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Boot Camp: Installing and setting up

I just came back from class and it seems the preferred method to use Windows is via Boot Camp. Is it recommended to install OS X on an external drive and then use Windows via Boot Camp on that?

Which would be better? Lion or Snow Leopard at this?
 
tjb1 said:
Bootcamp has nothing to do with Lion or Snow Leopard...Bootcamp is drivers for hardware and that is it.
Click to expand...

Then how come the support page for Boot Camp highlights differences between Boot Camp in Lion and Snow Leopard?

So is this method feasible and solid? Installing OS X on the external drive and then using Boot Camp on that and setting a partition there?
 
ohla313 said:
Then how come the support page for Boot Camp highlights differences between Boot Camp in Lion and Snow Leopard?

So is this method feasible and solid? Installing OS X on the external drive and then using Boot Camp on that and setting a partition there?
Click to expand...

Ok apparently the assistant in Lion supports installation from a USB drive now... Seriously, the only thing boot camp does is size and format a partition and boot from selected media. After installation you use the boot camp cd or install cd for lion/snow leopard to put on drivers for boot camp. The same thing can be accomplished by going to disk utility and making and formatting a partition, inserting cd, restarting and holding option and selecting cd. After finished you will still need drivers. It has nothing to do with the Mac OS other than that initial partition set up and restart.
 
tjb1 said:
Ok apparently the assistant in Lion supports installation from a USB drive now... Seriously, the only thing boot camp does is size and format a partition and boot from selected media. After installation you use the boot camp cd or install cd for lion/snow leopard to put on drivers for boot camp. The same thing can be accomplished by going to disk utility and making and formatting a partition, inserting cd, restarting and holding option and selecting cd. After finished you will still need drivers. It has nothing to do with the Mac OS other than that initial partition set up and restart.
Click to expand...

So if I install OS X on an external drive, it can be identified as the startup drive and be partitioned for Boot Camp?
 
tjb1 said:
Why do you think you need to install OS X on an external for boot camp?
Click to expand...

Because there is no way to install Windows onto an external drive via Boot Camp. This is why I figured I install OS X on the external first, make it my startup disc, then initiate Boot Camp on that drive and partition for Windows.

I just want to be sure it is possible and secure?
 
ohla313 said:
Because there is no way to install Windows onto an external drive via Boot Camp. This is why I figured I install OS X on the external first, make it my startup disc, then initiate Boot Camp on that drive and partition for Windows.

I just want to be sure it is possible and secure?
Click to expand...

Once again...Boot Camp has NOTHING to do with the OS. Im not sure if you can install Windows over USB or even boot from it via USB. That is something you will have to try... Go into Disk Utility and format external and try to install to the USB by restarting with Disc in drive and holding option. Just by going into Bootcamp, it would not let me select an external.

Main points...

-May not be able to install over USB
-May not be able to boot over USB
-OS X has nothing to do with Boot Camp...once again
 
tjb1 said:
Once again...Boot Camp has NOTHING to do with the OS. Im not sure if you can install Windows over USB or even boot from it via USB. That is something you will have to try... Go into Disk Utility and format external and try to install to the USB by restarting with Disc in drive and holding option. Just by going into Bootcamp, it would not let me select an external.

Main points...

-May not be able to install over USB
-May not be able to boot over USB
-OS X has nothing to do with Boot Camp...once again
Click to expand...

Ok well I will install Lion on my external drive and see where that goes first. If I am able to select and partition the external drive for the Windows section, I should be good?
 
Lion is not going to do anything...Like I have said OS X has nothing to do with a boot camp installation.

This is what Boot Camp Assistant does:

-Asks you for size of partition
-Formats partition to a Windows readable format
-Changes boot disc to install media
-Restarts Computer

Once the computer restarts, Windows Installer handles everything.
 
So I would be able to have this partition made to an external hard drive? There doesn't seem to be any reports claiming it's success though.
 
No, bootcamp will not format an external drive. Im pretty sure its not possible to install or boot from an external unless it is connected with a sata port which we do not have. You are going to have to either run it off the SSD or put a HDD in place of the optidrive.

FYI - Windows 7 with 2 very large cad programs only takes 25gb. Each cad program is about 3gb so 5-6gb of that is cad programs...
 
Ugh hmm well I don't have the disc space to do boot camp so I will most likely need to utilize a VM. What inconveniences are caused by Parallels deep integration? I plan to keep the VM on for good.
 
look I don't think you can even run an OS from an external hard drive.

Regarding Parallels, i've been using it for 2 years. First Parallels 5 then 6. I love 6 on my Macbook Pro. it's very responsive. I would suggest using. I saw earlier in the thread that not everything uninstalls when you want to get rid of it. This is true. You'll still the parallels icon on some folders and applications but I really don't see that as a big deal. I love Parallels and I don't foresee uninstalling it in the near future
 
ohla313 said:
Well the deep integration with Mac is a little bothersome. If I am able to have Windows on my external hard drive solely then I'd want to utilize Boot Camp. Is there a guide on how to do that?
Click to expand...

