Will Vista x64 work with my Mac?

[SnowLeopard2008]

I have a MacBook, which is the late 07 model. More detail specs in my signature. Will it run x64? I have 4GB memory, so I would like to take advantage of that. Also, I'm confused with this x64 stuff. Will programs be incompatible with x64 Vista? Stuff like Office, Google Chrome, etc. What about drivers? Does my OS X restore disk include the 64-bit drivers for my hardware? One last thing, can someone please explain the ins and outs of using 64-bit Windows? Are there any known problems/issues with my particular Mac? A lot of questions I know, but I occasionally need Windows and the VMs just don't cut it.

 

[Stridder44]

I have a MacBook, which is the late 07 model. More detail specs in my signature. Will it run x64? I have 4GB memory, so I would like to take advantage of that. Also, I'm confused with this x64 stuff. Will programs be incompatible with x64 Vista? Stuff like Office, Google Chrome, etc. What about drivers? Does my OS X restore disk include the 64-bit drivers for my hardware? One last thing, can someone please explain the ins and outs of using 64-bit Windows? Are there any known problems/issues with my particular Mac? A lot of questions I know, but I occasionally need Windows and the VMs just don't cut it.

Technically, yes you machine is more than capable to handle Vista 64. But unfortunately, Apple didn't supply you 64-bit drivers on your Leopard DVD (models that started coming out in '08 got them). Hopefully this will change with the Snow Leopard DVD. In any case, if you can get your hands on a new Leopard DVD (on printed in 08) you can install the 64-bit drivers off it and it will run fine. Or, if you're more technically inclined, you can always download them via torrents.

As far as compatibility with apps/drivers in Vista 64, you would have pretty much nothing to worry about. Very few games/apps have problems working, and if they do it you should blame the developer for not updating their product. But you wouldn't even notice it anyway. It's very fast and stable. It really does feel like night and day going from Vista 32-bit. And yes, being able to use all of your RAM is nice.

 

[Slowstick]

I am confused.

I am confused about this as well. I have the new late 08 MacBook and Apple support gave me a mixed answer that boot camp will allow 64 bit. I know you can do it on a MBP, but what about the MacBook as I know the new MacBooks are 64bit. BootCamp Assistant says to install only a 32 bit version of Windows.

I am so confused.

Help me!!

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Thanks for your replies. I am sticking with 32 bit, since I am only playing around with it. I don't feel I should spend time to find + download the 64 bit drivers. Too much effort and I gain only a little. Again, thanks so much!

To the above poster, unless there is a need for 64-bit, 32-bit should be sufficient. just do some google work and you'll find something.

 

[lattin1]

I've been running Vista Enterprise 64-bit for the last 6 months on my macbook pro via boot camp and it works great. Actually, since OS X is 32-bit, applications running on the Vista partition are actually faster on my Mac book pro since you get to utilize all 4 gb of RAM. However, I'm not using the brand new Macbook Pro so maybe they changed something.

 

[MacNikon]

You must have BootCamp 2.01 for Vista x64. BootCamp 2.0 does not support x64.

 

[Bengt77]

Please do yourself a favour and get Vista 64. It's such a better OS than Vista 32, really, it's not even funny. And yes, it runs beautifully on most recent Macs. I have it running in Boot Camp on my new unibody MacBook, and it's a really nice OS. You'll have to play around a bit to install the 64-bit drivers, but once you have it all set up, it's great.

 

[Slowstick]

Please do yourself a favour and get Vista 64. It's such a better OS than Vista 32, really, it's not even funny. And yes, it runs beautifully on most recent Macs. I have it running in Boot Camp on my new unibody MacBook, and it's a really nice OS. You'll have to play around a bit to install the 64-bit drivers, but once you have it all set up, it's great.

How would I install the 64bit drivers? Do I search for them myself? Does the downloadable boot camp 2.1 have them? Does my late 08 Macbook Leopard disc have them?

 

[MacNikon]

How would I install the 64bit drivers? Do I search for them myself? Does the downloadable boot camp 2.1 have them? Does my late 08 Macbook Leopard disc have them?

You have to install the original BootCamp (minimum version 2.0.1) before you can install the 2.1 update.

 

[sickmacdoc]

How would I install the 64bit drivers? Do I search for them myself? Does the downloadable boot camp 2.1 have them? Does my late 08 Macbook Leopard disc have them?

The Boot Camp Updater 2.1 (an .exe file to be run within Windows) consists solely of updates to the original drivers that have issues with XP SP3, Vista 32 bit or Vista 64 bit depending on which version of the updater you download-- so if you download the Vista 64 version and run it, you should be good to go with the drivers it provides.

 

[Bengt77]

The Boot Camp Updater 2.1 (an .exe file to be run within Windows) consists solely of updates to the original drivers that have issues with XP SP3, Vista 32 bit or Vista 64 bit depending on which version of the updater you download-- so if you download the Vista 64 version and run it, you should be good to go with the drivers it provides.

What sickmacdoc says is true, but you should also check this thread and this website. Worked perfectly for me. In fact, I didn't even touch the Boot Camp 2.1 update, but ran all the 64-bit drivers right from the MacBook's Leopard installation disc. Really easy, once you get the hang of it.

EDIT: Sorry, my bad. I didn't see you had the late 2007 and not the late 2008 MacBook model. In your case, do what sickmacdoc said.

 

[MacNikon]

What sickmacdoc says is true, but you should also check this thread and this website. Worked perfectly for me. In fact, I didn't even touch the Boot Camp 2.1 update, but ran all the 64-bit drivers right from the MacBook's Leopard installation disc. Really easy, once you get the hang of it.

