Using Windows on a Mac

[Wise Young]

I finally bit the bullet and installed Windows XP on my Mac. I have an Intel Mac Powerbook (2 Gb RAM, 180 Gb HD, 2.5 GHz dual core, 17 inch screen). I had Parallels installed in the machine at the time of purchase and bought Windows XP Professional version 2002. It took about 30 minutes to install the operating system, another half hour to configure it, and have spent the last two hours using it to surf the web and installing various software (including Firefox and an anti-virus program).

Some first impression:
1. Speed. It is not fast. For example, Firefox is faster on the Mac. This is of course due to the fact that this is a translation program. However, it is fast enough once you get use to the short pauses between pressing a button and getting a response.
2. Reliability. It has been remarkably stable. No crashes, no apparent bugs, and no problems. I changed the screen resolution, the default window size, the default font sizes, and operated it both in the window and full-screen mode.
3. Disk Space. The system takes up 8 Gb of my hard disk and I can put documents into a shared folder that can be accessed by both my Mac and Windows. This is the main way of sharing between the two operating systems. Parallels has an automatic compressor that continually operates in the background to maximize the file storage in that space. The operating system takes 256 Mb of RAM.

So far, everything seems to be working fine. Amazing. I am impressed. I will report more when I try more programs.

Wise.

[john smith]

Wise;

I am very interested hearing more from you and others using Parallels. Noah is going to Law School in the fall. Most schools recommend a PC and he is very partial to Macs. He will need a computer upgrade before school starts and I'm sure he would like to stay with a Mac, if at all possible. Parallels my be the answer.

John

[Zeus]

I will be installing Windows on my MacBook soonish, although I'll probably need more RAM (only 1GB here). Wise, I just thought I'd point out the likely reason you are seeing a 'speed-hit'. Parallels is a virtualisation technology, as opposed to emulation, so there isn't a real performance drop as such. However, since the Mac OS X has to keep running Parallels only runs on one core of your microprocessor - thus Windows XP has half the processing power it could possibly have under BootCamp when running under Parallels. However, Parallels makes it easier to share documents between Mac OS X & Windows, and that coherence mode looks delightful. :)

Chris.

[Wise Young]

Wise;

I am very interested hearing more from you and others using Parallels. Noah is going to Law School in the fall. Most schools recommend a PC and he is very partial to Macs. He will need a computer upgrade before school starts and I'm sure he would like to stay with a Mac, if at all possible. Parallels my be the answer.

John

I was initially reluctant to install Windows, because I did not want to clutter my brain with a second operating system. However, to my surprise, it is not so bad. Enough things are similar so that I can operate the programs. However, it is sufficiently different that I don't get fooled. It is actually not bad at all.

It seems to play music and videos with no trouble. The fact that it takes up only 256 Mb of RAM (and I have 2 Gb) means that I just leave it on with no toll at all on my Mac use. This makes switching back and forth really easy. I am considering whether or not to invest in another set of Microsoft Windows programs. I think that install the student package which is reasonably low cost and Noah can do so as well.

I am not sure that there are any programs that is available only on Windows that I must have. However, I have many programs that is only Mac and cannot run on Windows: Statview, Writeroom, Journier, and of course iTunes and iPhoto. I recently found an incredible program that is only Mac: Tinderbox. I am thinking of using this program to store and organize all my posts on CareCure and directly porting it to a web site. It is not available on Windows.

So, I am strictly a diletante in Window. However, I want to learn how to use operating system and also be able to see what people on Windows see on Powerpoint and Internet. The fonts and displays are quite different. Powerpoint presentations are particularly problematical. Finally, I think that the Chinese programs are much better in Windows that in Mac.

Wise.

[Foolish Old]

I believe Itunes runs in Windows. There is also a freeware MS Office suite clone (http://www.openoffice.org/) that knowledgeable people have reviewed favorably.

[Mike Honcho]

Yes, I run iTunes on Windows easily.

