Windows XP Booting on Intel Macs?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Ongoing efforts to boot Windows XP on the recently released Intel Macs appears to be coming within reach. This, despite that last week Microsoft revealed that they did not intend to support Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) in the upcoming release of Windows Vista. Since the new Intel Macs only support EFI (and not BIOS), this was perceived to be a setback for the possibility of dual-booting Windows (Vista) and Mac OS X.

The efforts of a well publicized contest to boot Windows XP on the MacBook Pro appears to be reaching fruition.

Details are spotty right now, but it looks like we will have a winner by the end of this week. This is the latest screen shot from narf2006’s flickr account.

While the photos obviously don't prove anything, they are presently looking for testers for the procedure.

Meanwhile, another group is working on a more universal solution by developing their own BIOS (BAMBIOS) which would theoretically allow the Intel Macs to support any legacy BIOS-requiring software (Linux, Windows XP etc...).

[johnbro23]

Whoahh! This is crazy!

Would this only be possible through pirating? Or would Microsoft sell a version of Windows for Intel Macs? Or would you be able to use a Windows OS disc made for PC's?

[dornoforpyros]

I was underwhelmed if that's a word, I know it's not cuz I looked it up.


anyone who can name that lyric gets +5 hipster points

[arn]

Originally Posted by johnbro23

Whoahh! This is crazy!

Would this only be possible through pirating? Or would Microsoft sell a version of Windows for Intel Macs? Or would you be able to use a Windows OS disc made for PC's?

The whole point is that you would be able to use retail Windows XP Discs.

arn

[Westside guy]

Linux doesn't need a legacy BIOS - it just needs a EFI-capable bootloader. ELILO is one such beast (although having used both LILO and GRUB, I'd wait for E-GRUB myself...)

[LimeiBook86]

YAY!!! Awesome! I'm so happy! This is awesome, adds more value to my iMac in a way. And lets me use all my Windows applications, and to all you who say "Why run Windows on a Mac?" Because if you need to run Windows apps and don't want another computer this is the way to go.

!

[iMeowbot]

Originally Posted by johnbro23

Would this only be possible through pirating? Or would Microsoft sell a version of Windows for Intel Macs? Or would you be able to use a Windows OS disc made for PC's?

You can buy full Windows at any computer store, with no license restrictions against running it on any computer you like.

[amateurmacfreak]

This is good.... it's nice to be able to dula boot for those times when people "need" Windows.
Of course the bad news lies with Vista.... Windows XP shall do for a while though, haha.
So, is Vista a definite no for the Intel Macs? Or am I misinterpreting things?

[arn]

Originally Posted by amateurmacfreak

This is good.... it's nice to be able to dula boot for those times when people "need" Windows.
Of course the bad news lies with Vista.... Windows XP shall do for a while though, haha.
So, is Vista a definite no for the Intel Macs? Or am I misinterpreting things?

you're misinterpreting things.

If Windows XP is a go for the Intel Macs, then likely so is Vista.

Both are BIOS requiring.

arn

[boncellis]

Why would MS want to limit Vista to BIOS, isn't EFI a significant upgrade? Can someone explain this more completely? It almost makes me think they didn't want it to dual boot on a Macintosh.

I feel bad for the poor guy who tried to post this in every possible thread before getting kicked off. I suppose good things come to those who wait, or inversely bad things happen to posters who can't.

Now I'm ready to take a look at AAPL...

[iMeowbot]

Originally Posted by amateurmacfreak

So, is Vista a definite no for the Intel Macs? Or am I misinterpreting things?

If enough BIOS support can be emulated to get XP running, little or no additional work should be needed for Vista.

[gwangung]

Originally Posted by arn

The whole point is that you would be able to use retail Windows XP Discs.

arn

Far as I'm concerned, this is as it should be.

Apple hasn't made it impossible to do so...but they're under no obligation to make it easy. If you have to work to do it, I see no problem with it. (Same goes for Microsoft. And the same goes for making OS X run on non-Apple hardware).

