View Full Version : Running Pastel on Mac (or, how to set up Boot Camp)
Claymore
05-09-2006, 08:53 PM
OK, a customer has asked me to set up Windows XP on their newly-purchased Mac laptop. I don't even know where to start - any tips?
The primary reason they need it is to run Pastel on the Mac; is there any other solution other than running XP and Boot Camp?
bwana
05-09-2006, 09:41 PM
OK, a customer has asked me to set up Windows XP on their newly-purchased Mac laptop. I don't even know where to start - any tips?
The primary reason they need it is to run Pastel on the Mac; is there any other solution other than running XP and Boot Camp?You could try Parallels - http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/mac/ - It runs a virtual windows XP machine within OsX so you dont need to reboot.
Crossover (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/) is another possibility but it's still in beta.
BobJones
06-09-2006, 06:04 AM
Both Quickbooks and MYOB have mac versions. If your client is not locked into Pastel why doesn't s/he check those out.
From what I've seen, accountants have very low standards when it comes to software... most of the accounting software I've seen is unmitigated crap.:D
Claymore
06-09-2006, 09:57 AM
They're locked into Pastel, so something else isn't an option. Parallels looks a bit expensive - Windows would be only marginally more expensive.
Anyone have a guide as to how to set up Boot Camp and Windows?
BobJones
06-09-2006, 09:59 AM
Erm, I know this sounds strange to a PC user, but all you have to do is download the latest boot camp and follow the instructions.
Apple installs are really that easy.
bwana
06-09-2006, 10:08 AM
They're locked into Pastel, so something else isn't an option. Parallels looks a bit expensive - Windows would be only marginally more expensive.
Anyone have a guide as to how to set up Boot Camp and Windows?$50 too expensive for saving all the time and effort? You'll need a licensed copy of windows either way.
LandyMan
06-09-2006, 10:44 AM
I would go for parallels (as I am using it) - $80 (special is over bwana :D) is really not that bad, and like bwana said, you will need a copy of Windows either way.
Nice thing about parallels is that it is a VM (you don't need to reboot like with bootcamp). So effectively you will be running two OS's at the same time, and not the one or the other.
Download the trial from parallels, it really is worth it
Oh, and I am not impressed with Crossover Beta at all, so rather give that a skip for now
BobJones
06-09-2006, 10:55 AM
Ok,
You will need:
1 copy windows xp sp2 (single CD) (home or pro)
1 blank CD
1 MacBook Pro
1 BootCamp Beta download
You need to prep the mac first:
Make sure that there is only the main partition on the internal drive.
Update the software including the firmware to the the latest versions.
Back-up everything (optional depending on your risk tolerance):D
Mount the BootCamp disk image.
Print the install guide.
Install BootCamp.
Run BootCamp from the Applications/Utilities folder
BootCamp will interactively create the windoze partition and burn the windows driver disk, then prompt you to begin the windows install.
Windows will install and after reboot make sure that you install the drivers from the disk you burnt earlier before you start mucking around. If you don't then you'll crash on things like accessing the isight. Make sure to only create passworded multiple user accounts and join domains after you have setup the drivers, or you could find yourself locked out of the computer in windows.
Once you are done, select your default boot system and off you go.
BobJones
06-09-2006, 10:59 AM
I would go for parallels (as I am using it) - $80 (special is over bwana :D) is really not that bad, and like bwana said, you will need a copy of Windows either way.
$80 is the normal price... the special was $50... I think you can probably find a discount coupon somewhere.
I see parallels is on the ZAstore for R680, but it looks like special order.
bwana
06-09-2006, 11:11 AM
Ok,
You will need:
1 copy windows xp sp2 (single CD) (home or pro)
1 blank CD
1 MacBook Pro
1 BootCamp Beta download
You need to prep the mac first:
Make sure that there is only the main partition on the internal drive.
Update the software including the firmware to the the latest versions.
Back-up everything (optional depending on your risk tolerance):D
Mount the BootCamp disk image.
Print the install guide.
Install BootCamp.
