Mac & Boot Camp / resolved

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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:25 pm

does someone here remember how to use the bata version of Boot Camp?

I bought a new internel HD for my Mac and the standad HD tool doesn't format partitions to windoz.

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:29 pm

I am guessing you have a Mac built on intel architecture. If so, why not google Windows boot disks download one. Than boot your Mac off floppy and format & partition the drive to Fat32 that way?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:36 pm

The Beta version of Bootcamp doesn't work any more - you can use it if it's already installed but you can't set it up on a new drive. You need Leopard, which includes BootCamp.

At least, I think that's what you were asking. Sorry if I've missed the point Embarassed

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:45 pm

oh yeah Miss, BootCamp beta told it expired

but BootCamp is rather stupid and didn't notice when I turned my internal clock back to 2006 Smile

problem is I have no clue what to do next
my momentary internal HD already has a fat partition, and I dont want to start swapping the new one in till I know which steps to take then.

@ CrimsonSapien
I'm not sure that Mac will let me re-format a FAT32 partition to MaxOS

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:05 pm

Open BootCampAssistant.pkg and install BootCamp Assistant. It should install here: Applications --> Utilities --> Boot Camp Assistant. This will walk you through the setup (make sure you have a spare blank CD for the drivers disc.
Seriously though, I'd upgrade to Leopard, it's well worth it or if you really don't want to then download VMWare Fusion. http://www.vmware.com/ You can run windows under virtualisation just as fast as under BootCamp, you can set your clock to the proper time again and you won't have to restart every time you want to want to switch OS's.
And no you can't reformat the partition to fat32 using Disk Utility although there probably are some 3rd party apps that will let you do this

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:07 pm

*sneaks into enemy territory*

Doesn't Mac pride itself on being different from Windows? Why do they feel they need to market their overpriced stuff by offering windows a as choice when you can get the same hardware for a cheaper price with Windows?

*sneaks out*

Western Union · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:31 pm

If you can't answer Agi's question then take it elsewhere, this is not a mac vs PC debate.

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:36 pm

If the problem is partitioning the HD to the right filesystem, you could download the gparted live cd (it's Free) and boot into that, then use the GParted Partitioning tool to format it. It should be able to format as FAT32 no problem, I don't know about NTFS though.

@Ex: That's not useful. This is a request for help, not a request for snidey remarks. Edit - beaten by Mr F.

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:44 pm

I'd be really careful about re-partitioning a hard drive without backing up and if you do that you may as well just back up and re-format the drive from scratch. Thats the other benefit of virtualistation, the creation of disc images with virtually any format you want and it doesn't need the re-partitioning of the whole drive.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:09 pm

I'd second Rodus' earlier comments re Leopard & VMWare Fusion. I replaced my trusty old G4 with a nice new iMac a few weeks ago - came preinstalled with Leopard. Seems much smoother than Tiger. Tried installing XP via boot camp - worked ok, but eventually decided to go the VMWare route for the ability to run both OS's at the same time & drag & drop files from one to the other. After using the trial version for about a week, I bought the full version earlier today.

As far as I'm aware, bootcamp only works with XP SP2 or Vista. Fusion allows earlier versions to be installed - I've had Win2000 & XP SP1 running on this.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:08 pm

^^You're spot on there mate, XP sp2 or vista are the only ones that will work with bootcamp, and some linux distros will work too.
With Fusion you can run pretty much anything, windows, linux (I've tried 5 different distros that all work) even OS/2 and BeOS will run. A word of advice though, don't buy parallels. It really isn't as good and is much buggier and less user friendly the Fusion.
@iMike, you think Leopard runs smooth at the moment mate wait until the .5.2 update is released in a few weeks, heavily recompiled for Intel processors so we should be seeing a pretty impressive speed boost. Very Happy

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:58 pm

I have a 6 yo powerbook running osx.4.9. It works fine, but I want to update to the new OS when I get a Macbookpro.

Just out of curiosity, and not to spark a debate, etc, why does anyone really need Windows?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:10 pm

My work uses a database based on Microsoft Access which you can't get on the Mac (Filemaker has the market sewn up there) thats my need. Otherwise there is nothing else I really need Windows for. Games-wise there are an awful lot of Mac ports these days and if I really feel the urge to become a fanatical gamer then I'll get a console. All major web browsers, office software, image manipulation software etc you can get on the mac so contrary to what *some* people would have yo believe there is all the software you need bar the very odd niche thing. OK so there is occasionally a couple of months delay on the release after windows, but that generally means less buggy software.
Basically Doc, no one 'needs' windows, oh and hang on to that Powerbook, I'm still using my PB G4 and it's the nicest laptop I've ever owned and runs Leopard brilliantly.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:31 pm

@doc - basically, the only things I've got installed on Windows at present are:

1) sync software for a mobile phone/pda. isync will backup contacts/photo's with my old mobile, but the pda phone gets picked up as a Windows mobile device & I've not found any way other than to use the bundled software which came with it.

2) BBC's iplayer - I can watch/listen to programmes streaming in a browser window, but it's 'nicer' to download the programme once & watch it as & when I want to. Bad marks for the beeb there!

3) my very old copy of photoshop (think it was version 6) refuses to work with the new system. I found an old (Windows only) copy of Photoshop Elements which I'm using at present. I already downloaded GIMP but not quite got to grips with it yet.

4) mapping software for a GPS unit.

Now that I've got this up & running, I was considering dumping the old PC entirely, but somewhere up in the loft I've got a whole bunch of flight simulator software which I used to have a lot of fun with, so I might just put that back together again Very Happy

@Rodus - I'm drooling already! OS/2 - dear god, I threw out a box of installation disks for that about a year ago. Never could get it to work.

edit: Also got an old G3 Powerbook which I did get running with OS 9 & OS 10.3 but it's not well at present. The power connector at the back of the machine's just flopping about - think the internal connection's bu**ered. I've been looking at soldering in a new connector, but I can't get the case apart. Uses torx screws & I can't find a tool small enough (!)

