windows cost? is it worth to buy windos just fo the fact that i want to play counter stricke?

 

[11800506]

THank you for this comment. do you know how much windows cost? is it worth to buy windos just fo the fact that i want to play counter stricke?

Well it depends on whether or not you want to pay $99+ for a copy of windows to do so. An OEM copy of Vista Home Premium 32 bit goes for $99 on Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116485

The difference between OEM disks and Retail disks is that OEM disks don't come in fancy packaging which Retail disks do but also OEM disks aren't transferable. This means that you can't reinstall your copy of Vista on another machine which Retail disks do allow. An OEM disk will probably suffice for you, but just know that buying an OEM disk comes with some restrictions.