Run BootCamp from the Applications/Utilities folder
BootCamp will interactively create the windoze partition and burn the windows driver disk, then prompt you to begin the windows install.
Windows will install and after reboot make sure that you install the drivers from the disk you burnt earlier before you start mucking around. If you don't then you'll crash on things like accessing the isight. Make sure to only create passworded multiple user accounts and join domains after you have setup the drivers, or you could find yourself locked out of the computer in windows.
Once you are done, select your default boot system and off you go.Personally I'd install windoze on a external hdd rather than on a partition - thats what firewire is good at after all :).
BobJones
06-09-2006, 02:07 PM
Personally I'd install windoze on a external hdd rather than on a partition - thats what firewire is good at after all :).
Apparently that can't be done.:(
It's exactly what I wanted to do, but it looks like the firewire support can't be loaded early enough during the boot sequence, and they also apparently get unloaded from memory during booting as well.
It is possible to slipstream a windows disc to boot from an external USB HDD. Thats how I've got my system setup. But since its a bit of a crack, you still need to create a windows partition on your internal drive. (Some people report that they have managed to get passed this, but it didn't work for me.:confused: )
BobJones
06-09-2006, 02:15 PM
I managed to find the main reference to how create a windoze install cd that will boot from external USB HDD (http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176). Start your research here and read as much as you can.
Google for "slipstreaming" and you will find a lot of other tips.
I cobbled together a process from this and some other comments and it worked for me... I shoulda written it all down, but I didn't:(
Strangely enough I could build the install disk using my centrino, but the installer would only run on the mac and not when the HDD was attached to the Centrino.
bwana
06-09-2006, 02:15 PM
Apparently that can't be done.:(
It's exactly what I wanted to do, but it looks like the firewire support can't be loaded early enough during the boot sequence, and they also apparently get unloaded from memory during booting as well.
It is possible to slipstream a windows disc to boot from an external USB HDD. Thats how I've got my system setup. But since its a bit of a crack, you still need to create a windows partition on your internal drive. (Some people report that they have managed to get passed this, but it didn't work for me.:confused: )You might be able to get some info here - http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=191777 - especially from 11 down.
BobJones
06-09-2006, 02:23 PM
kewl... you found one of the threads I read!
bwana
06-09-2006, 02:33 PM
kewl... you found one of the threads I read!Sorry if it wasnt helpful.
BobJones
06-09-2006, 03:47 PM
Sorry if it wasnt helpful.
Yep u were... know how you find something useful, then don't bookmark it and it doesn't matter what you do but you can't find it again?
Claymore
06-09-2006, 10:23 PM
Thanks for the help, guys. Got XP installed using Boot Camp, seems to be working fine, except that holding down Option doesn't give a choice of boot drive - it has to be selected under each OS when you want to restart. Wow, it's incredibly annoying using Windows with a single mouse button - lucky I had a spare USB mouse lying around.
bwana
06-09-2006, 11:18 PM
Yep u were... know how you find something useful, then don't bookmark it and it doesn't matter what you do but you can't find it again?My problem is when I do bookmark it and still cant seem to find it :)
BobJones
07-09-2006, 03:26 AM
Thanks for the help, guys. Got XP installed using Boot Camp, seems to be working fine, except that holding down Option doesn't give a choice of boot drive - it has to be selected under each OS when you want to restart. Wow, it's incredibly annoying using Windows with a single mouse button - lucky I had a spare USB mouse lying around.
That sounds screwy... I've never had a problem, unless I take a couple of seconds too long to press and hold option at startup.
I make sure that I've got OS X selected as the default startup in the startup manager in OS X and in Windows. Then when you restart, make sure that you hold down option from the very beginning of the boot cycle. The mac boots really quickly so make sure you get in there early;) .
You can release option once you see the startup manager.
There are a few other boot key combinations (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303124) you may want to try.
Claymore
07-09-2006, 07:05 AM
That sounds screwy... I've never had a problem, unless I take a couple of seconds too long to press and hold option at startup.
My mistake, I was holding down the key with the apple and clover on it, not the Alt key. (Why call the "Option" key "Alt"?)