Creating a Windows XP partition without a Windows 7 install disk?

Discussion in 'Mac OS X Lion (10.7)' started by Canama, Apr 2, 2012.

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  1. Canama, Apr 2, 2012

    Canama macrumors newbie

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    Apr 2, 2012
    #1
    I'm having a problem: I want to create a Windows XP partition on my computer, which is running Lion, but Bootcamp now only supports Windows 7! All of the workarounds I've found involve using a Windows 7 install disk, which I don't have and am not willing to buy.

    So: Can I go into Disk Utility, create a partition from there, and then install XP onto it? Or is there some reason that that won't work. I haven't found anybody commenting on doing that, so I want to confirm that I'm not about to make a horrible, horrible mistake.

    Thanks for your time!

    EDIT: I should specify that I'm doing this for gaming purposes. A VM ain't gonna cut it (and yes, I have tried).
     
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  2. SDub90, Apr 2, 2012
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2012

    SDub90 macrumors 6502a

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    Long Island
    #2
    If I remember correctly, the last time I installed XP on a mac, I just used boot camp to create the partition, then when it came time to insert the disc I just manually booted it to the XP disc rather than having boot camp set the boot device.

    Edit: Just asked on the MR IRC channel, what I stated no longer works.
     
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  3. mackmgg, Apr 2, 2012
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2012

    mackmgg macrumors 65816

    mackmgg

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    #3
    You can download the Windows 7 ISO from Microsoft's site, that's probably the easiest way to do this. You wouldn't have a serial number, so you couldn't actually install it, but that would be enough to get Boot Camp Assistant to make the partition for you.

    Edit: Forgot the link, here it is.

    Edit 2: Also, don't do what you originally stated. Creating the partition in Disk Utility will not work.
     
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  4. Canama, Apr 2, 2012

    Canama thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Apr 2, 2012
    #4
    Ahh, this should do nicely. Thanks a lot!
     
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