[iKwick7]

This is very exciting, indeed. While I think we all knew it would just be a matter of time, this truely is great news- especially if the new iBooks are coming out soon. Goodbye indows laptop, hello new iBook! I just need windows to run some AutoCad once in awhile for work, this will be absolutely great!

[MacsomJRR]

Why anyone would want to run windows on their mac is beyond me. I mean besides all of the tons of millions of extra software titles it's still just crappy ole windows.

[AndrewMT]

Test a PC game! What are you waiting for!?????

[AndrewMT]

Originally Posted by MacsomJRR

Why anyone would want to run windows on their mac is beyond me. I mean besides all of the tons of millions of extra software titles it's still just crappy ole windows.

It's simple. The game library. All the software I need is on OSX, but most of the games I want to play are Windowz-only.

[Marble]

I wonder how hard the procedure is going to be. Will it be easy enough to persuade people to switch, or something only us geeks can do?

[cgratti]

It's funny how people get so excited about this stuff. It's only a matter of time when they release something for it to get hacked. No amount of security measures will prevent it, there's always someone smarter than you out there.

[boncellis]

Originally Posted by AndrewMT

It's simple. The game library. All the software I need is on OSX, but most of the games I want to play are Windowz-only.

Or, in my case, a university requiring a Windows only title as the choice for examination software.

I wonder how often a previously Macophobic consumer might settle on a MBP or a Mac Mini because of the possibility of dual-booting, only to end up as a convert once they sit down and give OS X a try.

Northern Virginia is awesome, by the way.

[Felldownthewell]

Half-Life 2 on a mac!

AHHHH!!!


Ok, so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but still... even the possibility makes my skin tingle.

[AidenShaw]

Originally Posted by boncellis

Why would MS want to limit Vista to BIOS, isn't EFI a significant upgrade? Can someone explain this more completely? It almost makes me think they didn't want it to dual boot on a Macintosh.

Vista has to boot on BIOS in order to run on most current systems.

Most current EFI-capable systems (except those from a certain fruit company) also have a BIOS compatible mode. (Manufacturers want new computers to boot XP - D'Ohh.)

There's simply no need to support EFI for 32-bit computers, at least no benefit worth the expense.

And it's Apple that doesn't want Windows to run on an Apple - otherwise they wouldn't have gone to the trouble of *removing* the BIOS compatibility routines from the MacIntels.

[treblah]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Meanwhile, another group is working on a more universal solution by developing their own BIOS (BAMBIOS) which would theoretically allow the Intel Macs to support any legacy BIOS-requiring software (Linux, Windows XP etc...).

According to OSNews the BAMBIOS devs work at IBM...

This looks like what we (I) have been waiting for!

Edit: cgratti, what the deuce are you talking about?

[boncellis]

Originally Posted by AidenShaw

...There's simply no need to support EFI for 32-bit computers, at least no benefit worth the expense.

And it's Apple that doesn't want Windows to run on an Apple - otherwise they wouldn't have gone to the trouble of *removing* the BIOS compatibility routines from the MacIntels.

You're the man when it comes to this stuff, AidenShaw. Thanks for taking the time to explain it.

Are you certain that Apple chose to implement EFI to keep Windows out? I presumed it was early-adoption, nothing more. Wouldn't they sell that many more machines if they were Windows compatible? Seems like it's in Apple's interest at least somewhat.

[runninmac]

Now I wonder if hes going to be a greedy _______ and sell it to the top bidder or sell it as software. Either way they could get some serious money off of this.

[G5power]

Originally Posted by dornoforpyros

I was underwhelmed if that's a word, I know it's not cuz I looked it up.


anyone who can name that lyric gets +5 hipster points

Sloan

UNDERWHELMED
(C. Murphy/Sloan)
She was underwhelmed
If that's a word
I know it's not
'Cause I looked it up
That's one of those skills
That I learned in my schoo