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Configuring new Mac Pro to run Windows XP Native - No OSX - No Bootcamp

M

mactulsa

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 1, 2008
4
0
Has anyone out there configured a new Mac Pro to run just Windows XP natively with NO OS X operating system, NO Bootcamp etc. I am trying to determine if I should sell my Mac Pro or if I can simply rebuild it using only Windows XP? Here is my quick list of questions:

1) Is it possible and are there drivers available for the Mac Hardware to work with XP? Anyone out there have a success story on making this work?

2) If yes, should I load with XP 64bit or XP 32bit? I know in a Bootcamp config (which I currently run) that 32bit is the only way to go but running native XP and NTFS file system shouldn't I want to prefer to run the 64bit version?

3) Are there any other weird things I would need to address? Firmware, Bios, etc?

Thanks

Mac Pro
2 Quad Core 2.8 GHz Intel Xeon
8 GB Ram
nvidia 8800GT Video Card
 
1. Insert Windows installer disc and wipe out all the partitions. (I'll need confirmation about the EFI partition though.)

2. Make a disc image of the Leopard Boot Camp drivers while in Windows.

3. Firmware updates can only be done from OS X.
 
Sell it and buy/build a PC. If you need windows only there is very little reason to have a Mac Pro.
 
mactulsa said:
2) If yes, should I load with XP 64bit or XP 32bit? I know in a Bootcamp config (which I currently run) that 32bit is the only way to go but running native XP and NTFS file system shouldn't I want to prefer to run the 64bit version?

[...]

Mac Pro
2 Quad Core 2.8 GHz Intel Xeon
8 GB Ram

[...]
Click to expand...

32-bit: You can't use at least 4GB of your RAM.

64-bit: Driver availability - make sure you can
find 64-bit XP drivers for any extras you want
to add to the Mac Pro.
 
LurchNC said:
Sell it and buy/build a PC. If you need windows only there is very little reason to have a Mac Pro.
Click to expand...

The Mac Pro makes for a fine general purpose Windows
only machine. There's very little reason to sell it unless
you have unusual requirements. And it's not particularly
cost effective to sell it and buy or build another machine.
 
nikiski said:
Well, from what I know, the only Operating System that can be only run on a Mac Pro is Windows Vista x64 with SP1 as it is the only consumer Microsoft OS with EFI support.
Click to expand...

You might want to rephrase that.

I think I have an idea what you're getting at that. If you wanted to
remove the very last remnants of Apple's programming, you'd have
to reflash the EFI chip with something else.

So, how would one go about this? I've heard Vista has EFI support,
but I've not yet seen a single account of anyone using it. Does anyone
with Vista flash their own EFI chip? Are there utilities out there for that
sort of thing? Or do the chips come from the factory pre-flashed, so to
speak?

I've no idea how this all works.
 
Infrared said:
You might want to rephrase that.

I think I have an idea what you're getting at that. If you wanted to
remove the very last remnants of Apple's programming, you'd have
to reflash the EFI chip with something else.

So, how would one go about this? I've heard Vista has EFI support,
but I've not yet seen a single account of anyone using it. Does anyone
with Vista flash their own EFI chip? Are there utilities out there for that
sort of thing? Or do the chips come from the factory pre-flashed, so to
speak?

I've no idea how this all works.
Click to expand...

Microsoft DID promise EFI support for Vista x64 SP1 after all... but I do not have a PC with EFI (well, except my Macs) to test it on...
 
nikiski said:
Microsoft DID promise EFI support for Vista x64 SP1 after all... but I do not have a PC with EFI (well, except my Macs) to test it on...
Click to expand...

Well, I've searched around a bit and found not one example
of Vista + 2008 Mac Pro + EFI - BIOS[*].

If anyone gets this working, they will be officially declared
a hero!


[*] "- BIOS" = "without using the BIOS compatibilty layer".
 
LurchNC said:
Sell it and buy/build a PC. If you need windows only there is very little reason to have a Mac Pro.
Click to expand...

Price is one. The Mac Pro is cheaper then similar workstations from Dell, HP, and others.

I'd just leave a small OS-X partition to handle firmware updates. Once set via Startup Disk, the computer will re-boot into Boot Camp until you tell it to boot back into OS X so it will be more or less like it being a "Windows only" machine.
 
