Is it possible to put windows on a poppy. Apple educational program: how to install Windows on MacBook Air

So this is the first part tutorial on installing Windows 7 on MAC computers... Today we will learn the "basics" and prepare everything necessary for subsequent actions.

We will install Windows in two stages:
1 First, install Windows using the built-in utility “ Boot Camp Assistant". In this case, Windows can be run on " pure iron"Bypassing MAC OS X. This means that you get 100% of the power of your computer and can play your favorite games without any problems.

Boot Camp Assistant Is a standard utility in OS X that can be used to install Windows on MAC computers with an Intel processor. The utility can be found in the folder Programs> Utilities.

2 After that we will install the program Parallels Desktop, with which we will open access to the Windows installed in the first stage, but already from under MAC OS X. Thus, we will install Windows once, but it will be able to run it " from everywhere».

Why install Windows on a MAC?

As I wrote in this tutorial, everyone has their own reason for installing Windows on a MAC. Depending on this reason, I would distinguish three categories of users:

The first category of people basically lacks some kind of software, the MAC version of which has not yet been "invented". Usually this office workers accustomed to 1C, AVK and other crap. Well, that's quite justified. How do you think?

The second category of people - gamers... They want to work simultaneously under MAC OS X, but they can't forget their toys either. God is their judge, but MAC does not help either, because it is not very suitable for games. You can read more about this in the article “ Which MAC is the best for gaming».

The third category of people - perverts... I cannot name them otherwise. Such people buy MacBooks and iMACs only for the appearance of the product itself and the apple on the back cover. Immediately after purchase, Windows is installed on such a device as the main operating system. Here my hands fall ...

Conclusion If you have an irresistible desire install Windows on MAC, do it! But don't use it as your primary system. If you initially need a Windows PC, buy a Windows PC. I do not recommend running a full-fledged Windows machine from a MacBook or iMac.

Which version of Windows is better to choose and where to get it

Depending on the model of your computer (as well as the year of manufacture), you will have access to and the corresponding version (s) of the Boot Camp utility... Depending on the version of Boot Camp, you will have one or another Windows version.

Putting together what has just been said, a specific version of Windows will run on a specific computer model. Apple keeps pace with the times and provides support only for the latest versions of Windows on its new devices (MacBook, iMac, Mac mini). In order to understand which version of Windows will work on your computer, follow this link and find your model and the corresponding compatibility table.

For example, I have MacBook Air 13 ″(released mid-2012). From this it follows that the following versions are available to me: Windows 7 x86 (BootCamp 4), Windows 7 x64 (BootCamp 5), Windows 8 x64 (BootCamp 5). The required Boot Camp version is shown in parentheses.

In this lesson I will install Windows 7 x86 (32 bit), but not the standard version, but the lightweight Lite. Why Lite? Yes, because it takes up about 4GB of hard disk space, but at the same time it works no worse than Home Edition or Ultimate. Light versions of Windows are devoid of all sorts of "unnecessary" add-ons, drivers, etc. and are created by ordinary users like me and you. From this it follows that it is necessary to look for such versions on the Internet (since torrent sites have not been canceled yet). We are interested in Windows 7 Lite installation disk image in ISO format... Here, which takes 721Mb, and Windows 7 installed from it is only 4.2Gb.

How to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 7 Lite distribution

After you have downloaded the ISO image of the installation disc, we can safely go to creating a bootable USB drive, with which we will install Windows 7. The flash drive must be of volume AT LEAST 4GB.

Instructions for creating a bootable USB flash drive with a Windows 7 distribution:

STEP 1 Open the utility " Boot Camp Assistant" (path: Programs > Utilities)

STEP 2 In the window that opens, confirm by clicking the Continue button

STEP 3 Put a tick in front of the first item " Create Windows 7 or newer installation disc»

STEP 4 Find on your hard disk the previously downloaded ISO image
STEP 5 Confirm that the USB flash drive can be erased by formatting. We are waiting for the end of the copying process.

Drivers and support files for BootCamp for Windows 7

The next and last step of preparation is downloading the necessary drivers and BootCamp support files on Windows. Do not worry, you do not have to search the Internet for drivers for each of the system's devices, because even here Apple did everything for you. On the company's website you can download only one zip archive, which will contain everything you need. Since the hardware on different computer models may differ, the Windows support software was also developed specifically for each model.