I was hesitant to throw Vista on my TabletPC with all of my school stuff, so I'm running Vista on a Virtual PC within my XP Tablet edition (like XP Pro). I'll switch over to Vista and Office 2007 when the semester is over, but it's fun to play with for now. Vista is a wonderful upgrade from XP.

[JustinB]

The speed hit is likely from only assigning 256MB Ram to the virtual machine.
Try it at 512 and see if there is a noticable difference. If not, drop back to 256, no harm done.

-- JB

[CapnGimp]

I was initially reluctant to install Windows, because I did not want to clutter my brain with a second operating system. However, to my surprise, it is not so bad. Enough things are similar so that I can operate the programs. However, it is sufficiently different that I don't get fooled. It is actually not bad at all.

Wise.

just wait... after it starts crashing, randomly 'loosing' critical system files, spyware. virii, hangs or crashes programs at inopportune moments, etc., etc., you will understand WHY you never used it b4.

Patience grasshopper....
:D

[Saorsa]

I've been running XP on my iMac for 9 months and have yet to have a serious problem, except for a bad keyboard driver, which I simply disabled. I run XP on a 170Gb partition, too large for seamless file swapping, but have never suffered any memory problems or crashes other than those that were my fault.

You'll definitely want to install the free Anti-virus and Anti-spyware programs available online. I use AGP Free Edition and Windows Defender. Also, if you haven't yet, look over the built in security options in XP. There may be many "features" you'll want to turn off.

Glad to hear it is working well for you :)

[bob clark]

just wait... after it starts crashing, randomly 'loosing' critical system files, spyware. virii, hangs or crashes programs at inopportune moments, etc., etc., you will understand WHY you never used it b4.

Patience grasshopper....
:D

Not so quick Master Po as I snag the pebble from your hand. Just because you have these problems with your old, slow and outdated laptop doesn't mean the rest of do with our PCs.

I know that you're partial to certain releases of Linux but a lot of stuff that's standard fare on Mac and PC operating systems don't always correlate with Linux. You need to be a computer wizard of sorts to get a Linux distro to operate properly and many people don't have the time or knowledge on how to install (hell, even find) third party programs that emulate Mac and PC programs. Or are willing to roll the dice with their important files on much of that freebie stuff... as well meaning and hardworking as the writers of it are.

Since we've been flying "Lock On: Modern Air Combat" together have you been able to find a program that will let us fly it in Linux? I don't think it's possible.... just like other popular programs that haven't been written for a particular OS aren't.

I'm all for free OS' like Linux and the proggys written for it but it's for those who are have or are willing to take the time to tweak the hell outta their computer (OS) trying to get a freebie.

We all know why Macs are less susceptible to viruses etc. and that's because they only populate 10 or so percent of the online community and the malware script writers are going after the biggest bang for their buck audience. They just don't target Macs very much. If Mac OS' held the "revered" position of Windows (XP etc.) it would be the same consequences but in reverse.

Man, that was one nasty tunnelling pressure sore you finally had taken care of Capn. Why in the hell you let it go for so long I'll never figure out. I couldn't do anything knowing that I had something that nasty burrowing into my buttock until I got it healed (or on my feet etc.) .... and still be sitting on it! You be a crazy dude. Being a Vegan isn't the be all and end all of good health. Now excuse me while I spark up a cigarette and crack open a Samuel Adams. I'd eat a hot dog too but I don't snack while I drink.

It's nice to hear that you're expanding your horizons Wise. Like you don't already have enough on your plate! And that you've hooked yourself up with an anti-virus program so fast. You shouldn't be online for even a second before installing that. And a good firewall is a necessity. Best of luck with your eXPerience.

Bob.

[Wise Young]

just wait... after it starts crashing, randomly 'loosing' critical system files, spyware. virii, hangs or crashes programs at inopportune moments, etc., etc., you will understand WHY you never used it b4.