EDIT: Sorry, my bad. I didn't see you had the late 2007 and not the late 2008 MacBook model. In your case, do what sickmacdoc said.

As I mentioned, you must have the original BootCamp version of 2.0.1 for Vista x64. I have a late 2007 MBP (12/07, SR 2.6 GHz) and the version of BootCamp on my Leopard disc was 2.0 - which is not compatible with Vista x64.

 

[viktorbravo]

+1 Vista 64 is running well on my late 08 MBP. The trackpad drivers still have some issues to iron out but they are being addressed by Apple, which is a good thing.

As far as Vista 64 itself is concerned, its OK. I have many apps that I use for Astronomy CCD imaging and although they run perfectly on XP Pro, there are some issues in Vista which will take some time for me to figure out.

However, I think the besides the trackpad issue, Vista 64 is running very well on my MBP. FWIW.

 

[yatman60]

Working fine

I've got Vista Ultimate 64 installed on the new 15" unibody macbook pro and it's working perfectly. I downloaded the latest nvidia laptop drivers from nvidia and the latest audio drivers from realtek.com (which seems to have helped with some of the audio cracking problems).

The trackpad is definitely hokey. It's workable but not consistent. I have a MS 500 bluetooth mouse as a backup.

No problems to report. Bootcamp drivers are working well for keyboard backlighting, eject button, and others are as expected.

BEWARE BATTERY LIFE - You'll be lucky to get 1.5 hours of life out of the battery in Vista. I haven't tweaked my power saver settings yet but I don't expect much improvement. Windows is only using the 9600 video chip and can't be forced to use the 9400.

 

[Stridder44]

I've got Vista Ultimate 64 installed on the new 15" unibody macbook pro and it's working perfectly. I downloaded the latest nvidia laptop drivers from nvidia and the latest audio drivers from realtek.com (which seems to have helped with some of the audio cracking problems).

The trackpad is definitely hokey. It's workable but not consistent. I have a MS 500 bluetooth mouse as a backup.

No problems to report. Bootcamp drivers are working well for keyboard backlighting, eject button, and others are as expected.

BEWARE BATTERY LIFE - You'll be lucky to get 1.5 hours of life out of the battery in Vista. I haven't tweaked my power saver settings yet but I don't expect much improvement. Windows is only using the 9600 video chip and can't be forced to use the 9400.

I wonder if the new official Nvidia notebook drivers are actually better than the default BootCamp2.1 ones. I mean I'm sure they are (even if they are still in beta). The drivers from laptopvideo2go have always been worse for me, often actually slowing down games.

 

[Slowstick]

I've got Vista Ultimate 64 installed on the new 15" unibody macbook pro and it's working perfectly. I downloaded the latest nvidia laptop drivers from nvidia and the latest audio drivers from realtek.com (which seems to have helped with some of the audio cracking problems).


The trackpad is definitely hokey. It's workable but not consistent. I have a MS 500 bluetooth mouse as a backup.

No problems to report. Bootcamp drivers are working well for keyboard backlighting, eject button, and others are as expected.

BEWARE BATTERY LIFE - You'll be lucky to get 1.5 hours of life out of the battery in Vista. I haven't tweaked my power saver settings yet but I don't expect much improvement. Windows is only using the 9600 video chip and can't be forced to use the 9400.

I know 64bit windows is supported for the mbp. apple says it isn't on the mb.

 

[Stridder44]

I know 64bit windows is supported for the mbp. apple says it isn't on the mb.

Which is BS, because the hardware could totally support it.

 

[Slowstick]

Which is BS, because the hardware could totally support it.

That's what i say. Why can't apple support it?

 

[Stridder44]

That's what i say. Why can't apple support it?

Because they say so (until further notice). It's crap like this that is slowly chipping away at my love for Apple.

 

[Consultant]

I've been running Vista Enterprise 64-bit for the last 6 months on my macbook pro via boot camp and it works great. Actually, since OS X is 32-bit, applications running on the Vista partition are actually faster on my Mac book pro since you get to utilize all 4 gb of RAM. However, I'm not using the brand new Macbook Pro so maybe they changed something.

OSX can see 4gb of RAM no matter what version it is. It's your imagination that vista is faster.

I wonder if the new official Nvidia notebook drivers are actually better than the default BootCamp2.1 ones. I mean I'm sure they are (even if they are still in beta). The drivers from laptopvideo2go have always been worse for me, often actually slowing down games.

The latest nvidia drivers works fine on my MBP.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

So from what I gather of all these posts, is that my grey restore discs version of BootCamp will not run (I switched over to Windows 7 beta). I have to download the latest full version from Apple's site and run that. Ok, thanks everybody.

 

[sickmacdoc]

So from what I gather of all these posts, is that my grey restore discs version of BootCamp will not run (I switched over to Windows 7 beta). I have to download the latest full version from Apple's site and run that. Ok, thanks everybody.

Except you can't download the "latest full version" from Apple if you are thinking that the Boot Camp Assistant app is going to be available there just so there is not more confusion.

As has been stated above, the dowload file(s) that Apple has posted (the Boot Camp Updater 2.1 series) is just drivers and has nothing to do with the Boot Camp Assistant program. If you mean you can get the latest drivers, then yes you are cool with those in the appropriate Boot Camp Updater 2.1 download.

 

[miamialley]

I own a late '08 MBP. I installed Vista tonight. When I was installing I was prompted that I needed to install the 32bit. So that's what I did.