How difficult to use bootcamp?

[amakh007]

Recently got an iMac. Would like to play some PC games if possible. Read some stuff on bootcamp.....seems a little daunting with drivers, Blue screen of death, partitions, etc...

I am wondering if it is worth it to do all that to play some PC games.

How difficult is it for a moderate PC person to use, install, maintain bootcamp?

 

[xUKHCx]

It is really easy to install. Maintenance, well you are a PC user so it is just the same.

 

[webgoat]

it is extremely easy to set up... with leopard its even easier since the drivers are on the leopard install disc... just print the the boot camp guide from the boot camp assistant and simply follow the steps

 

[davinche]

Recently got an iMac. Would like to play some PC games if possible. Read some stuff on bootcamp.....seems a little daunting with drivers, Blue screen of death, partitions, etc...

I am wondering if it is worth it to do all that to play some PC games.

How difficult is it for a moderate PC person to use, install, maintain bootcamp?

Anything that can happen to a Windows machine can happen to Windows running a mac under bootcamp. So the BSOD is still a possibility as are viruses, etc. As for drivers and setting up partitions Apple makes this a piece of cake. The BootCamp setup assistant makes partitions setup a breeze and is basically click and drag to modify the size of the partitions. I would say it is definitely worth it to setup bootcamp if the have the spare hard drive space.

 

[rfrankl]

I did it last night. I am pretty computer literate, but by no means an expert beyond the normal stuff. I have to tell you, it was very easy to setup under Leopard. I had been wanting to install Windows XP for a while just to use for 1 program, but figured I would wait until Bootcamp was built into Leopard instead of using it while in beta. I don't think you will have any problems.

 

[amakh007]

I did it last night. I am pretty computer literate, but by no means an expert beyond the normal stuff. I have to tell you, it was very easy to setup under Leopard. I had been wanting to install Windows XP for a while just to use for 1 program, but figured I would wait until Bootcamp was built into Leopard instead of using it while in beta. I don't think you will have any problems.

Thanks!!!! I'll try it out!!

 

[fjs08]

I'm in the same boat as many of you guys. I've waited for Bootcamp to be a part of Leopard. Got my new XP disk and printed out my instructions. Now, how big of a partition is "reasonable???" All I want to put on is a few baseball games such as Strat-O-Matic, Diamond Mind Baseball and my office Checkbook. I won't use it for anything else. I won't be using iTunes, photo programs, web....nothing. I noticed the "default" is 32 GB. Pretty standard?????

I have a MacBook Pro with a 120 GB HD. I've used 60 GB already. So I'd have another 30 to use. I don't really plan on adding a whole lot more to my Mac, maybe Tiger Wood EA Sports game for Mac, i Tunes stuff like books, etc, but that's it.

Also, how long does it take to install XP???

Thanks.

Frank

 

[fjs08]

BTW, can I put Windows XP on an external HD, so as to not potentially harm my Mac HD with a stray virus, etc????? Or is that a no.no??

Thanks.

Frank

 

[rfrankl]

I'm in the same boat as many of you guys. I've waited for Bootcamp to be a part of Leopard. Got my new XP disk and printed out my instructions. Now, how big of a partition is "reasonable???" All I want to put on is a few baseball games such as Strat-O-Matic, Diamond Mind Baseball and my office Checkbook. I won't use it for anything else. I won't be using iTunes, photo programs, web....nothing. I noticed the "default" is 32 GB. Pretty standard?????

I have a MacBook Pro with a 120 GB HD. I've used 60 GB already. So I'd have another 30 to use. I don't really plan on adding a whole lot more to my Mac, maybe Tiger Wood EA Sports game for Mac, i Tunes stuff like books, etc, but that's it.

Also, how long does it take to install XP???

Thanks.

Frank

I only made my Windows partition 15 GB. I knew I was only going to put a few things on it, and I still have 10 GB left of the 15. I want to say it took about 30 minutes, not including all the Windows XP updates, but that didn't take overly long either if you have a good connection.

 

[fjs08]

>>I only made my Windows partition 15 GB. I knew I was only going to put a few things on it, and I still have 10 GB left of the 15. I want to say it took about 30 minutes, not including all the Windows XP updates, but that didn't take overly long either if you have a good connection.<<

That's great!! I wonder how much the bare OS takes up???
Did you consider putting it on an external HD, or can't that be done??

Frank

 

[rfrankl]

>>I only made my Windows partition 15 GB. I knew I was only going to put a few things on it, and I still have 10 GB left of the 15. I want to say it took about 30 minutes, not including all the Windows XP updates, but that didn't take overly long either if you have a good connection.<<

That's great!! I wonder how much the bare OS takes up???
Did you consider putting it on an external HD, or can't that be done??

Frank

I think the Bootcamp manual says you have to make the partition a minimum of 5 GB. I think XP by itself is just slightly smaller. I knew I wouldn't add much on top of that so I could of gotten away with 10 GB, but I went to 15 GB just for the future. That still leaves me with over 100 GB free space on my OS X partition since I don't hord too much on that side either.

I am not sure if you can put your partition on an external drive or not. I want to say no, but am not totally sure.