Patience grasshopper....
:D

I installed the latest version of Parallels which has Coherence. Windows XP works almost completely seamlessly with the Mac OS X. It is nothing short o amazing. When I am in Windows XP, the only way that I can tell is the top menu bar says Parallels Desktop and there is a bottom windows bar. I can use the full screen of the computer for Windows programs. When I am in the Mac OSX, the Parallels Menu bar on top and bottom blue bar disappears and I am back in the Mac. Best of all, I can easily copy and paste between the two systems. The program is incredibly stable. I have had two or three programs open simultaneously from both operating system for the last 12 hours, copying and pasting between them, and neither has crashed or given me trouble yet. The only difference is that their files do not intermingle and the windows and mac programs do not talk to each other.

Something did give me a lot of trouble until I disabled it. Parallells came with an anti-virus software called Kaspersky Internet Security. I installed it and everything ground to a halt. I was getting messages every few minutes telling me that I did not have enough virtual memory (by the way, the disk partition is set at 8 Gb and I set aside 512 Mb of RAM for Parallels). Virtual memory was set at 2.5 Gb. Everything froze up and moved at glacial speeds. I finally managed to de-install Kaspersky and everything has speeded up again and I no longer have the virtual memory is too low messages. I installed McAffee's Security Center and it seems to be working well. I do not recommend Kaspersky Internet Security, at least not running Parallels on an Intel Mac.

Wise.

[adi chicago]

i had the same problems regarding kaspersky security center ,i use now NOD 32 ,everything works ok.

[alan]

I even read that eComStation (OS/2) can work on an Intel Mac. If I knew what I was doing, I'd think about trying it someday if there's a way to install my current eCS setup (including data partitions) to it, rather than starting from scratch (too many old apps I use that there's no way I could ever install again, even Dos and Win 3.11 apps.)

[Patonb]

I even read that eComStation (OS/2) can work on an Intel Mac. If I knew what I was doing, I'd think about trying it someday if there's a way to install my current eCS setup (including data partitions) to it, rather than starting from scratch (too many old apps I use that there's no way I could ever install again, even Dos and Win 3.11 apps.)


Unless they are stand-alone exe files, no... You can't just transpose programs.

[Wise Young]

I even read that eComStation (OS/2) can work on an Intel Mac. If I knew what I was doing, I'd think about trying it someday if there's a way to install my current eCS setup (including data partitions) to it, rather than starting from scratch (too many old apps I use that there's no way I could ever install again, even Dos and Win 3.11 apps.)

Here it is
http://linsec.ca/blog/index.php?/archives/112-Installing-OS2-in-Parallels.html
nstalling OS/2 in Parallels
OS X
Yes, I'm nostalgic. Before I started using Linux, I was using OS/2. I went to it from DOS/Win3.1... skipped Windows95 altogether. OS/2 was the absolute best OS back in the day (as far as I'm concerned) and being a nostalgic (and sometimes bored) idiot, I decided to pull out my Warp 4 CDs and see if I could install it in Parallels. I succeeded... to some extent. Now that I have OS/2 installed I can honestly say I have no idea what I would ever use it for anymore. I also couldn't get the (what should be) the simplest things installed (i.e. OS/2 builds of Firefox, even something as simple as lynx was crapping out on me). Granted, I didn't spend too much time tweaking it (I'm not that bored).

At any rate, here's a quick rundown of the things I had to do in order to make it work. Had to do a bit of googling to find all the bits, and this is what worked for me (note, this is Parallels on OS X)...
Ok, here's the steps:


Copy the disk images from the Warp4 CD; in particular you want DISK0.DSK, DISK1-CD.DSK, and DISK2.DSK, in the /diskimgs/os2/35/ directory

rename each of these files to a .dmg file (i.e. DISK0.DSK becomes disk0.dmg) -- make sure you can mount each of them in the Finder
if you can mount them, unmount them and rename them to .fdd (i.e. disk0.dmg becomes disk0.fdd)