To download the required Windows support software, do the following:

STEP 1 We follow this link and find ourselves on the page familiar to us. We select the version of Windows that you plan to install. Scrolling down we find our MAC model and open the table. At the intersection of the model and the installed version of Windows there will be a number (in my case, 4 is the version of the required BootCamp). If not clear, see the picture above.
STEP 2 Click on this number and go to the download page for auxiliary software Windows. Download the archive by clicking on the Download button.


STEP 3 After the zip archive has been downloaded (usually to the folder Downloads), unpack it (double click). As a result, a folder will appear with the name BootCamp... Copy it to the bootable USB flash drive you created earlier.

Installing Windows on Mac OS is possible and quite simple if you are prepared for this matter. In this article we will tell you how to install Windows on Mac OS - possible methods and options, as well as additional information and subtleties of the process.

MacOS users may have a need to use the Windows operating system, for several reasons, ranging from the habit of using Microsoft's OS, to the need to use special software that is intended only for working in Windows. In order not to buy a new device, but to take advantage of the excellent characteristics of the hardware and the use of the desired system, in macOS it is possible to use several systems on one device.

What should you do before installing another OS?

• Find out about the compatibility of hardware and OS versions (compatibility with Windows 10 and compatibility with the 7th version of the system).
• Check for macOS updates and utilities and update if found.

Boot Camp

You can install Windows 10 on Mac OS Sierra through the special BootCamp utility.

Utility Boot Camp Assistant- Software from Apple, which allows you to create an additional partition on the disk for installing an additional OS and further use.

Before installing, you must download the image of the desired Windows system. This can be done on the official Microsoft website.

• Go to the download page of the Windows 10 image (or 7th version, but a key is required here).
• Select the desired system and language, and then start downloading the image.

To start Boot Camp, open Programs - Utilities and select Boot Camp Assistant.

In the Boot Camp window, you will need to select the amount of free space that will be allocated for Windows. When choosing, we recommend starting from your needs - whether you will play games and install "heavy" applications, or rarely use the system.

It is worth noting that if you allocate 100 GB of free space in Boot Camp, after installing the system, you will have about 75 Gb available.

Specify the path to the downloaded system image in the ISO disk image line. Click the "Install" button and the software will start downloading for further configuration.

After rebooting the device, the standard Windows installation process will begin. Using the "ten" as an example, let's look at the main points.

• Initially, agree to the terms of the persons agreement.
• Select the version and bitness of the OS.
• At the stage of choosing a partition where files will be copied, you need to select a partition called BootCamp.

• The process of copying files and preparing the main components of the system will begin.

• At the end of all the reboots, you will be greeted by the system presetting window, where you will need to specify the Microsoft account to log in to the system, if there is none, create a local profile. You will also need to specify the privacy settings, which are recommended to be disabled - this will speed up the device a little and Microsoft will receive less of your data.
• When finished, you will be greeted by the Windows desktop and a small BootCamp application window. You will need to allow the application to configure the system drivers so that the screen resolution becomes correct and all components, such as network connection, Bluetooth and others.

Installing Windows 7 on a Mac via BootCamp is done in the same way, the only difference is the welcome screen and the initial screen.
It is also worth knowing a few additional facts about Boot Camp if you want to know how to install Windows on a Mac using BootCamp:

• Updating all device drivers necessary for correct operation is also performed through Boot Camp.
• It is recommended that you initially download the required driver package from the Apple website.
• The system will be fast and responsive, making the most of the device's resources. It is also unlikely that there will be problems with the drivers, since Apple is very important and attentive to this. But no one canceled bugs and problems on the part of "Windows", although on the 10th version, there are fewer and fewer problems (until the release of a major update).
• It is not possible to use macOS and Windows at the same time, since the device can work and use resources with only one running system. And here virtualization tools come to the rescue, which will be discussed below.

Important! Occasionally, when installing Windows on Mac, the no Bootable device error may appear. To fix this problem, use the following tips:

• Using a legal image (no pirated assemblies).
• Try changing the boot priority on macOS and retry the installation.
• Try using USB drives or ISO files when using Boot Camp.

Parallels Desktop

There are situations where you might need to install Windows 7 or 10 on a Mac without using BootCamp. For example, when you need to use both MacOS and Windows at the same time, but having 2 devices is too expensive and inconvenient. Virtualization tools will come to the rescue, one of which is Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Parallels Desktop is a software solution for creating a virtual machine and then installing Windows, Linux and other operating systems. Allows you to use a different operating system without rebooting the device and enjoy the functionality of different OS at the same time.

