Windows on Mac Pro

[seanf]

Hello,

First post on these forums. Can you please advise if it will be possible to run a 32-bit copy of Windows XP on a Mac Pro or if I will have to purchase the 64-bit version?

Thanks

Sean

 

[PuNkErX]

I am almost 100 percent sure you could run a 32 bit version of Windows on it. I have run 32 bit Windows on many different 64 bit processors with no problems, it just doesn't properly use anything that the 64 bit offers.

 

[davegoody]

No Problem !

Hello,

First post on these forums. Can you please advise if it will be possible to run a 32-bit copy of Windows XP on a Mac Pro or if I will have to purchase the 64-bit version?

Thanks

Sean

You Will, indeed, be able to run the 32bit version of Windows XP on this hardware. The XEON processors still have the 32bit instruction set, but with additions for 64bit operations. 32 bit software will run fine (and fast) on this machine.

 

[seanf]

Thank you very much both

Sean

 

[balamw]

And since the Xeon processors in the Mac Pro also include support for VT, Parallels should run very smoothly.

B

 

[Krevnik]

And since the Xeon processors in the Mac Pro also include support for VT, Parallels should run very smoothly.

B

Should is an understatement.

My 2Ghz MBP runs Parallels just fine for even compiles. Not quite as fast as my dev box at work (2x Athlon MP 2800), but the Mac Pro probably wouldn't even hiccup running a massive build within Parallels.

 

[kainjow]

According to this thread, Windows does not yet work on the Mac Pro, in BootCamp or in Parallels.

 

[ilkevinli]

Actually if you read his answer, he said Windows installed fine. Its the driver CD is giving him the "incompatible" message. I would bet if he extracts the drivers and install them manually it would work.

According to this thread, Windows does not yet work on the Mac Pro, in BootCamp or in Parallels.

 

[kainjow]

Actually if you read his answer, he said Windows installed fine. Its the driver CD is giving him the "incompatible" message. I would bet if he extracts the drivers and install them manually it would work.

I stand corrected

 

[balamw]

I'm more surprised that Parallels didn't work out of the box than Boot Camp.

Since the Mac Pro Hardware is nothing like the iMac/Mac Book/MBP extracting the drivers manually won't do much for you, but even without the drivers XP should be moderately useful....

B

 

[Krevnik]

I'm more surprised that Parallels didn't work out of the box than Boot Camp.

Since the Mac Pro Hardware is nothing like the iMac/Mac Book/MBP extracting the drivers manually won't do much for you, but even without the drivers XP should be moderately useful....

B

And with a bit of work, you can still track down the right drivers for the hardware. The stock nVidia driver set works with the 7300GT, and someone found the network drivers, which makes up the two critical pieces you would need for a desktop system.

 

[balamw]

And with a bit of work, you can still track down the right drivers for the hardware.

Good news. Any news on getting Parallels to work?

B

 

[hwattys1]

XP running, sort of

Here is a link to a pcpitstop benchmark I got on my dual 2.66 Mac Pro. Remaining hardware issues are sound, and hard disk I/O is very slow.

http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=QU9JPWXTJVJS6G3C


The nvidia forceware works for the 7300 video card with a little prodding, and the Windows drivers from the Intel website for the chipset work:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...&OSFullName=Windows* XP Professional&lang=eng

You may also want to try the Intel SATA drivers (I just found these and am going to try them):

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...306&OSFullName=All Operating Systems&lang=eng

I also used one of the Intel Gigabit ethernet drivers and I will post back with the exact version I installed.

 

[cjkihlbom]

Check out Boot Camp 1.1!! http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Boot Camp 1.1 beta includes:
Support for the latest Intel-based Macintosh computers
Easier partitioning using presets for popular sizes
Ability to install Windows XP on any internal disk
iSight camera support
Support for built-in microphones
Right-click when pressing the right-hand Apple key on Apple keyboards
Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys

 

[balamw]

iSight camera support
Support for built-in microphones
Right-click when pressing the right-hand Apple key on Apple keyboards
Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys

w00t! Major improvements!

B

 

[d00d]

Can you please advise if it will be possible to run a 32-bit copy of Windows XP on a Mac Pro or if I will have to purchase the 64-bit version?

I have a question in the same vein. Will XP Home run on a Mac Pro? (With Boot Camp, I'm not interested in using Parallels.)

 

[dzimble]

Windows 64bit on Mac Pro?

So, i see that the general impression is that windows xp (32bit) will run on Mac Pro (either bootcamp or parallels) but i'm wondering if Windows 64bit will run on mac pro? I'm still waiting for my mac pro to be delivered but i'm an anxious windows convert....my first mac!

Cheers to Apple.

 

[Mr. Mister]

That's a question I'd love to know the answer to.

 

[BadRambo]

So, i see that the general impression is that windows xp (32bit) will run on Mac Pro (either bootcamp or parallels) but i'm wondering if Windows 64bit will run on mac pro? I'm still waiting for my mac pro to be delivered but i'm an anxious windows convert....my first mac!

Cheers to Apple.

Yes, correct on the present 32 bit version of Windows. I have it running on my MP, but very clunky, and due to the SATA problems, VERY SLOWLY when it comes to disk I/O. The drivers are just not there yet.

I doubt (just MHO) that Apple will ever provide 64-bit drivers so that the 64-bit version of XP will run...I would see them focusing their future resources on Vista. I have chatted with a number of Apple folks and they realize how valuable BootCamp is to the selling of alot more Macs, especially the Mac Pro machines --- so many, like myself, have made that purchase based on the ability to run both XP and OS X, on the same high performance machine.

Cheers --- Bob ---