Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac, Second Edition
Find essential advice for running Windows on your Intel-based Mac!
Read this book to learn why you want to use a Mac to run Windows; understand the pros and cons of Apple's Boot Camp versus virtualization software; and find advice and step-by-step instructions for installing either Windows XP or Vista in Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop 3.0, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox.
You'll also get help with connecting third-party peripherals and printers, sharing files between operating systems, avoiding Windows malware, and backing up a Windows installation. Plus, the book looks briefly at running Windows software without installing Windows and at running Windows on PowerPC-based Macs.
Includes coupons worth $10 off Parallels Desktop, 10% off the upgrade to Parallels Desktop 3.0, and 10% off VMware Fusion!
More Info
Contents & Intro
FAQ
I really enjoyed "Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac." It was very informative, easy to read, and not too complicated. —Brian Henson
Read this book to learn the answers to questions such as:
How can I get a copy of Windows XP or Vista that will work on a Mac?
What can I expect and how can I avoid problems with Windows activation?
Should I run Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, or VirtualBox?
How can I best right-click in Boot Camp?
How can I make my Bluetooth device work with Boot Camp?
What are my options for sharing files between Windows and Mac OS X?
What is a smart way to back up my Windows installation?
How can I print from my Windows software?
What techniques can I use to avoid viruses and spyware in Windows?
How do I use one installation of Windows for Boot Camp and my virtualization software?
Book Info
151 pages
Version 2.6
Updated 12-Dec-07
2.3 MB download
ISBN: 1-933671-15-7
Free 31-page PDF sample with Table of Contents, Introduction, Quick Start, and section starts.
About the Author
Joe Kissell has written numerous books about the Macintosh, including many popular Take Control ebooks. He's also Senior Editor of TidBITS, contributes frequently to Macworld, and previously spent ten years in the Mac software industry.
Apple's Intel-based Macs offer several excellent options for running Windows alongside, or even instead of, Mac OS X. This guide covers Apple's dual-boot software, Boot Camp, as well as third-party virtualization software (such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion) and solutions for running Windows applications without Windows itself. This book was written by Joe Kissell, edited by Caroline Rose, and published by TidBITS Publishing Inc.
Introduction
Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm a Mac fan through and through. As I type this, I can see six Macs within a radius of 10 feet in my home office (and that doesn't count the Xserve I have sitting in a rack at a data center). I've written oodles of articles, books, and ebooks about Mac software, and for the past dozen years or so most of my income has resulted, in one way or another, from my work with Macs. If I had a nickel for every time someone referred to me as "the Mac guy," I could retire today.
And yet, although I've always been candid about my preference for Macs, I'm well versed in Windows, too; for years, I was deeply involved in developing and testing software for both platforms. Whether it's performing an exorcism on someone's virus-infected PC or walking a friend through a fiddly troubleshooting procedure over the phone, I know my stuff. Partly because I understand Windows so well, I'd always opt for a Mac if given the choice. But, like it or not, some things I want to do with a computer still require Windows. Even when working on something platform-neutral, such as a Web site, I want to be sure things look and work correctly on Windows.
On those occasions when I've needed Windows over the past few years, I've tried everything from running Virtual PC to visiting a library or cybercafe—everything, in other words, short of buying a Windows PC. That was the one step I hoped never to take, but other solutions were frequently awkward, slow, or otherwise annoying. Now, thanks to my Intel Mac, I can get the Mac OS X environment I love plus a fast, fully featured Windows installation, all in one box. I can even seamlessly share files and network connections between operating systems.
Achieving this state of computing bliss did require overcoming some time-consuming hurdles, however. For example, I had to figure out the pros and cons to using Apple's Boot Camp software versus third-party products such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion (and, eventually, how I could use both approaches with the same installation of Windows). Before support for Windows Vista appeared, I had to find a way to create a Windows CD that had Service Pack 2 already integrated, even though my boxed copy of Windows was manufactured before SP2 existed. And I had to make educated guesses about numerous configuration options that were documented poorly (or not at all).
