I was playing my favorite game the other day, Star Trek Armada II Fleet Operations. It is, in the words of the developers, 'a popular skirmish and multiplayer orientated total conversion modification for Activision's real-time strategy game, Star Trek: Armada II.' It is a Windows game, and for that I was booted into Windows 7 via Boot Camp on a Mac Pro 3,1 machine.
Installing Windows 10 on a Bootcamp partition is no different than if you installed Windows 10 on the entire hard drive on any computer (including Macs) I only plan to use the Windows partition for ARCgis so it would be a shame to pay for a windows license just to use one software.
I had set up a brilliant torpedo/phaser defensive system and was constructing a fleet of Defiant class ships to take on all six Romulan players – six against one, the kind of odds I thrive on. The adrenalin was coursing through my veins as I sent in 94 Defiant class ships armed with the experimental 'Critical Shot' ability through the wormhole to begin the destruction of Romulan forces.
Suddenly it quit to the Desktop! An error message appeared whose details basically told me that the game had violated rules on memory. Uttering a few swear words that would peal the paint of a ship, I rebooted. Coming back, I decided I would check Facebook, and again the same memory error occurred after just 5 minutes. Trusting DuckDuckGo, I went out on the web to search for it, and in three Windows forums, fellow Boot Camp users were reporting the same issue with their apps.
Rather than apply the rather lengthily workaround that was suggested (but questionable), I instead got to thinking: Most, if not all, the hardware in the Mac Pro are standard PC cards or PC chips – the processor, RAM, video (nVidia GeForce GT 120), sound, network, and the like all had PC roots and PC drivers. Apple even provides Windows drivers in Boot Camp, so could I not run Windows natively without using Boot Camp?
So rather than hunt the web for the answer, I decided to throw caution to the wind, grabbed a large glass of unsweetened tea and a snack, and in true American fashion, did it myself, making mistakes along the way and learning how to work around them. Rather than recount that process here, let me instead show you what to do should you want to do this yourself. Just takes a couple of downloads.
One of the benefits of using a Mac is that it gives you the choice of either running macOS on its own, or installing Windows for those occasions when you need to run Windows-only apps and games. Your five options to run Windows on a Mac. For business use, you have three good options for running Windows 10, and often other operating systems, on your Mac. Unless otherwise noted, your Mac.
Downloads: First, grab an ISO of Gparted. The Windows 7 installer will not install on the Mac hard drive – it does not like Apple's GPT format, and the installer will try to format it and in the end does nothing, so you will need this application/program to delete the Mac hard drive format.
Then grab a copy of the Boot Camp 4 drivers. You will need the drivers for Windows to use. You will run Windows Update later to update the drivers anyway. I did not try Boot Camp 5 – perhaps someone else can and will let us know if it works.
Now burn GParted and the Boot Camp 4 applications to a blank DVD. You might be able to fit them on a CD-R by removing the drivers out of the Boot Camp folder you do not need, but DVDs are cheap these days, so save yourself that extra step.
Installing: Now do an Option key reboot – restart the computer holding down the Option key. Select the GParted disc you just created. Gparted will automatically launch and has an interactive menu. The goal is to just delete the Mac hard drive from the list that is presented. Then reboot and hold the mouse button down – this will eject your DVD.
Put in the Windows 7 disc and restart the Mac using the Option key again. Select the Windows 7 disc, then sit back and wait for the installer to come up. When you get to the disk selection, you will see the former Mac drive as 'unallocated' space. Select it and select Format. That will format the drive NTFS, and Windows 7 will now install.
After you boot to the Windows Desktop, browse to the DVD drive. There you will see the Boot Camp folder on the DVD. Open it. Now you have two options:
- Install the actual drivers you need: Open each folder and launch the installer for that driver.
- Launch Boot Camp and let it install all your drivers.
The downside to Boot Camp doing it is you will have to remove it later on – you will not use the Boot Camp software for anything except this one action. That can be done through the Windows control panel Programs and Features.
Now use Windows Update to update the software and the hardware drivers. This will take some time to do – and a few reboots and rechecks for updates.
Observations: A few things come to mind. First, I no longer have memory errors with Fleet Operations or any application/program. The programs I have run smoothly as silk on the skin.
Reboots do take a little while: Upon boot you see a white screen for a few moments. Just a white screen. Sit back and wait a few seconds – the boot will happen. Upgrade mac sierra to mojave.
The Option boot sequence still works should you need it. Helpful if you want to also add Linux as an OS or any other operating system. Something to be aware of is that any drive formatted FAT32 or NTFS will read as 'Windows' in the Macintosh Boot Manager. This can be problematic if you have multiple drives formatted in NTFS like I did. To make it easier for me, I opened the Pro and pulled out the other hard drives, putting them back in after I was in Windows 7.
Windows 10 can also be installed – grab Service Pack 1 either through Windows Update or via a download from the Microsoft Download Center website, then download the Media Creation Tool and install it. That tool will automatically go out and grab Windows 10 online and upgrade the machine or download an ISO of the version you qualify for. Just be aware of the concerns that ArsTechnica noted about Windows 10 before doing the upgrade.
Keywords: #bootcamp #bootmactowindows
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Sometimes the lines between macOS and Windows 10 seem like a war zone of proponents from either side arguing about graphics, user interface, and program availability. But what if you just want the best of both worlds?
As many of us know, it's the little things that make us wish we could switch back and forth between the two operating systems. Whether it's that one program you need for work or your favorite video game that isn't cross-platform compatible, it's high time you find a way to be able to continue using your gorgeous MacBook Pro without making sacrifices around the edges.