At the moment, the latest version of Parallels Desktop 14 is available at a price of 4,990 rubles.

The application has truly outstanding functionality:

• Common desktop for Windows and MacOS.
• Using Win-applications in the MacOS interface without the need to launch a virtual machine.
• Backup, shared clipboard, Drag-n-Drop, a huge toolkit for working with a "window" OS, and much more.

Together with Parallels Desktop, you will learn how to quickly put Windows 10 on a Mac with a second system with just the click of a button. What do I need to do:

• Download and install the trial version of Parallels Desktop from the official website.
• And click Install to start

• And at the end of all procedures, there will be a notification about the successful completion of the installation

The developers have made sure that the process is as simple and fast as possible for Mac users. We will also analyze how you can perform a clean installation of Windows 7 or 10 on Mac OS high sierra or later using Parallels, using the example of version 11:

• Launch Parallels Desktop and choose Install.

• Specify the path to the installation disk, USB stick or system image.

• You can choose express installation of the system, which will require from you only the system key and a minimum of steps. Or you can uncheck the express installation and set up the process yourself.

• You can choose not only the number of active cores, RAM or storage memory, but also video memory, system usage, boot priority and much more.

• After that, the standard installation procedure will begin. You will need to select a language and select an installation location.

• After that, Windows 7 will be successfully installed. You only need to give a name to the profile and PC, create a password (if required), enter the activation key, configure the time and parameters of the Internet connection.
• The system is ready to use

The application is really very functional and we solve many problems at once. But if you do not have 5 thousand rubles to buy a license, we will show you another way how to install Windows 7.10 on Mac OS using VMware virtualization.

Oracle Virtualbox

VM VirtualBox is a virtualization tool from Oracle. A free app that lets you run Windows 7 or 10 without a separate installation on Mac or BootCamp. The functionality is not as rich as that of Parallels Desktop, but this solution is free and will allow you to use 2 systems at the same time. What is needed for this:

• Download and install VM VirtualBox for OS X hosts from the official website.
• Download the image of the desired system, for example "Ten"
• Create a new virtual machine. Enter the name, type and version of the OS

• Set the amount of RAM

• Set the amount of storage for the virtual machine and specify the disk type as VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)

• After the virtual machine is created, click on the "Settings" settings.

• In the "Storage" tab, specify the path to the loaded OS image, and then start the virtual machine.

• The standard system installation procedure will begin. The order can be found in the paragraph about Boot Camp.

As you can see from this article, instead of Mac OS, it is quite easy to install Windows 7, 8 or 10, you just need to choose the option that is convenient for you. Using all the power of the device, but put up with only one active OS, or the full use of all the advantages of Windows and MacOS, but with insignificant performance losses.

Have a great day!

Introduction

Preparing your Mac to Install Windows XP

"We ourselves know that the problem has no solution ..."

If you want to install Windows XP on your Mac Book, Mac Book Pro or iMac with an Intel processor, do not call Apple Russia technical support. It is better to ask similar questions in or on the forum of the English-language Apple website. If you do not follow this advice, you can become a participant in a very strange dialogue.

Hello. Apple support.

Hello. I have a question about installing Boot Camp on a MacBook Pro.

The utility is in the debugging stage. No technical support is provided.

Yes I know. But can you have any installation tips? I can’t start it.

Why do you need Boot Camp?

Install Windows.

Why do you need Windows?

I am embarrassed, because explaining why Windows is to someone who uses MacOS X is thankless.

Somehow I got used to it ... There are different programs, games.

If you want 3D graphics, then nothing will come of it.

Like this?

Games that require DirectX will not work at all.

The tech support technician sighs tiredly. Apparently he is already tired of explaining this to people who are mad with fat and buy expensive Apple computers, and then complain that there is no solitaire in macOS, and require Windows.

Thank you...

Names that will NEVER appear on the screen of my laptop are swarming through my head: Hitman, Lineage2, WoW ... I bought a cool laptop, and it is only good for surfing the Internet and working with documentation. Although Darvin is still there, and you can use the console for remote administration ...