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:39 pm

^^Ah, the old sync problem. I had this with my new HTC and found this:
The Missing Sync
I liked it so much I actually paid for it. It'll sync iCal with your PDA calendar, iTunes playlists with Windows Media Player playlists and much, much more. IMO it beats Active Sync by miles. BBC iPlayer is coming out for the mac soon apparently.
Is that one of the G3 pismo powerbooks? They were one of the best Apple made and certainly worth repairing. Newer Tech made a G4 550 upgrade for the pismo and if you can track one down it'll keep you running for a few years yet with the added bonus of still being able to run classic (which I must admit I still love).

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:18 pm

Oh, okay! So, Rodus, how much memory does you G4 have on it? Mine has 512 megs and a weensy 80 gig hard drive... D'ya think that might work?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:20 pm

I've maxed out the RAM, 1.25 GB, I too have an 80 gig HD. Remember that Leopard won't officially install on anything less then a G4 867 Mhz and 512 megs is the minimum for RAM. It will run but I'd upgrade to a gig. I'm running 2 gigs on my Intel iMac and it's very fast indeed. If you are running a slower processor you can hack the Leopard installer to run. It's very easy and here's how to do it.
http://lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/openfirmware.html

I'm not saying don't get a Macbook Doc, i'm just saying hang onto your PB as well. It's an excellent second/backup machine and can boot into classic which the intel macs can't unless you use sheep shaver, which is pretty crap.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:13 pm

dr stephen williams wrote:

Just out of curiosity, and not to spark a debate, etc, why does anyone really need Windows?

There are some programs that don't run on a mac
like SolidWorks & AutoCad.
Also I have a few programs which I'd rather not run on a system which is connected to the interwebs, if you catch my drift Wink

its not really a matter of need but of "I wanna have Crying or Very sad

"

@iMike how much is VMWare? was there a problem getting rid of the Doz partition?

@Rodus: I have made a backup, problem is that the Mac HDD tool won't let me format a partition to FAT32

@Ex: I get the impression that the only thing you dislike about Mac is that you can't afford one.
If it makes you feel better*: I have no problem admitting that I'm too snobbish to get a normal Doz-PC
[edit: on the other hand I'm not too snobbish to use public transport, coz I don't own a car - go figure]
* and having prejudice confirmed usually does make people feel better

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:26 pm

@Rodus - Missing Sync looks interesting, might give that a try. I think it is a Pismo. No idea what the specs are though.

@Agi - quoted price for the VMWare is $79.99 which worked out around �40. If by dos partition you mean the one created by bootcamp, no, there was no problem. I used the bootcamp utility to get rid of it. I'm no techie, but I think the VMWare doesn't use a separate partition (though you can pick up the bootcamp partition with it).

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:42 pm

Agi, you can just have your whole HD as standard Mac format, no need to partition with Fusion. It simply allocates a new folder as your virtual hard drive and formats it for you. It will do this with any OS you use through it, Windoze, Linux etc and you can choose the size. If you only use a few apps then just set 10 gig or so.
@iMike: Pismo Specs
Pismo Upgrades

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:12 am

well, I just about managed to get the fu king thing partitioned and now formatted

install new HD internally
install OSX from CD
set time to 2006
install bootcamp from stick
partition HD
install old HD internally
start windos, farmat partition on new HD in external case
start Mac from old HD
coppy all Dos files to new patition <- I'll see if that works Can't find my XPsp2 CD

it did not help that I can't start windoz from a usb device
or that the old HD needs too much power to work in the external case without that special cable I can't find either

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:15 am

@ Agi

Not being a Mac person this may not be a lot of help to you. However it may be of help to some reader. Your basic problem appears to me to be formatting to a combination of NTFS and Fat32.
If that is the case, this method works well.
You need access to a Win XP machine, preferably with SP2 loaded. Disconnect the CD/DVD, and install the HDD in question as a secondary master.
Go to Control Panel, administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk Management. This will show your new HDD as Disk 1 and a summary of what partitions are on it, and size and format of partitions,
Right click to select Delete Partion(s). Then right click again to create new partitions. You can select partition size, whether primary or extended, choose format. This way you can create two partitions of the required size and choose one to be NTFS and the other FAT32.
It is best to deselect a drive figure. It will put a default drive letter of "New Volume" on each partition.
When formatted. remove disk and take it to original machine to load OS.

Hope that helps

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:29 am

Now got Missing Sync up & running. Couldn't figure out at first why my contacts wouldn't transfer to Address Book. Spent ages fiddling with settings on the programme & on the pda. No luck. Finally realised it was because the contacts were stored on the SIM card, not the phone. Embarassed

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:43 am

@Imike, yup, I had that problem too to start with,
@Agi, the external hard drive probably won't run from USB/Firewire alone unless it's specially designed to. You'll probably need a power cable for it.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:14 pm

<strike>well looks like I'll have to find my XP installation CD
or is there a way to make a complete bootable clone of a Windoz system? without the installation CD?</strike>

[edit: this is the genuine article: http://www.xxclone.com/ ]

@Rodus the only drive that doesn't work without the extra power connection is the 120GB WesternDigital with a power consumption of 0.55A, which is bloody stupid because it works fine with a 60GB (1.0A) Toshiba drive and a 250GB (0.85A) Samsung.

I'm going to sell the 120GB drive and keep an emergency system on the 60GB in the external case, got no intention of mucking about with the extra cable.

@Afferbecklauder
the disk is 2 partitions, one FAT32 and one Mac OS Extended.
NTFS is read only for Mac.

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