Can I run Windows 10 on My MacBook Pro?
The short answer to this question is yes, you certainly can.
The longer version? To do so, you're going to need to spend a fair amount of time setting this up and deciding which method of doing so is most effective for you.
Also, no option is going to be seamless – you will probably lose some performance power due to the way built-in optimization software works.
Is Windows 10 free for Mac? Microsoft money for mac 2016.
Unfortunately, if you want to run Windows 10 on your Mac, you'll need to purchase a license from Microsoft.
If you've used a PC in the past, you may not be familiar with this since Windows tends to come preinstalled. But in the same way, as if you were building your computer from the ground up or if you were updating an extremely outdated laptop, you'll need to buy a copy of Windows 10.
This can be done electronically from the Microsoft Store here, where you'll receive a product key and download, or you can choose to receive a copy via physical USB. Roxio toast mac full. Windows 10 Home starts at about $120, and the Pro version costs about $200. However, both are still cheaper than trying to buy an entirely new computer just to run a few of your favorite things.
Running Windows 10 on MacBook Pro
Once you have a copy of Windows 10 in your possession, it's time to pick a method for installation. There are two main ways to do this: creating a partition on your Mac with the built-in Boot Camp program or using a third-party virtual machine that creates a tiny version of the Windows OS on top of the normal Mac system. We'll guide you through both of these.
Method 1: Boot Camp
Bootcamp is preinstalled on your Mac, but most people use their MacBook without ever realizing it's there. To find it, simply search in Spotlight for 'Bootcamp', and it should come up right away.
When you use BootCamp, your Mac's hard drive will be split into two sections- one running Windows, and one running macOS. These means that they operate in completely separate spheres and cannot interact with each other. Additionally, the size of the partition you create cannot be changed unless you perform a fresh install to reset it.
Pros:
- Already built into Mac, so it's the safest and easiest option to run Windows.
- You'll experience the least performance loss.
- It will feel like you're running a completely new computer.
Cons:
- Not that convenient because your MacBook must be rebooted to switch between Windows 10 and macOS.
- Partition size is semi-permanent, and cannot be resized without some considerable effort to re-install and repartition.
- Transferring files between the two systems is like transferring between two totally separate computers- you'll need to share them by flash drive (see the best usb-c drive for MacBook Pro), email, or some other method that isn't just drag-and-drop.
Using BootCamp
To use BootCamp, you'll need to follow a few basic steps:
Windows 10 Bootcamp Mac Drive
- Obtain a copy of Windows 10 (as previously mentioned)
- Make sure your entire MacBook is up to date by checking for any software updates
- Open BootCamp from Spotlight
- Partition your hard drive
- Install Windows & Windows Drivers
- Choose which OS to run and get started!
For a more detailed version of this overview, you'll want to check out PCMag's BootCamp walkthrough or head for the official Apple Guide.
How To Use Windows On Mac Without Bootcamp
Method 2: Virtual Machines
If the idea of rebooting your computer to switch OS doesn't appeal to you, a virtual machine is always an option. These are ideal in situations where you only need one program or don't plan on doing many taxing operations on Windows.
In a virtual machine, Windows 10 runs inside an application so it's like having another computer, but confined inside a single window on your screen. This means you can work in both Mac and Windows at the same time but may suffer a bit from performance issues.
Pros:
- It's much more convenient than rebooting your computer to use Windows.
- You can change the size of the partition whenever you want.
- You can use files between operating systems easily.
Cons:
- You'll need to buy a software license for your virtualization machine in addition to a copy of Windows.
- You may notice some drop in performance than if you dual-boot.
When it comes to virtual machines, you have a few options, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
The most well-known programs are Parallels Desktop for Mac and VMWare Fusion, which provide almost identical functionality with a few minor differences (such as display resolution or Quick Look support) that won't make or break your decision. They are priced at the same level for a single computer license and similar setup options. Fusion tends to outperform Parallels, but Parallels is a bit more user-friendly.
A third, lesser-known option is VirtualBox. This software is free, but it doesn't come with the bells and whistles of its competitors. It doesn't have the same optimization power or even offers a similar variety of setup options, and it tends to be on the techier side, making it difficult to use if you aren't invested in learning how (you may be interested in this book: An Ultimate Guide Book on Virtualization with VirtualBox). But if you just need to try out virtualization, it's a great place to start.
Using a Virtual Machine
To use a virtual machine, you'll need to go through a similar amount of setup as Bootcamp, but the process varies more depending on which software you've chosen.
- Obtain a copy of Windows 10 (as mentioned above)
- Also, purchase a license for the software you have chosen
- Create a virtual machine. This process varies by program, but it's the first thing you need to do before attempting to run any programs
- Install Windows to the Virtual Machine
If you've chosen to use Parallels, this guide includes images and should be sufficient to get through the installation process. For VMWare Fusion, their support page includes both a video and text-based tutorial for installation. Those who opt for VirtualBox can follow LifeHacker's guide to setup since this program's installation includes a plethora of personalization options you may not be sure what to do with.
Final Words
Running Windows on a MacBook Pro means you get to have your cake and eat it too. It's a great compromise between systems that let you do the work you need to while sticking with the operating system you know best. While you may see some performance loss and it won't be quite the same as having a computer completely dedicated to Windows, you do have a variety of options to work with what you've got.
How do you use Windows 10 on your Mac? Tell us about your experience by leaving a comment below.