"... We want to know how to solve it!"
"Monday starts on Saturday", A. Strugatsky, B. Strugatsky

So, the first thing you do is connect your computer and set up your network. You will need to download about 85 MB of data from the Apple website and free up at least 10 GB of hard disk space. You will also need an English boot disk or Russian Windows XP with Service Pack 2. SP2 necessarily should be built into the distribution. The distribution itself should fit on one CD... In addition, you will need a blank CD. You will also need paper and a printer if you decide to print this manual. In this case, at the very top of the page, above the heading, find the link "Print version" and use it.

You also need to make sure your Mac is running at least macOS X 10.4.6. Determining this is easy, just select the apple-shaped menu item at the top and click "About this computer". It is possible to update all the software, but it is not necessary.

Then you need to update the firmware. Since the firmware is not automatically updated, it must be downloaded separately. The file looks different depending on your Mac model.

• MacBook Pro (early 2006) Firmware 1.0.1- for MacBook Pro
• Mac mini (early 2006) Firmware 1.0.1- for Mac mini
• iMac Firmware Update 1.0.1- for iMac (Intel Core Duo)

At the time of this posting, the latest firmware version is 1.0.1. This is enough for our task. Important do not confuse Boot ROM firmware and SMC firmware. The SMC Firmware update is optional, but the Boot ROM update is necessary as it will emulate the BIOS for Windows operating systems.

After completing all these procedures, download the archive with the firmware utility and open it with a double click. The folder contained in this archive will be mounted and will appear on the desktop. Open it and run the firmware utility. This will be one of three files, depending on the hardware.

iMacFirmwareUpdater.pkg
MacMiniFirmwareUpdater.pkg
MacBookProFirmwareUpdater.pkg

The McBook Pro prompts you to necessarily connect the power to the laptop. Next, you will be prompted to click "Shut Down" or run the utility later. After pressing the "Shut Down" button, the computer will shut down. After that, press the power button and hold it until the power diode (for a laptop, this is the diode in the button that locks the laptop lid) starts blinking. You can release the button. The computer will beep and start flashing the Boot ROM. The Apple logo appears on the screen with a progress bar below it. After the end of the process, the computer will restart.

It is strongly not recommended to hinder the update process. It is possible to restore the firmware, but this is not a trivial task. You will need to download from the Apple website and burn a special bootable firmware recovery disc Firmware Restoration CD... We hope you don't need it.

After flashing the computer will automatically reboot, and you will see MacOS X again. A message about the successful flashing will appear. Click OK.

Installing Windows XP on Mac: Step by Step

Now is the time to install Boot Camp. Download archive Boot Camp Assistant can from this page of the Apple website... Installation instructions in English are also located there " Installation & Setup Guide"in PDF format. It can be printed for memory.

Download the Boot Camp Assistant archive. Open it up. The content folder is traditionally mounted. The shortcut will appear on the desktop. Make sure no other applications are running. Run the Boot Camp Assistant utility. The following window will appear on the screen:

The first item "Burn a Macintosh Drivers CD now" suggests creating a CD with drivers for Windows XP. The second item "I already have a Macintosh Drivers CD" is for the case if you already have such a disk. Select " Burn a Macintosh Drivers CD now"and click" Continue. "Insert a blank disc into your drive. A driver disc will be burned.

In the next window, you will be asked to partition the hard disk into two partitions: for MacOSX and Windows XP. Move the partition between the partition rectangles to determine how much disk space you want to allocate to the systems. To do this, drag a point between the rectangles.

Click " Partition"to repartition the disk. MacOS X will not be affected. If necessary, you can later re-run Boot Camp Assistance, for example, to remove the Windows XP partition from the Apple Mac disk and disable the multiboot feature.

After creating a partition on a Mac for Windows XP, a window will appear prompting insert disc with Windows XP SP2. If you have already installed Windows XP and this is a re-launch of the utility to, for example, overwrite the driver disc, then you can insert it or any other software disc before rebooting.

The installation can be postponed by choosing "Restart MacOSX". To immediately reboot and start installation, click " Start Installation".

After restarting the Mac, the Windows Installer will automatically boot from the CD. The standard XP installation windows will appear. You just need to follow the standard instructions until the installer displays the hard disk partition editor in front of you.

Do not delete existing partitions and do not repartition the disk if you do not want to lose MacOS X! A 128MB unallocated area and a 200MB partition at the beginning of the disk are required for MacOS X to run. Just select the "C:" partition (the last one on the list) and press ENTER. And in the next window you will be prompted to format the partition.

