Leopard + Windows 7 bootcamp...possible?

I say upgrade to Snow Leopard. It's only $29 bucks. That's what I did recently and the Win7 install went smooth for the most part. I still had some trouble installing the drivers but a quick google search fixed my problem.

nmrrjw66 said:

I say upgrade to Snow Leopard. It's only $29 bucks.

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Even if you don't want to install Snow Leopard, buying the $29 upgrade is the only legal way to get the Boot Camp 3.x drivers which themselves are worth the $.

You can still use the Leopard Boot Camp Assistant and the firmware extensions are the same between 10.5 and 10.6.

B

i just did this about a month ago... works flawlessly. just upgrade to snowy then install win7 through boot camp.
EDIT: BTW, if you didn't buy windows 7 yet, you might want to consider buying an OEM version. I got mine online for $86 and it's Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. It's cheaper then buying the retail verison, but there are some things different between retail and OEM. OEM won't come in a "pretty box" or include any manuals like the retail verisons too. With OEM the software is also tied to the motherboard it's installed on. With the retail version you can transfer your license to a new motherboard once. OEM is also specific to 32 bit or 64 bit when you buy it, it won't include both the 32 and 64 bit version like the retail. Last difference is OEM won't give you the 90 days of free tech support. If you can deal with these differences, OEM is a cheaper way to get Windows 7 (retail is $199... oem is anywhere from $86 to $99)...

22Hertz said:

So I buy Snow Leopard, install the bootcamp drivers and install W7 normally through bootcamp on Leopard?

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If you really don't want to upgrade to SL.

You will have to deviate from the script just a bit though. Create the partition with Boot Camp Assistant, but BCA will not recognize W7 as a supported version of Windows so you will have to boot manually. Just hold down Alt/Option during boot/reboot to tell it to boot from the W7 CD or HDD during the install process.

Use OEM if you want to, but understand that you do so outside the license under which it is sold. It is licensed only for System Builders intending to resell the systems to a third party not for end users. It works yes, but just like a hackintosh works.

B

balamw said:

It works yes, but just like a hackintosh works.

B

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? What does this even mean? Are you trying to say an OEM copy is similar to a hackintosh? Because that is not true at all.

The OEM copy is the EXACT same copy as a retail, except it has one file modified (which you can change) to only accept OEM license keys. The hardware is fully supported and works PERFECTLY. PLUS, if you want to be 100% legal you can buy a piece of hardware (any thing really.. keyboard, mouse.. ram) and you fall under the EULA.

Where a hackintosh is an operating system running on UNSUPPORTED hardware. You run risks of having the OS not work at all, an update killing your install, and possible hardware not working properly or not detected at all.

Unless you mean the licensing agreement.... Which I must say is still very different.

VPrime said:

Unless you mean the licensing agreement.... Which I must say is still very different.

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I mean you are using software without a valid license. If you prefer it is like using the $29 SL upgrade on a Tiger box. It'll work but you are outside the letter and spirit of the license.

I suggest you read the current System Builder License, the Microsoft page 'licensing for hobbyists" and the fine article by Ed Bott I have linked to many in the past it is very clear that you MUST resell the system after you install the OS. The EULA does not apply, because you did not accept and follow the SBL.

There are plenty of other differences between retail and OEM so it is naive to say it is "identical to full retail.

Doesn't mean you should not consider OEM, just understand what you are doing.

B

balamw said:

I mean you are using software without a valid license. If you prefer it is like using the $29 SL upgrade on a Tiger box. It'll work but you are outside the letter and spirit of the license.

There are plenty of other differences between retail and OEM so it is naive to say it is "identical to full retail.


B

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Oh ok, that makes sense. I agree.

But, there are no differences with the OS between retail and OEM. Only differences are the licensing. With OEM you can install on one computer hard ware only. So if you upgrade a motherboard, you pretty much need a new license (legally.. not technically). YOu also don't get a fancy box, or tech support.

There are also "royalty OEM" copies, these are ment for the big companies like DELL. These have the typical "Other junk" that these companies put on. So trial software and what ever else.

But the OS is still the same. installing OEM instead of retail does not mean you will be losing features, a slower experience, or even a different experience at all. Once the disc is in the drive every thing is the same.

22Hertz said:

I hold down ALT during boot and OPTION during reboot? Or is it OPTION+ALT
Anything else I should be aware of?

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Alt/Option is one key usually found on the bottom row next to Command.

B

Another thing to consider when buying an OEM version of Windows for use on a Mac:

As stated, an OEM version of Windows gets tied to a specific machine and is never intended to be transferred to another. Otherwise it's functionally identical. An OEM "CD Key" cannot be changed to a full version, only the installation disc can.

This should work out well enough if you use BootCamp exclusively.

A problem arises if you then start using Parallels, Fusion or another virtualization program to run Windows from within Leopard or Snowie.

The virtualization program will likely break the activation, requiring a phone call to Microsoft's Activation center in order to re-activate.

If you tell them the truth (that you're using OEM software on a Mac or under Virtualization software) they will probably invalidate the license right then!
Leaving you in the situation of having to buy another copy of Windows.

The better option is to pay up for the "Full Retail Box" version of Windows which allows for this manner of use.
The best option is to avoid Windows and other Microsoft products altogether.

Good Luck,
Keri

KeriJane said:

Otherwise it's functionally identical.

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They are not functionally identical. For example, you can do an upgrade install with a full retail disc, you can't with OEM.

NOTE: I have, myself, run Vista OEM activated in both Boot Camp and VMWare Fusion without issues, and folks have reported moving OEM licenses from one machine to another, so it's not that it won't work, just that you take a risk running anything other than "full retail".

B

balamw said:

They are not functionally identical. For example, you can do an upgrade install with a full retail disc, you can't with OEM.

NOTE: I have, myself, run Vista OEM activated in both Boot Camp and VMWare Fusion without issues, and folks have reported moving OEM licenses from one machine to another, so it's not that it won't work, just that you take a risk running anything other than "full retail".

B

Click to expand...

Hi Balamw

The installation routine is different. The upgrade options are different.
But once you have the Windows installed they operate the same with no differences to the user.
Until you run afoul of Windows Activation, that is.
That's the point I was trying to make.

Microsoft does allow "Major Upgrades" to an OEM licensed computer.
It's based upon time elapsed since most recent Activation.
IIRC, it was 90 or 180 days for XP Pro.
What it might be for Seven I don't know.
The end result was: If you waited half a year or so, you could change out the whole computer and re-activation would go without a hitch.

What MS considers "Minor Upgrades" usually isn't a problem. The ID of a specific machine was comprised of a "Hardware Hash", itself made up of a combination of all the components electronic S/Ns.
Some components were considered more or less important depending upon likelihood of being upgraded. Memory= less important / Network adaptor= more important.
Change too much too soon and POW.... you're out of business.

The whole sorry mess (Windows) is best avoided.

Have Fun,
Keri

KeriJane said:

The whole sorry mess (Windows) is best avoided.

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I know. I know you know the deal, but there are many folks who come here looking for "which Windows should I use?" and get an answer like "OEM is identical to full retail, but cheaper".

It isn't. You know that, I know that.

I'm just trying to make sure other less informed/experienced people reading this thread have enough information to decide for themselves if the real constraints/limitations of OEM are really worth the "savings".

B