Having wrestled with these issues and more, I'd like to save you that effort and offer you a set of easy-to-follow instructions. In this book, I tell you everything you need to know about your options for running Windows on a Mac, how to get around common annoyances, and what you should do to protect yourself from the big, bad world of Windows malware.
One thing I spend very little time on here is how to use Windows itself; I assume a basic familiarity with such features as the Start menu and Windows Explorer. If you've never used Windows before, you're bound to be somewhat disoriented, and in that case I recommend picking up one of the books listed in the Learn More section.
When I wrote the first version of this book, Intel Macintoshes had
been shipping for just a few months. Apple’s Boot Camp software
was in beta testing at version 1.0, and Parallels Desktop had only
recently reached its final 1.0 release stage. Since then, Boot Camp
has matured tremendously and is included as part of Mac OS X 10.5
Leopard, Parallels has undergone tremendous improvements (as has
its close rival VMware Fusion), and an open-source virtualization
environment called VirtualBox has also appeared. CodeWeavers has
been selling CrossOver Mac, which enables some Windows programs
to run without Windows itself. And Microsoft finally shipped
Windows Vista—all six editions.
In the current version of this book, I assume you're running Mac
OS X 10.5 or later, as that's now the minimum configuration that
supports Boot Camp. Although much of the information I provide
about virtualization software also applies to Tiger, only Leopard
offers the full range of options for running Windows on a Mac.
The Windows-on-Mac situation is still in a state of flux, and as the facts change, I'll update this book with the latest information. You can stay on top of recent developments by clicking Check for Updates on the ebook's cover (if you don't have the electronic version of this book, you can contact us to get one).
Quick Start
You need not read this book straight through; most people will pick one method for running Windows and read only the relevant sections. But be sure not to skip Decide How to Run Windows, which provides important background information.
Make initial preparations:
Find out whether adding Windows to your Mac is for you. Read Why Bother? for guidance.
Determine whether the best approach is to install Boot Camp or virtualization software (or both), in Decide How to Run Windows.
Regardless of which method you choose, Collect the Ingredients you'll need to install and use Windows.
If you decide to go with Boot Camp:
Learn how to Install and Use Boot Camp.
Overcome common annoyances with mice and keyboards. Read Solve Input Device Problems.
Keep your data safe. Read Back Up a Boot Camp Volume.
If you choose virtualization software:
Learn the basic terminology and concepts about virtual machines. See Understand Virtualization Concepts .
Install and Use Parallels Desktop, Install and Use VMware Fusion, or Install and Use VirtualBox.
Protect your Windows installation against data loss. Read Back Up Virtual Machine Data.
Solve irritating problems:
Solve Printing Problems in Windows.
If you have a pre-Service Pack 2 Windows CD, bring it up to date inexpensively. Read Create a Slipstream Installer Disc.
Keep Windows safe from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. See Protect Your Windows Setup from Malware.
Go further:
Learn about Wine, Darwine, CrossOver Mac, and Cider in Run Windows Applications without Windows.
Discover additional resources in Learn More.
Find out how to run Windows (sort of) on a Mac without an Intel chip in Appendix A: Windows on a PowerPC Mac.
Q: How do I find the coupons?
A: After you download and unzip your ebook, open it in a PDF reader (typically Apple Preview or Adobe Reader). You'll find the coupons near the end.
Q: How up-to-date is this book? Does it cover Vista? Leopard?
A: The book was last updated in December 2007. It covers Windows XP and Windows Vista. Although much of the material will work for readers using Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, it assumes that its readers are using Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.
Ask a Question
Feel free to ask us if you have a question about this book!
Joe Kissell has written numerous books about the Macintosh, including many popular Take Control ebooks. He's also Senior Editor of TidBITS, contributes frequently to Macworld, and previously spent ten years in the Mac software industry.