If you choose as file system NTFS then macOS X can not modify delete, create files on disk with Windows XP. It will be possible only browse files. If you choose FAT, then MacOS X will have full disk access. You should think in advance which file system for Windows XP on Mac to choose, but we will emphasize - for reliable operation of Windows XP recommended use the NTFS file system. Files can be transferred from one operating system to another, for example, on a USB stick.

Further, the installation of Windows XP on a Mac will follow the same scenario when Windows is installed on a regular PC. After the system is installed, insert the driver disc " Macintosh Drivers CD"and run the" Install Macintosh Drivers for Win XP.exe "application. This utility will automatically install all existing drivers: for a video card, Ethernet adapter, sound, WiFi card, Bluetooth, 1394 adapter, keyboard, touch pad, monitor dimmer, and Apple Eject CD Key As of July 2006, there are no drivers for the remote control, keyboard backlight, built-in USB webcam, and built-in USB modem.

Windows on Mac problems and solutions

Utility Apple Eject CD Key may not work correctly with some games. So, in Lineage II, after entering the password, the keyboard is completely disabled. If you encounter a similar problem, it is recommended to completely disable the utility using programs such as the built-in msconfig console or the utility Starter .

After installation, Windows XP will become the default operating system and will boot automatically. To change the default boot system, you can use the Startup Disk utility located in the Windows XP Control Panel or MacOSX System Preferences.

From the next reboot, the changes will take effect.

If you press and hold the "Alt / Option" button on the keyboard when starting the computer, you can specify which partition / device to boot from. The following window will appear.

Select with the cursor or the mouse the operating system or boot disk, if it is in the drive, press "ENTER". You can also click on the circled arrow below the disk icon.

If in the future you want to reinstall Windows XP or MacOSX, you can boot the computer from a bootable CD / DVD using this menu at startup.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Windows XP on your Mac. If something did not work out, then try re-reading the instructions again or write in or on the Apple forum. If you succeed, then it's time to check out your favorite games!

The easiest and most affordable way to install Windows on a Mac is to use Boot Camp. Boot Camp is a special application from Apple for installing WindowsXP / Windows7 or 8 by dividing the hard drive into 2 partitions, one for each system. The transition from one system to another is possible only by restarting the computer.

In order to install Windows on your Mac, you will need:

1 MacBook Rro / MacBook Air / IMac with Mac OS installed;

2 USB media (flash drive (at least 4 Gb) or external hard drive) / DVD disk (transfer all information from USB media (flash drive or external hard drive), since in the future everything on the media will be deleted after formatting);

3 Disk with Windows 7 operating system or its ISO image (can be downloaded from the Internet);

4 This article and about an hour of free time.

Attention!!! If you are going to install Windows using a USB flash drive on a Mac late 2013 and newer (they use all USB 3.0 ports) you will need to use a USB 3.0 flash drive. Otherwise, when installing Windows, your USB ports and wireless keyboard will not be active.

Turn on your Mac and install the latest updates. To do this, click on the apple (left, top corner) and select "Software Update".

After you have installed all the updates, proceed to the next step, start Boot Camp. To do this, click on search (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner) and enter there "Boot Camp", among the found click on "Boot Camp Assistant".

In the opened window Boot Camp Assistant, read, information and click "Continue".

In the next window, you need to select the settings for installing Windows7, more precisely, how you will install.

The next step is to specify the amount of disk space for Windows 7, for this it is enough to move the slider and determine the size of the partition for the Windows operating system and click "Install".

After that, the computer / laptop will reboot and the Windows 7 installation process will begin at boot time (it is no different from installing on any other computer).

The only thing I would like to add is that when choosing a volume on which the operating system will be installed, be extremely careful not to delete the existing partitions. Just format the BOOTCAMP partition and start the Windows 7 installation.

After installing Windows 7, go to the USB drive, in it you will see the folder WindowSupport(it contains drivers for Windows), run the file setup.exe.

In the next window, read the License Agreement, accept it and click "Further".

After that, you will be prompted to additionally install Apple Software Update, you can leave a check mark and click "Install".

After that, the process of installing all the drivers will begin, it does not require your participation, just at the end a window will appear about the completion of the installation. Push the button "Complete".

Then there will be a window about the need to restart the computer, click "Yes".

After rebooting, you will have Windows7 completely ready to work.

