Windows XP Booting on Mac Contest Over

[DTphonehome]

Benchmarks?

I would LOVE to see some real-world performance tests. Photoshop, games, etc. Would be nice to directly compare OS X performance to WinXP on identical hardware.

 

[bigandy]

i need an intel mac to try this on. it would be mightily useful.

anyone wanna give me one?

 

[IJ Reilly]

I don't think this does breach the EULA. So long as there are no altered files - only new ones - then it should be fine.

The install disk has to be copied and altered. Does Microsoft allow Windows install disks to be duplicated?

 

[unigolyn]

When I read what the requirements are there was PC, they mean your Mac right?

No, they mean a Windows PC with Nero Burning ROM installed.

This is exciting, might try it later. But I don't got XP Pro.

Won't probably work with Home. They specifically say you need an XP Pro SP2 disc, so my XP Pro SP1 disc won't work either.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Well, at least you showed up
A few other doubters aren't here to eat their crowburgers.

I did more than just show up.

 

[skagen5555]

i havent read through the entire thread, but for people who are worried that developers will not make any more os x programs... i propose 2 things:

1. Installing windows on a mac is unsupported by apple, and therefore, developers probably will not say "boot up windows" because it's still underground and all. Companies don't ever say "if you dont have this software... download this crack to make it work."

2. When OS X came out, developers didnt fail to port stuff to OS X instead of just saying "oh boot up os 9 and run it there.

Don't worry, developers will still port stuff to OS X.

 

[unigolyn]

Hey, who else thinks Dvorak's next column will be a gloatfest about how his 'Apple switching to Windows' theory is "proved true" by this development?

 

[IJ Reilly]

Microsofts EULA is unenforceable so as longs as you have a valid license this shouldn't be illegal

If Microsoft decides to pay attention to this technique, and determines that it violates the EULA, then I think it won't become a common method of installing Windows on Mac hardware because most people won't want to risk tangling with Microsoft. They can be very aggressive when it comes to enforcing their intellectual property rights.

I think better, cleaner methods of installing Windows on Mac hardware are coming along that won't require messing with the install disk, so the point might be moot in the long run.

 

[iGuy]

Apple's TSOD (Transparent Screen of Death)

Just to clarify - Windows XP does indeed still have a BSOD.

One of the things that has amazd me since I switched is the stability of this thing!

It should be noted, that while OS X is both far more stable and user friendly than Windows XP, OS X can also crash on occasion.

After updating to 10.4.5, running MS VPC 7.02 with Virtual Switch Networking, my G5 (Quad 2.5 with 8GB of RAM connected to a 30 inch Apple Cinema Dispaly through an nVidia FX4500) continually locked up.

If you've never seen it the screen whites over one line at a time starting at the top and displays a messages stating that you have to reboot using the power button.

Certainly much more aesthetically pleasing than MS's BSOD but equally as damaging.

The only solution was to change to Shared Networking in VPC. I'm hoping MS will issue a fix but I'm not holding my breath.

~iGuy

 

[nylon]

This hack is going to have a negligible effect on Mac sales and software development. The majority of users are not going to be able/willing to install some unsupported hack they download off the internet, regardless of how easy it is. Maybe when Microsoft or someone releases an officially supported solution, things will change.

When this gains critical mass, Apple will provide their own simple solution. I can guarantee that. Apple will simply state that they do not support Windows.

Their could also be a marketing angle to this. Picture add "Why buy a PC when you can run OSX/Windows on a Mac". Cha-Ching!!!

 

[johnadurcan]

installer

Someone needs to create an installer. I propose an app that runs within Mac OS X that does the following:

Prompts to insert WinXP SP2 Pro CD
when inserted, copies disc to temp local folder
Makes the necessary additions to that folder (OEM files and modified NTDetect.exe etc...)
Prompts user to insert blank CD & burns bootable slipstream Win XP CD
leaves CD in the tray
Runs a partition manager program that splits the HDD partition to your requirements
installs the EFI file and blesses it
reboots the machine - Hay presto! Automatic installer for Boot Loader - no nero, windows or degree required.

 

[Twenty1]

What MS should do...

Am I the only one thinking that the MacBU at Microsoft should be paying a lot of attention to this? If I'm working on the Intel Virtual PC development team, I've just learned of a great way to install MS Windows on a Mac. I now just need to develop some sort of user friendly installation and I'm almost done.

(Yeah, I know Virtual PC and this dual boot system are different, but they still accomplish the same basic thing - running Windows on a Mac.)

 

[flir67]

the fun starts tonight for me

welp I know what I'm doing after work. got the sp2 disc also

sweet.... those are some of simpliest instructions yet. those slipstreamed cd's are so easy to make.

now everyone will be scouring the net for the best sp2 old school slipstream program.LOL...

wonder what will happen to apples market share
someone creates the program to let xp boot on mac
wonder if everyone will order a mac now and say screw the pc.

