[Huntn]

I'm doing some research for a possible article and since Bootcamp would be mentioned and I've never done the Bootcamp thing, can anyone tell me just how hard is it to setup? Is it seamless? Do the drivers work? Any gotchas? My understanding is that most games run on it. If this specific topic has been discussed before here at IMG, my apologies in advance. A link in that case.
Thanks!

[Lord Brixton]

Huntn, on July 9th 2007, 12:06 PM, said:

I'm doing some research for a possible article and since Bootcamp would be mentioned and I've never done the Bootcamp thing, can anyone tell me just how hard is it to setup? Is it seamless? Do the drivers work? Any gotchas? My understanding is that most games run on it. If this specific topic has been discussed before here at IMG, my apologies in advance. A link in that case.
Thanks!

BootCamp is so easy to set up, even I did it.

One tiny gotcha, a small minority of users experience problems with their audio drivers (see related thread) that can in some extreme cases necessitate a complete Windows reinstall.

Otherwise, if you have the hardware & a legal copy of Windows, you're pretty much obliged to give it a go!

[Huntn]

Lord Brixton, on July 9th 2007, 07:58 AM, said:

Otherwise, if you have the hardware & a legal copy of Windows, you're pretty much obliged to give it a go!

Thanks Sir Brixton! I'll be giving it a go sometime in the Fall.

[Dark_Archon]

My main issue is that Apple doesn't supply 64 bit drivers, but other than that stuff works.

[Drizzt]

Yep, if you pretty much skim over the manual that comes with it, I think it does a good job of laying out the process and covering any surprises you might encounter. Overall, the install process was as simple and straightforward as possible IMHO.

[Sargiel]

Just wanted to add that I found it easy as pie.

You run the bootcamp assistant which takes you through burning the drivers CD & repartitioning your HDD. After that you restart and begin a windows install (make sure you have a legit copy) which is identical to installing windows on a dedicated PC .. and then install the bootcamp drivers once you've got windows setup and configured. All done!

[Blackshawk]

So long as you print off the instructions before starting like you're told then its just a matter of pointing and clicking and waiting.

[AussieMacGamer]

We wont need to re-do our install and partition come leopard will we?
will it

[Hansi]

AMG, on July 11th 2007, 12:22 AM, said:

We wont need to re-do our install and partition come leopard will we?
will it

Can't see why you should, only thing would be to install Leopard on the OSX partion via Archive & Install and then make a new BootCamp driver CD to update the drivers on the Windows side.

[AussieMacGamer]

We wont need to re-do our install and partition come leopard will we?
will it just update our drivers and Mac OS X and, leave our partition alone?

[Huntn]

Thanks all for the help. I assume Windows will want to do the authentication thing just like a PC.

[Lemon Lime]

Blackshawk, on July 10th 2007, 02:16 PM, said:

So long as you print off the instructions before starting like you're told then its just a matter of pointing and clicking and waiting.

you don't even need the instructions, just remember to pick drive "C".

[Blackshawk]

No, its best to print the instructions. If you get stuck – well, you don't exactly have a computer in front of you to check with.

[Sargiel]

Luckily for me I could borrow an ibook in case I needed the instructions. I agree with Blackshawk etc that it's worth having for peace of mind so definitely print if you don't have another machine to hand.

Huntn: Yes it will authenticate just as if you didn't have a nice Apple computer My only grievance with windows is there's no easy/cheaper way to install on multiple computers in your house. I would have chipped in a few extra £'s when buying Vista to upgrade my brother's PC at the same time .. but not double the price

[Ranger_Joe]

From what I've read, I believe that one can install the software on a partition of your main hard drive, or to a second internal drive (if you have a Mac Pro, I guess). Is it possible to install and run this on an external hard drive connected via firewire?

[Janichsan]

Ranger_Joe, on November 13th 2007, 05:57 PM, said:

Is it possible to install and run this on an external hard drive connected via firewire?

Definitely no. Windows cannot boot from a Firewire drive. With some serious (and rather complicated) hacking it's possible to make Windows bootable from an external USB drive, though.

[QuantaCat]

Personally, I had to format my MBPs 90Gb drive. Which wasn't too much of a problem, as I have an 500Gb external Firewire 800 drive, but it wouldn't let me partition otherwise. But being "forced" to backup can be a good thing sometimes. :D

[Huntn]

I like the idea of keeping the Windows partition small on your MBP hard drive and lugging a portable drive for adding Windows games to your active menu.

[Janichsan]

Huntn, on November 14th 2007, 12:21 AM, said:

I like the idea of keeping the Windows partition small on your MBP hard drive and lugging a portable drive for adding Windows games to your active menu.

I liked that idea, too, until I noticed that Windows seems to distribute the letters for external drives randomly and sometimes calls my Windows game drive "E:", sometimes "F:" and sometimes even "G:" - depending on what letters it assigns to my other, for Windows unreadable Mac partitions. And this of course completely breaks all shortcuts - including those in the start menu - and sometimes even fixed paths in the games' .ini files.

And re-assigning those drive letters in Windows is simply a pain in the ass.

[QuantaCat]

Theres a fix for that, if you have a fast External HD. Just keep copying the game content folders around depending on what you want to play. Which probably isn't what you want to do.. but yeah.