Let me remind you that Mac OS, in this installation option, remained (your device has two systems Mac OS and Windows 7). By default, you will always boot Windows 7, but if you decide to boot under Mac OS, for this you need to restart your computer / laptop and hold down the button while loading "Alt"... After that, you will be asked under which operating system to boot your computer / laptop.

Then on Windows download your tutorial, open the archive and follow the instructions.

Many people who are used to working with Windows find it quite difficult to switch to a new operating system after purchasing a computer from Apple. In addition to non-standard controls and many functional differences, they are also not satisfied with the fact that the number of programs, games and various utilities developed for macOS is significantly less. For this reason, some users install Windows on Mac.

Is it possible to install Windows on Apple computers

As a rule, the question about the possibility of installing Windows on a Mac computer appears in the first few days after purchasing it. Few people are interested in this issue before buying. But the habits left over from the days of using Windows, and the tangible shortage of software, force us to think about the possibility of using a more familiar and familiar operating system.

Fortunately, there is such an opportunity. Owners of Apple computers can install almost any Windows operating system, and without the help of qualified specialists.

The Windows operating system does not replace the installed macOS; it is an additional independent program.

How to install Microsoft OS on Mac

Boot Camp is most commonly used to install Windows on Mac devices; virtualization software is used less frequently. But first you need to choose the appropriate version of the OS and upgrade macOS, if required. Many users do not attach much importance to the issue of choice, which creates additional difficulties for themselves both at the stage of installing an additional OS and after it.

For example, Windows 10 cannot be installed on Macs manufactured prior to 2012. This is due to higher system requirements and other features of the program. If you don't follow this rule, you will simply waste your time. Here's a list of Mac computers that support Windows 10:

• the entire MacBook Pro lineup since mid-2012, including 13 and 15-inch versions;
• Two 12-inch MacBooks sold in early 2015 and 2016
• All 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Airs introduced to the market after mid-2012
• Mac Pro released in late 2013
• Mac mini 2012 and 2014, including the Mac mini Server model introduced in late 2012;
• all iMacs since Late 2012.

Earlier versions of Windows can also be installed on Macs manufactured before 2012, but there are also some limitations. Here is a small list of operating systems supported by Apple devices, indicating the appropriate version of Boot Camp:

• Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate (Boot Camp 4 or 1)
• Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate Service Pack 1 or later (Boot Camp 3)
• Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or 3 (Boot Camp 3).

Before buying an operating system, make sure it is right for your computer.

Many users from Russia and post-Soviet countries prefer to download unlicensed operating systems instead of buying original bootable discs. This is a flagrant violation of copyright law.

What you need to install Windows on a Mac

In terms of installation requirements, all Windows OS releases can be divided into three categories:

1. Windows 7 and earlier.
2. Windows 8.
3. Windows 10.

Requirements for the first category:

The external storage device must support the FAT (MS-DOS) format for storing and transferring data.

Requirements for the second category (Windows 8):

• original image of the required OS version (flash drive, DVD or ISO image);
• Internet connection;
• at least 40 GB of free space;
• One of the Mac computers with the specifications that meet the system requirements of the eighth version of Windows;
• installed Mac OS X of a suitable version.

If all requirements are met, Boot Camp will automatically install additional software to adapt Windows 8 to the technical needs of your Mac.

To find out the version of your operating system, you need to go to the menu (the button with the Apple logo in the lower left corner of the keyboard) and select the "About this Mac" item.

The requirements for the third category are similar, except for one condition: the version of the OS used must be Mac OS X Yosemite or higher.

Installing with Boot Camp

Due to the differences between different Windows operating systems, we will describe the installation instructions for each category separately.

Windows 7 or earlier

To install Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 on an Apple computer, you need to:

1. Connect the external storage device and do not remove it until the installation is complete.
2. Create a virtual image of the boot disk. To do this, you can use programs such as Daemon Tools or Nero Burning Rom. The image is required to work with Boot Camp.

   You can create a Windows boot disk image using Nero Express

3. Start Boot Camp. It can be found in the Utilities folder. If you cannot find the folder you are looking for, use the search.
4. The installer will appear, where you need to check the box next to "Create a Windows 7 installation disk". After that we press the "Continue" button.