13,000.00 and change to the winner but a 10% or more market gaiin for apple??? instantly what a deal...


what do you think

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Hey, who else thinks Dvorak's next column will be a gloatfest about how his 'Apple switching to Windows' theory is "proved true" by this development?

How would this prove that Apple's true intention is to dump the Mac OS and become a PC hardware maker? Apple has said from the begining that it might be possible to boot Windows on a Mac and that they wouldn't do anything to prevent it.

But this experiment was not funding or aided by Apple. Dvorak's theory is that Apple wants to go Windows, not that users want dual boot. This only maintains the status quo as far as Apple's position on Windows goes.

 

[admanimal]

When this gains critical mass, Apple will provide their own simple solution. I can guarantee that. Apple will simply state that they do not support Windows.

Their could also be a marketing angle to this. Picture add "Why buy a PC when you can run OSX/Windows on a Mac". Cha-Ching!!!

I agree that it could be a selling point when there is an officially supported method of installing Windows on the Mac. But Apple is definitely not going to support or endorse an internet hack.

Personally I am looking forward to having a VirtualPC-like solution where i can just start up Windows when I need it and not have to deal with dual-booting, which gets annoying after a while.

 

[flir67]

How would this prove that Apple's true intention is to dump the Mac OS and become a PC hardware maker? Apple has said from the begining that it might be possible to boot Windows on a Mac and that they wouldn't do anything to prevent it.

But this experiment was not funding or aided by Apple. Dvorak's theory is that Apple wants to go Windows, not that users want dual boot. This only maintains the status quo as far as Apple's position on Windows goes.

osx is 100 times better, no way no how.. os x is king , ms is on the way out if they don't get vista out fast enough.

 

[Frobozz]

Important first step

This is an important first step in the process. I think the end-game is the ability to not have to dual boot. I want to just double-click and run Windows apps at native or nearly native speeds with full hardware and graphics support.

 

[unigolyn]

How would this prove that Apple's true intention is to dump the Mac OS and become a PC hardware maker? Apple has said from the begining that it might be possible to boot Windows on a Mac and that they wouldn't do anything to prevent it.

But this experiment was not funding or aided by Apple. Dvorak's theory is that Apple wants to go Windows, not that users want dual boot. This only maintains the status quo as far as Apple's position on Windows goes.

Should've included sarcasm tags. Calling Dvoraks fevered ravings a 'theory' is giving them astronomically excessive credit. I mean, if you look at the "evidence" that he based his column on, he could easily extrapolate that blanka and narf were simply the victims of Apple's ingenious plan to cut development costs by outsourcing it to Mac geeks and hackers, full-blown Windows adoption being 'just around the corner now'.

 

[DTphonehome]

This is an important first step in the process. I think the end-game is the ability to not have to dual boot. I want to just double-click and run Windows apps at native or nearly native speeds with full hardware and graphics support.

I want a pony.

 

[varmatheone]

Its not that everyone with an Intel Mac is going to dump OSX and use windows.

It would be one less excuse not to buy a Mac (a big one though ).
- not being able to run Games/ other software not available on Mac.

More ppl will be exposed to OSX, who otherwise may not want to buy a Mac since it wont run Windows.

Its a win-win situation for Apple in any angle.

 

[unigolyn]

I want a pony.

Put up a PayPal donation box - seemed to work for dual booting, selling pixels, and getting fake boobs.

Edit:Seriously, register http://www.iwantapony.com, put up a 72p text stating that you want a pony, and include a tip jar. I'll take 10% of what you make for the idea.

Edit 2: Damn, someone already thought of it. No tip jar though.

 

[Abulia]

Oooh, the Intel PMs can't come out fast enough!

 

[exodar]

Can it be reversed easily?

My question is has anyone REVERSED the process? Meaning removing this dual boot setup and installing just Mac OS X back on again.

Also...is there ANYTHING going on here that if done improperly could render your mac unuseable? This whole taking over of the boot process kind of worries me a little. My first impression is that if you did do anything wrong you could just pop your Mac OS X install disc and start over again. However, with this being experimental I worry about "bricking" my mac.

exodar

 

[jdechko]

It's pretty cool that someone finally got it to work. And I'm really glad that the bootloader works as it does (ie: behind the scenes and it looks nice). Hopefully, though, there's a timeout option that if the user doesn't select Xp within 5-10 seconds it automatically boots OS X.

This kinda makes me wonder whether or not MS will release a "Mac" version of windows with the slipstreaming already completed for the windows part. If they could re-sell a couple of thousand copies of XP do you think they would, or do you think they'll incorporate this into Vista.

 

[ImAlex]

No, they mean a Windows PC with Nero Burning ROM installed.



Won't probably work with Home. They specifically say you need an XP Pro SP2 disc, so my XP Pro SP1 disc won't work either.

Okey thanks. And thx Sky Blue for your answer.

So any PC with Nero Burning ROM (which is free)?

Will there be an easy installer? So you just put ur CD into the drive and install it? I didn't thought you needed a PC for this. Sounds good anyway. Anyone tried this yet?