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Macbook Air 11" + BootCamp + Windows XP

A

alienatf

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 2, 2010
67
0
Russia, Moscow
Hi!
Does anybody have solution how i can install XP on new Air?
I've got several problem whilee install, and XP doesn't boot:

1) BootCamp utility doesn't recognize XP CD, so i simply restart with command key.
2) After sucessfull files copy and reboot there was several error messages:


3) After reboot:


And system halts.

Please don't offer my Vista or 7. Software that i need runs only on XP or 2000 %(.
 
I can get XP/SP3 to install without any problem, you might be having an issue if you're trying to install a standard, SP1 or SP2 based installation.

However unless Apple change their mind and offer XP drivers it might not be worth your while even trying to continue.

Because even if you get XP to install you wont have a fully functioning system without drivers

Running 2010 Macbook version of the drivers is a partial solution, but while that will let you install some drivers (wireless and audio) you will still be stuck with following issues:

The MacHAL isn't correct for the Air and will refuses to initialise or install.

Bootcamp assistant won't load properly

You always have to press keys at boot to chose XP partiton, you cant set the machine to boot XP by default

no keyboard control of audio

no bluetooth support

Graphics card driver needs manually extracted and installation forced

Touchpad drivers are incomplete, is clumsy and only has left click
No control of display brightness, so its on full brightness at all times
Machine will hang if it goes to sleep

while most of above could probably be lived with if you really really have to run certain programs on XP, the last three are the deal breakers.
 
There have also been issues with some localized versions being incompatible with the drivers when they are available.

As Hellhammer says if you must stick with this XP, run it in a VM.

B
 
I can't use Parallels or Vmware Fusion because of my software very "stupid": when it run from virtual machine it close with message "you video card does not support layers".

Software that i need: rt4client, for panasonic videorecorder rt-416k.
It doesn't work propertly on Windows 7: image doesn't update until i move program window with mouse.

Run that program and view video from cameras - that's all what i want from new air.
If trackpad doesn't work propertly - that's not a problem.
I found they way how to install video drivers: simply download nvdia drivers from nvidia site, extract them and then update driver manually by choosing extracted dir.

snorkelman
You mean that original XP SP3 (english) disk can be propertly installed on my new air: 11" 128gb ssd? :)
 
alienatf said:
snorkelman
You mean that original XP SP3 (english) disk can be propertly installed on my new air: 11" 128gb ssd? :)
Click to expand...

if you can accept the driver restrictions i listed above (sounds like you can) then yes it installed without any problems from the install CD on my 11.6/4/64 MBA

Just make sure you disable all sleep settings and use a wired mouse.

Had similar reasons for trying it here - some of the access control systems we work with use their own USB devices and are XP only wont run on vista or W7 and cant access their USB devices via a VM.

Is a shame there isnt XP support I could easily have squuezed all of those old apps and XP into a 4 to 6 gig parition on the MBA an never needed to drag a works laptop to any of those sites..
 
Last edited:
snorkelman said:
if you can accept the driver restrictions i listed above (sounds like you can) then yes it installed without any problems from the install CD on my 11.6/4/64 MBA

Just make sure you disable all sleep settings and use a wired mouse.

Had similar reasons for trying it here - some of the access control systems we work with use their own USB devices and are XP only wont run on vista or W7 and cant access their USB devices via a VM.

Is a shame there isnt XP support I could easily have squuezed all of those old apps and XP into a 4 to 6 gig parition on the MBA an never needed to drag a works laptop to any of those sites..
Click to expand...

So, windows installed sucessfully. Thanks.
The last thing that i want: Wi-Fi drivers and i think i can use touchpad drivers from previos version or air.

Can you say me about Wi-Fi, what chipset it use?
 
alienatf said:
So, windows installed sucessfully. Thanks.
The last thing that i want: Wi-Fi drivers and i think i can use touchpad drivers from previos version or air.

Can you say me about Wi-Fi, what chipset it use?
Click to expand...

Wifi chipset is broadcom

Broadcom 802.11n Wireless adapter
BCMWL5.SYS version 5.60.18.9

(I picked that up from a bootcamp 3.0 drivers disc for a 2010 MackBook)


Older MBA drivers might be an option for the trackpad, I didnt think of trying those, but if memory serves me right you'll need the bootcamp assistant to work too (in order to get tap to click, right click etc out of the trackpad?)

