Windows without Boot Camp (Mac Pro)

[Infrared]

I've reinstalled Windows Server 2008 on the disk in bay 2. As far as
I can tell, everything is working well (but I'm no expert). The Server
2008 disc would appear to have drivers for most of the hardware.
Is there any reason to install the Apple supplied Boot Camp drivers?

My philosophy is to keep it simple, install only what is needed and
avoid clutter (Windows is a clutter magnet). And that's how it is at
the moment. So if I don't need those Apple drivers, that's great.

But if those Apple drivers are needed for something really serious,
like heat management, then I wouldn't risk going without them.

Any advice very much appreciated,

Thanks.

[ayeying]

Its drivers for the system, why not install it? It won't hurt. I have installed Server 2008 before on my MacBook Pro and I installed all the boot camp drivers.

Personally, I install drivers and watch the programs I install. Drivers are something I don't decide to "not install" on.

[Infrared]

Originally Posted by ayeying

Its drivers for the system, why not install it? It won't hurt.

The only BSODs I ever had were related to one of Apple's
drivers (googlewords: keymagic.sys BSOD). So I'm a little
reluctant now

Also, there's a lot of stuff in there that does goodness
knows what. Things are added to the control panel,
keystrokes are filtered, updaters are run, and processes
are set to start on boot.

If I knew all that was necessary, and why, I'd be happy
to install it. But I tend not to throw things on a machine
without thinking carefully about what it does. Especially
when it comes from a company (Apple) that has historically
produced Windows software of, let us say, variable quality.

Regards.

[Infrared]

Oh well, laziness ruled in the end. I couldn't be bothered
figuring out which drivers in the Boot Camp package were
necessary, and which were not. So I installed the whole
lot and then disabled the annoying stuff!

I've also added the Intel Matrix Storage drivers:

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/16750/eng/IATA85ENU.exe

Which are working nicely:





And the Intel network adapter drivers from here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/deta...&DwnldID=12200

[xgman]

I placed a Vista drive from a pc in the MP and with a decompressed Intel driver update on flashdisk handy it didn't miss a beat. No bootcamp at all.