Newbie Questions on Fusion and Windows XP install and use

[UNCMo96]

I have an Imac 2.4ghtz C2D with 3GB ram and Leopard. I just purchased Win XP and Fusion. This is my first Mac (i've used them before, but this is my first primary mac).

I need to have windows to do the following things:
1. Finance: Quicken

2. FLAC based 10,000 song music server: dbPowerAmp and Tag&Rename

3. STATA for some some crunching.

4. Odds and ends: MindMapper, SecondCopy, Snagit

I don't engage in PC gaming and I plan to do graphics heavy stuff (photoshop, illustrator on the mac platform).

Here are my questions:
1. Is there any disadvantage to installing WinXP in bootcamp and then using Fusion vs. installing WinXP directly through fusion?

2. Since windows can read/write NTFS formatted drives if I use Fusion will I be able to read/write NTFS formatted external drives from mac software? I know there's a downloadable solution called macfuse or something but you have to set up each drive to do it.

3. SecondCopy is a file backup/synchronization program. If I run it through fusion, will it see the OSX files and be able to manipulate them? At work I use a PC so I'd like to mirror my Documents (on the mac) folder work on the PC and sync again with the Documents for any changes.

 

[kkat69]

Sounds like you need a spare windows machine rather than run these things in Fusion.

1. Is there any disadvantage to installing WinXP in bootcamp and then using Fusion vs. installing WinXP directly through fusion?

Fusion directx is limited. Bootcamp is just like a pc install. So whatever limitations Fusion has those are yours as well. Bootcamp would native windows. 99% limitation free. HOWEVER, regardless if you install it via bootcamp OR install via fusion, if your running it in Fusion, your limited TO fusion.

2. Since windows can read/write NTFS formatted drives if I use Fusion will I be able to read/write NTFS formatted external drives from mac software?

Once you conencted via usb/firewire have fusion pick it up and it'll read it just fine.

I know there's a downloadable solution called macfuse or something but you have to set up each drive to do it.

That is so OSX can read it. Your virtial machine or bootcamp will read it once it connects to it.

3. SecondCopy is a file backup/synchronization program. If I run it through fusion, will it see the OSX files and be able to manipulate them? At work I use a PC so I'd like to mirror my Documents (on the mac) folder work on the PC and sync again with the Documents for any changes.

Unsure on this one. You'd have to setup your DOcuments folder on your mac as a share that your fusion can access and I'm unsure how far it'll go from there.

The problem with doing a lot of "unity" type work is that since it's windows you need to have your virus programs and all that good stuff up to snuff as you CAN (haven't heard of anything yet but that doesn't mean they aren't out there) get something that'll go and fetch items from the host (ie., our Mac OSX) and damage or copy and transmit via windows to an external server.

 

[UNCMo96]

LOL I do have a spare windows machine. It was my primary computer but right now it's sole purpose is as my whole house music server.

I answered most of my own questions after installing winxp on bootcamp and fusion.

As far as the NTFS drives the best way to handle it is to connect the drive to the windows virtual machine (not OSX) then I can drag files from the drive to OSX and write the other direction as well. Basically, as long as the drive is in a Windows environment it's a 2 way street.

As far as SecondCopy, I was able to set up shared folders which I can then sync with the external drive (I haven't tried it yet but I'm assuming it will work).