In which case you could hit the same MacHAL and bootcamp assistant issues using MBA Rev A/B/ drivers as I got when trying to use the 2010 Macbook driver set.
 
snorkelman said:
Wifi chipset is broadcom

Broadcom 802.11n Wireless adapter
BCMWL5.SYS version 5.60.18.9

(I picked that up from a bootcamp 3.0 drivers disc for a 2010 MackBook)


Older MBA drivers might be an option for the trackpad, I didnt think of trying those, but if memory serves me right you'll need the bootcamp assistant to work too (in order to get tap to click, right click etc out of the trackpad?)

In which case you could hit the same MacHAL and bootcamp assistant issues using MBA Rev A/B/ drivers as I got when trying to use the 2010 Macbook driver set.
Click to expand...
Yes, Wi-Fi works.
The last thing i want: it's right mouse click on trackpad.

iFixit says that:
The back of the trackpad has a Broadcom BCM5976A0K chip on it as well as a Cypress CY8C24x94-24L PSoC chip.

*

The CY PSoC chip is likely responsible for the multi-touch capabilities on the trackpad as it has touch capability and has been found on many MacBook trackpads.
Click to expand...
Seems like old drivers from bootcamp should help.
But i don't have that disk.

Also i think, that drivers from
http://support.apple.com/downloads/Multi_Touch_Trackpad_Update_1_1_for_Windows
can help ---- already tried. Doesn't help :(

Or drivers from old macbook air - i think bootcamp drivers from old air can help.

But i don't know how to get them from .exe file.
 
Last edited:
alienatf said:
Yes, Wi-Fi works.

Also i think, that drivers from
http://support.apple.com/downloads/Multi_Touch_Trackpad_Update_1_1_for_Windows
can help. Or drivers from old macbook air.

But i don't know how to get them from .exe file.
Click to expand...

you can use winrar to extract them from the .exe file you'll then have three files the one you want is AppleMultiTouchTrackpadInstaller.exe

however although it will then install and claim its ready to use, you still wont have right click or multitouch or right click
 
snorkelman said:
you can use winrar to extract them from the .exe file you'll then have three files the one you want is AppleMultiTouchTrackpadInstaller.exe

however although it will then install and claim its ready to use, you still wont have right click or multitouch or right click
Click to expand...

Yeah, you are right.
Also manual update each HID device and Trackpad doesn't work.
I think there must be solution for that.

My programm have to use right click once :(
 
alienatf said:
Yeah, you are right.
Also manual update each HID device and Trackpad doesn't work.
I think there must be solution for that.

My programm have to use right click once :(
Click to expand...

if its just occasional use then theres an applemouseclick remapper program that lets you use Ctrl key and left mouse click to generate a right mouseclick

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Deskto...esktop-Enhancements/Apple-Mouse-Utility.shtml

you could add it to startup folder so it loads each time XP boots?

Shift and F10 can do it too but it isnt quite as precise as above file (can end up right clicking the wrong thing)
 
i have a qeustion. I have the exact same problem and had the problem in the installation. However i could reboot into the Windows XP but does not have ANY access cus of the permission that i had the error in the installation.

snorkelman
You mean that original XP SP3 (english) disk can be propertly installed on my new air: 11" 128gb ssd?
Click to expand...

what exactly is THAT original XP SP3 cus i have a cd that is XP SP3 and that was the one that gave me the error. anyone have any clue on how to fix this error?
 
Broadcom wifi driver found

Ironically, i found the broadcom wifi driver for the Macbook air 2011 version.
it is inside the Lenovo V470 driver pack (IN6WLN49WW1.exe) :

http://driverscollection.com/?aid=428689532372de5d9b955903d59

after running the exe in XP, it extract into several driver folder including
XP, win7 and vista, then u can update the network driver by
pointing to the XP directory.

it comes with the BCMWL5.sys and BCMWL5.inf under the XP directory
(my search on it root from 2 keywords: BCMWL6.sys and BCMWL6.inf
which is the win7 version of the driver)
 
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