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Is OSX required on Bootcamp XP Disk

I

Igotmacqs

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 10, 2009
41
0
I want to dedicate a drive to XP Pro using Bootcamp. Does OSX need to be on that disk, or can a Bootcamp installtion be initiated from the other drive with OSX on it?

If someone could offer some suggestions on how to best do that it would be appreciated?
 
Cliff3 said:
Your question is answered on Apple's FAQ page for Bootcamp.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1656
Click to expand...

Thanks Cliff,
Yes, I had found that but it left me a bit confused.

if you have more than one internal hard drive installed, it will allow you to install Microsoft Windows on another drive. You can choose the size of the Windows partition when running Boot Camp Assistant, but it must be at least 5 GB and leave at least 5 GB of free space on the disk for the Mac OS X partition.
Click to expand...

Is this saying that I need an OSX partition on the separate hard drive as well?

I have more than one hard drive, can I install Microsoft Windows on any drive?

You can install only one Windows partition on any of your computer volumes. The Setup Assistant will allow you to partition drives, or to install Microsoft Windows on an entire drive if it does not contain Mac OS X.
Click to expand...

Is this referring to the Bootcamp Setup Assistant? I would prefer to use Bootcamp rather than have to hunt down drivers, etc.

Thanks again!
 
It's pretty clear to me. You don't need to have OS X on all your drives - for example, I have three hard drives, one with OS X installed, one for video, and one for Windows. If I pulled out the drive with OS X on it tomorrow, I could still boot up via the Windows drive with no issue at all.

Once you install Windows, just stick in the 10.5 DVD and it'll install drivers automatically.
 
Boot Camp is ONLY needed when you use a single drive, and share it between multiple OS's. :)

So NO NEED for OS X to share a drive meant solely for another OS (dedicated drive).

Don't worry, it's not hard. :) Just remember to use the Option key, or you can install rEFit if you would like some graphics to help with OS selection. :p
 
nanofrog said:
Boot Camp is ONLY needed when you use a single drive, and share it between multiple OS's. :)

So NO NEED for OS X to share a drive meant solely for another OS (dedicated drive).

Don't worry, it's not hard. :) Just remember to use the Option key, or you can install rEFit if you would like some graphics to help with OS selection. :p
Click to expand...

Thanks,

So...just insert the Windows disk and follow instructions? Sorry, but I am new to this.
 
Boot Camp makes it easy, but like nanofrog said it's not required.

It'd be pretty much the same as installing Windows on any old PC.
 
Cliff3 said:
Windows is going to need Bootcamp for the EFI support.
Click to expand...

That was true for Boot Camp 1.x, but not 2.x.

EFI support for windows is handled in hardware. Boot Camp 2.x is a simply a partition re-sizer.

So anyone could simply create a partition using Disk Utility and install Windows without the help from Boot Camp at any stage.
 
RemarkabLee said:
That was true for Boot Camp 1.x, but not 2.x.

EFI support for windows is handled in hardware. Boot Camp 2.x is a simply a partition re-sizer.

So anyone could simply create a partition using Disk Utility and install Windows without the help from Boot Camp at any stage.
Click to expand...

Not getting this at all. What role would Bootcamp be playing in the event that it was not used for the install?

Is there a step-by-step that someone could direct me to for installing Windows on a separate disk without Bootcamp (so that I will not have to ask these beginner questions among the informed here). I obviously do not understand the full role of Bootcamp.

Thanks.
 
Igotmacqs said:
Not getting this at all. What role would Bootcamp be playing in the event that it was not used for the install?

Is there a step-by-step that someone could direct me to for installing Windows on a separate disk without Bootcamp (so that I will not have to ask these beginner questions among the informed here). I obviously do not understand the full role of Bootcamp.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Boot Camp is NEVER used for the install. It's used solely to create a partition (or reformat a drive, if you devote a whole HDD to it) so you can install Windows. Before the release of Leopard, it also provided drivers, but now those come with your 10.5 disc.

That's all it does.

Simple process to install Windows:

1. Format HDD (or partition) for Windows with Boot Camp.
2. Insert Windows installation disc
3. Install Windows.
 
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