Power Mac and Boot Camp Woes

[BadRambo]

Hello All ---- (title should read: Mac Pro and Boot Camp woes)

Well, after a very sucsessful install of BootCamp on my iMac, I have run into apparently what many with the Mac Pro have. Version 1.1 of BootCamp will not load for me.

The problem I have is that generation of the partition for XP appears to work fine, XP then loads its initial files into the partion for installation, then when the first selection screen in XP comes up, the one gives you several choices, one of which is "Hit Enter to Install XP" ---- THE KEYBOARD IS DEAD. No input to the Mac Pro, all keys dead and the system has to be rebooted.

It is like the drivers for the keyboard are not being installed correctly by BootCamp as the install process for XP begins. Again, I have had no trouble with my iMac installation -- worked beautifully and XP rocks on that machine. It would appear that BootCamp is not "Mac Pro ready" --- bugs.

Comments, suggestions ???? Thanks --- Bob

 

[yankeefan24]

Make sure you have a wired USB keyboard plugged in, with nothing else plugged into it. That's all I can think of.

And if you got that far, I am assuming that you are on a Mac Pro, and not a Power Mac.

 

[BadRambo]

Yes, wrong box in the title --- it is a Mac Pro !!!!

When you say "wired" USB keyboard, are you contrasting that to "wirelesss" keyboard ??? I am just using the stock mouse, and stock Apple keyboard plugged into the front jacks, which all work fine under OS X. I see where MANY have gotten past the install, but I am hung up there for some wierd reason --- my keyboard will not talk to XP on the first screen --- bizarre.

Help from anyone appreciated. --- Bob ---

 

[MRU]

Bootcamp does not give drivers for boot process.
Bootcamps drivers are used AFTERWARDS


The reason you are running into problems is probably simple.

Chances are you are NOT using Windows XP with ServicePack 2 integrated.

This is a specific version of XP and the only version supported. You are running into a problem many of those with the wrong version have experienced.

All this is outlined in the bootcamp documentation.

Edit:- BUT!!!

However Mac Pro and bootcamp seems to be hit and miss - especially if reports of terribly slow Hard Disk performance seem to prove. Is it imperative you install windows now, otherwise I'd suggest you wait till Apple resolves the problem themselves and release a firmware upadate for the mac pro.

 

[BadRambo]

Bootcamp does not give drivers for boot process.
Bootcamps drivers are used AFTERWARDS


The reason you are running into problems is probably simple.

Chances are you are NOT using Windows XP with ServicePack 2 integrated.

This is a specific version of XP and the only version supported. You are running into a problem many of those with the wrong version have experienced.

All this is outlined in the bootcamp documentation.

Howdy --- I wish it was that simple. I have tried TWO different XP discs, both of which do contain SP2, as marked on the front of the disk. One of those was used for the sucsessful install on my iMac, which works just fine.

I am going to try moving my keyboard connection to the rear USB connections, as a desperate attempt to see if that makes any difference.

Thanks --- Bob

 

[MRU]

I imagine a smc bios update will be released in order to facilitate the problems mac pro users are having.

 

[BadRambo]

Yes, that is really the issue. BootCamp works fine when the firmware and the software are doing what they need to do...well, I wanted to get virtual machine capability on my Mac Pro, so time to install Parallels --- which did work nicely on my iMac in my initial tests.

So I must put on my "patience hat" and wait for Apple to clean up BootCamp --- I know there are many of us waiting. Good idea for other folks too, to send commentary and problem identification to their support group at:

bootcamp@apple.com

They have my "complaints" --- Cheers --- Bob

 

[Lixivial]

well, I wanted to get virtual machine capability on my Mac Pro, so time to install Parallels --- which did work nicely on my iMac in my initial tests.

You're in for an awful surprise, I think.

 

[BadRambo]

You're in for an awful surprise, I think.

How so?? Details please. Thanks.

 

[Lixivial]

Oh, I'm sorry for that cryptic message, I was just joking around. Anyroad, it's just that Parallels on the Mac Pro tends to cause kernel panics when booting a virtual machine. Parallels is looking into that issue, but I don't believe it's resolved yet. You can get it up and running, but it's hack-ish at best.

Here's an ongoing thread at Parallels' site:

http://forum.parallels.com/thread3659-3.html

 

[MRU]

Basically your mac pro is running in 64bit and then parallels wants to run Windows in 32bit mode which cuases OSX to go "what's going on here, i'm a confused Kernel! PANIC' and basically you'll have to reboot.

Parallels will have to release an update, which could take some time.

 

[BadRambo]

Interesting results. I applied the little patch as noted in the thread on PD...and it made PD try to load XP, but I got the same wierd result as I did with BootCamp...that being the keyboard is dead when the first option screen comes up during the XP load process. At least with PD I could quit the application --- with BootCamp, it was a reboot since the system was running off the XP disk.

Yeah, some real work needs to be done for the MP machine. There are differences that before now (up to the iMac) were not seen. I sure hope they get them fixed soon....arrggh!!!

Thanks for the comments --- it was worth a try.