Don't listen to that guy. Parallels doesn't install itself "deep" into OS X, nor do you need to reinstall OS X after removing Parallels. Those are just silly comments with no factual backing. It acts like every other app out there. Delete the app and your OS image and you'll be fine.
 
superfula said:
Don't listen to that guy. Parallels doesn't install itself "deep" into OS X, nor do you need to reinstall OS X after removing Parallels. Those are just silly comments with no factual backing. It acts like every other app out there. Delete the app and your OS image and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Yeah? I have used both 5 and 6... You dont need to reinstall os x but I dont want it stuck to everything. And good luck using something like a cad program, you will quickly find out why parallels suck with mouse, keyboard, usb, and drive control. You plugged a flash drive in? Oh you cant use it in mac because the vm wanted it and now you have to dig through windows to get it back. Not to mention you cant get a post approved on there support forum without singing praise of parallels. One last thing, have fun getting slammed with a $40 upgrade for 2 new features. It takes what, 30 seconds to boot into boot camp? Worth it in my opinion.
 
Ok after going to class today I have a change of heart. Running a VM from an external drive in class is not going to work. I will be getting a 500GB drive instead and partition 320GB for OS X and 180GB for Windows in Boot Camp.

A question though, when I do Boot Camp, will I be able to take advantage of all my hardware? For instance, when I boot into Windows, I will be able to use all 8GBs of RAM? There will be no compromising in the hardware between both OSs? And if something goes wrong in Windows it won't affect the OS X partition?
 
ohla313 said:
Ok after going to class today I have a change of heart. Running a VM from an external drive in class is not going to work. I will be getting a 500GB drive instead and partition 320GB for OS X and 180GB for Windows in Boot Camp.

A question though, when I do Boot Camp, will I be able to take advantage of all my hardware? For instance, when I boot into Windows, I will be able to use all 8GBs of RAM? There will be no compromising in the hardware between both OSs? And if something goes wrong in Windows it won't affect the OS X partition?
Click to expand...

You must get 64-bit Windows 7 for 8 gb of ram, 32 wont address more than 4.
 
If one OS messes up it wont effect the other side. which allows you to still have internet access if you screw up one OS you can just use the other untill you have time to restore the other.

One thing that you will want to know about backing up with bootcamp. If you're backing up to an external hard drive, you will have to make a partition for the external. This is because Windows doesn't back up to the same format as Mac OS.
 
pizzafordinna said:
If one OS messes up it wont effect the other side. which allows you to still have internet access if you screw up one OS you can just use the other untill you have time to restore the other.

One thing that you will want to know about backing up with bootcamp. If you're backing up to an external hard drive, you will have to make a partition for the external. This is because Windows doesn't back up to the same format as Mac OS.
Click to expand...

How does Windows 7 handle backups? I already have a 500GB drive dedicated for Time Machine, so would I be able to partition the drive for a backup of the Windows? and how?
 
Well you really don't need a full 500 gigs for backups. what I would do is once you install Windows, go back to the mac side and plug in your external drive. Then go into Disk Utility and select your hard drive. then you select the partition tab and click on the and make a second partition to your desired size. The new partition needs to be MS-DOS (FAT) format.

Then go back to Windows and type in the start menu search box "back up" and you should see the backup option.
 
Since the drive I want won't be coming out anytime soon, I figured I would use a spare 320GB drive to install Lion and Windows via Boot Camp for the time being. When I get my new drive, can I clone my Windows partition to the new larger drive and everything be ok?
 
I've been using Parallels to access my Windows 7 Ultimate installation as a VM since Version 5 and I just upgraded to Version 7 yesterday. Parallels has absolutely no negative effects on the operation of the OS in Boot Camp whatsoever and works great. Parallels gets faster and adds more features with every release.

My Boot Camp is 150GB of my Macintosh HD.

If I have any complaint, I do think $49.99 is too much for an upgrade price though. That should be the full retail price.
 
I am going to be installing Windows 7 Professional 64 bit via Boot Camp soon. I am installing this on a temporary internal hard drive until Toshiba releases its single platter 500GB drive.

My question is, my school is providing me with a free copy of Windows 7 so when I install it with the product key they give me, will I not be able to use it again for the new drive?

I plan to wipe the temp drive with Windows on it once I receive the new drive. I just want to be sure I can reinstall Windows 7 on the new drive with the same product key.
 
ohla313 said:
I am going to be installing Windows 7 Professional 64 bit via Boot Camp soon. I am installing this on a temporary internal hard drive until Toshiba releases its single platter 500GB drive.

My question is, my school is providing me with a free copy of Windows 7 so when I install it with the product key they give me, will I not be able to use it again for the new drive?

I plan to wipe the temp drive with Windows on it once I receive the new drive. I just want to be sure I can reinstall Windows 7 on the new drive with the same product key.
Click to expand...

Don't activate windows on the temp drive that you are testing on.

Save the activation for when you have your real setup. You can go 31 days with increasing nagging levels after a windows install.
 
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