Create the new virtual machine, set the OS type to OS/2. Set the primary drive to be 2GB (I used 1.9GB to make sure OS/2 could read it)
Set the CD drive to /Library/Parallels/Tools/vmtools.iso
Set the floppy drive to ~/Desktop/disk0.fdd or wherever you saved your floppy disk images
Make sure the machine is set to boot from the floppy first, then boot the machine. You'll make your way through the three floppies; when the installer asks for the next floppy, just use Devices->Floppy->Connect Image and pick the disk it's asking for
When the installer wants the OS/2 CD inserted, do the same thing and use Devices->CD/DVD-ROM 1>->[Drive name] to have it use the physical CD-ROM (I tried with a disk image created via Disk Utility but it didn't work)
Use the advanced install and format your drive to HPFS
You'll probably have to reboot and go through all these steps again (stupid installer) after you create the filesystem and partition the drive
When you've got everything installed, use the GENGRADD SVGA driver for the graphics card
For the TCP/IP settings, when it comes to it, connect the floppy device to /Library/Parallels/Tools/vmtools.fdd to have it pull the network driver off the image; this should be the "RTL8029 PCI Ethernet Adapter" (PCIND.OS2).
Once the install is complete, reboot, and use the vmware tools installer once you've brought OS/2 up in order to install the mouse driver (D:\DRIVERS\MOUSE\OS2\INSTALL.CMD)


I must admit, I find it pretty neat that I have OS/2 running again. It looks awful, the UI is horrid, but it's the OS/2 I fondly remember (although I don't remember it looking quite this bad). At any rate, I spent a bit of time trying to download stuff off of hobbes to get installed and pretty much none of it worked, and I didn't have the patience to try and figure out what I needed to do to make it work. It was enough that I got it installed. I had tried once a few years ago in VMware and couldn't make it work.

So, if nothing else, I spent an evening tinkering, did absolutely nothing productive, but now I can show it to my kid and make her thankful for good UIs like GNOME and Aqua.

Posted by Vincent Danen in OS X Comments: (2) Trackbacks: (0)


I hope this is helpful.

wise.

[Wise Young]

By the way, according to various people posting on the Parallels forum, Windows Vista would not work in Parallels (Source (http://forum.parallels.com/thread2531.html)) even though the latest version of Vista actually has a menu item called "Prepare Windows Vista Upgrade". However, according to some people, it is possible to get Vista working on a MacBook Pro (Source (http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/09/walkthrough-running-windows-vista-on-your-intel-mac-with-parall/)).

One very useful web site for people who are interested in running Windows on macs is http://www.macwindows.com/ and it says that it works but takes a good amount of resources. There is a problem is audio stuttering in Windows Media Player but otherwise it runs. MacWindows has put up a web page that describes all the possible ways of running Windows on Intel-based Macs.
http://www.macwindows.com/winintelmac.html...

A number of people have reported problems with USB devices. I think that the problem is competition for the USB port with the Mac system. For example, if you put a USB memory drive in, it may be recognized by either the Mac or the Windows OS. Interestingly, once a USB memory stick is recognized by the Windows program, occasionally the Mac system will no longer recognize it. I have to reboot the Mac.

Wise.



There are several alternatives to Parallels.
• CrossOver from CodeWeaver which allows you to run Windows apps directly in MacOSX without Windows.
• Northstar will run windows apps on a remote internet server. That is a really interesting idea. While Parallels is ahead of all Windows virtualization projects, there are several other programs:
• VMware Fusion. This virtualization software apparently is better with drag and drog file transfers between operating systems, can utilize isochronous USB including USB cameras.
• iEmulator. This was cheap ($24) and was the first to run Vista.
• QEMU. This is an open-source emulator that is not being updated.
• Mike Kronenbert's Q. Another open source virtualization environment.
• Wintel from OpenOSX.
• Darwine. This is not ready for prime time.

[alan]

Thanks for that, Dr. Young. Now I have that here if I ever need it.

[trainman]

I've been looking at this possibility for a while, but wanted to see actual people that used it. Switching back and forth from my Mac to my PC gets annoying fairly quickly. Hopefully by the time I upgrade, hardrive and processor speed will be high enough to work very well for both OS.

[Lizbv]

Thanks for your posts. I find your comments somewhat similar to the folks I've been talking to re: Parallels. Today I am using a Ghost image I have of my desktop PC to redo the system, again, having CAB file issues. I'm itching for something different, a MAC :D