   In the window that appears, put a checkmark in front of the item "Create an installation disk for Windows 7"

5. We insert the disk with the new OS or mount the image into the virtual disk drive and click "Continue" again.
6. After a few seconds, a message will appear stating that it is possible to download the corresponding software from the official Apple website. We confirm the action. Boot Camp will automatically download the required software. If this does not happen, you need to download the archive with the drivers yourself, choosing the model of the Mac computer and the version of Windows on the official website.

   Confirming to download the latest Windows support software from Apple website

7. After downloading additional software, you need to unpack it on an external storage device (USB-stick). The system will offer to copy files with replacement, confirm this action.
8. Once again, go to Boot Camp and select the "Install Windows" item.
9. The program will offer to divide the memory allocated for the additional OS into disks, after which it will reboot and begin the installation.

   Set the required virtual disk size for Windows

Further actions should be performed based on the prompts of the installer program.

Video: installing Windows 7 on Mac as a second OS

Windows 8

Installing Windows 8 is easier and faster than earlier versions of operating systems:

Boot Camp will automatically install the required software and drivers. No external USB storage required. This also applies to the latest release from Microsoft - Windows 10. You just need to put a bootable disk or USB flash drive, run Boot Camp Assistant, share the disk space and follow the instructions.

Video: How to Install Windows 8 on Mac as a Second OS via BootCamp

Features of installing Windows using a USB flash drive

In fact, the process of installing an additional OS using a flash drive is the same as in the case of a DVD, the only difference is that you need to prepare a USB drive in advance so that it turns into a bootable one. If you just write the image to a USB drive, nothing will work, you need an additional program called UltraISO or the like.

In order to install Windows from a USB flash drive, you need to make it bootable

This program is shareware - there is a test period, which is quite enough to install Windows from a USB flash drive. Here's a quick guide to preparing a USB drive for installing an OS from Microsoft:

You can buy an operating system already on a USB stick. In this case, no further action is required.

Using the instructions above, you can install Windows as an additional and, importantly, a stand-alone program. Before each start of the computer, you will have a choice of which of the installed operating systems to use.

Windows OS virtualization on Mac

In addition to installing via Boot Camp, there is another method for using Windows on Apple computers - virtualization. It differs in that the operating system from Microsoft is installed and used as an application running directly in macOS. In this case, it looks more like a regular program that opens in a small window than a full-fledged operating system.

When installed in virtualization mode, Windows looks more like a regular application

At the moment, the most popular virtualization programs are:

• Oracle VM VirtualBox, distributed free of charge;
• Parallels Desktop, which costs 3,990 rubles;
• VMware Fusion with a price tag of 5,153 rubles.

The difference in cost is dictated solely by the pricing policy of the developer companies, since all programs work equally well. The only difference between free virtualization software and its paid counterparts is that it cannot be used with Boot Camp.

The installation of software for virtualization is almost identical, therefore, as an example, consider the installation of only one of them - Parallels Desktop:

When you start the program, a window with Windows will open in front of you, which can be maximized to full-screen mode.

Video: How to Install Windows XP on VirtualBox

Combined use of Boot Camp and virtualization

Some users have gone even further by developing a mechanism to combine the capabilities of Boot Camp and virtualization. Thus, they solved the problem of excessive consumption of computer resources when two operating systems were running at the same time.

To achieve the correct operation of the above circuit, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Install Windows on your computer using Boot Camp.
2. Install one of the virtualization software (except Oracle VM VirtualBox).
3. When creating a new virtual machine, check the box next to "Use Windows via Boot Camp".

Pros and cons of using Boot Camp and virtualization

Boot Camp was created by Apple developers with the goal of providing users with the ability to change operating systems at will. Moreover, databases have been created in the form of drivers and additional software designed to simplify the process of adapting Windows to Apple's computing equipment as much as possible. It is for this reason that Boot Camp is so popular among MacBook owners of various modifications.

Benefits of using Boot Camp:

As for the drawbacks, it is only one: not all versions of Windows are supported by Mac computers.

If we talk about the advantages of virtualizing Windows on Mac, then we can highlight the following points:

• the ability to use Windows without leaving macOS;
• fast work with documents and programs.

Disadvantages of virtualization:

• two operating systems running at the same time consume much more system resources;
• some programs in Windows may not work correctly. The situation is similar with the screen resolution settings.

Utilities such as Boot Camp and virtualization programs enable users to run familiar Windows operating systems while using high-performance, high-quality Mac computers. This is a great example of how two once warring giant IT corporations are moving towards each other for the interests of their clients.