Infrared said:
The Mac Pro makes for a fine general purpose Windows
only machine. There's very little reason to sell it unless
you have unusual requirements. And it's not particularly
cost effective to sell it and buy or build another machine.
Click to expand...

Depending on the usage - it could be very cost effective to sell the Mac Pro and build a PC more dedicated to the task at hand.
 
nikiski said:
Well, from what I know, the only Operating System that can be only run on a Mac Pro is Windows Vista x64 with SP1 as it is the only consumer Microsoft OS with EFI support.
Click to expand...

Mac's all come with a BIOS compatibility layer. Windows XP SP2 and Vista will load on with no problems at all. You don't need EFI support because you already have BIOS support.

This whole idea that you need bootcamp for windows is wrong. Bootcamp is a partitioning program and a suite of drivers. It has nothing to do with the Mac's ability to boot windows.
 
LouisBlack said:
Depending on the usage - it could be very cost effective to sell the Mac Pro and build a PC more dedicated to the task at hand.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's covered by "unusual requirements". See above.

For most of what most people want to do with a machine, a
Mac Pro is more than capable.
 
TBi said:
Mac's all come with a BIOS compatibility layer. Windows XP SP2 and Vista will load on with no problems at all. You don't need EFI support because you already have BIOS support.
Click to expand...

While I'd mostly agree, Vista with native EFI adds some
extra functionality that some people - by no means all
people - may find useful (if not necessary).

Today is national caveat day.
 
Infrared said:
32-bit: You can't use at least 4GB of your RAM.

64-bit: Driver availability - make sure you can
find 64-bit XP drivers for any extras you want
to add to the Mac Pro.
Click to expand...

The 2008 Mac Pros do come with 64-bit drivers for the hardware. He should be able to just install the Bootcamp drivers that came on Restore Disc 1 and be good to go.
 
McGiord said:
What a waste...:eek:
Click to expand...

Not to flame this thread but I agree. MacPro as a general purpose PC is a bit overkill. A general purpose PC would be a 300 buck shuttle PC. Heck even an iMac would suffice more as a general purpose PC more than a Mac Pro would.

I'd bootcamp and use a bootloader for just in case there was ever a need to goto OSX.

I mean, getting a Ferarri and saying "It's a good back and forth to work car" is basicaly what your saying.
 
Won't work. XP doesn't know what EFI is. Macs do not have a BIOS. Boot Camp emulates a BIOS so that XP thinks it's on a PC.
 
krye said:
Won't work. XP doesn't know what EFI is. Macs do not have a BIOS. Boot Camp emulates a BIOS so that XP thinks it's on a PC.
Click to expand...

Yes it will... the BIOS emulator is in the EFI firmware in all Macs. :)

BootCamp (the app) is just a glorified partitioning tool + drivers.
 
krye said:
Won't work. XP doesn't know what EFI is. Macs do not have a BIOS. Boot Camp emulates a BIOS so that XP thinks it's on a PC.
Click to expand...

I installed XP Pro x64 on an added internal drive with no problems without Boot Camp.

Insert your XP install disc, shut down, unplug your hard drive with OS 10.5, plug in a new internal drive, then restart the computer. The windows installer will work no problem.
 
TBi said:
Mac's all come with a BIOS compatibility layer. Windows XP SP2 and Vista will load on with no problems at all. You don't need EFI support because you already have BIOS support.

This whole idea that you need bootcamp for windows is wrong. Bootcamp is a partitioning program and a suite of drivers. It has nothing to do with the Mac's ability to boot windows.
Click to expand...

That's correct. In fact I found that I could take a Vista drive with 3 partitions all in NTFS that was taken right out of a Asus X48 Intel PC and just place it in the MP and holding down the option key, I choose Windows drive and booted into a "safe mode" environment. After windows automatically loaded a few system drivers and rebooted, I was pretty much good to go. I've actually had more trouble than this chnaging MB's in PC to PC fashion. I never used bootcamp to do anything, In fact I can't update to 2.1 because it says I have no source to update.
 
Thanks!

I appreciate everyone's comments regarding my question. Thanks for your time - Very Informative. MacTulsa
 
retarded... With all the drama that it is going to be to get it working (if you ever do) I would think just paying more for a dell or hp of equal specks would be easier...

I agree.. what a waste...
 
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