Windows on a mac

jammy123 · jammy123 #1 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 03:44 AM

Hey folks, I am very green to my new mac so please bear with me. I have an accounting program that can only be run in windows. Is there anyway that I can get this program to work on my mac? Where can I find the cheapest and easiest to use program that will let me run my windows based accounting program on my mac?

Thanks!!

benparko · benparko #2 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 04:37 AM

You could see if the software vendor has a Mac version of the program, or you could install Windows via Bootcamp (search in the forums or on google) then run it from there. or you could run Windows as a Virtual Machine with something like VMWare Fusion or Parallels so you don't have to reboot to log into windows.

Have a look around and go for what suits you best.

Regards,

-Ben

jammy123 · jammy123 #3 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 04:48 AM

Hi Ben, thanks for the reply. I have confirmed that I cannot use the program on the mac...it has to be windows. If I download the VMWare Fusion, do I also need to purchase a windows xp or windows 7 cd as well? Again sorry for the questions, but trying to evaluate my options.

Thanks,
Jamal.

scathe · scathe #4 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 04:54 AM

For your accounting program, the best way would be to use a Virtual System with VMWare, Parallels or VirtualBox. This sort of thing is exactly what virtualization on the user level is meant for. I would recommend Virtual box since it's free and you only need to use one simple program.

And yes, you need a Windows installation disc along with a valid CD key.

Just an fyi, there is another way I can think of, and that would be to use wine translation or a wineskin wrapper, but that's a more advanced topic and usually best left alone.

benparko · benparko #5 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 08:08 AM

Yeah mate, you will need a Windows CD/DVD, with a serial.

Anything else, just ask...

-Ben

jammy123 · jammy123 #6 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 09:14 AM

Ok, thanks again folks. So then if I still have to get a windows key and serial number why would anyone use the VM Fusion or Parallels? Why wouldn't folks just use the BootCamp product on the Mac? I was doing some reading and it seems easy enough to use the BootCamp on the Mac to run it as a pc....or am I mistaken, and I have to get the VM Fusion or Parallels.

Does anyone have any ideas where to go to get a reasonably priced windows key - even for xp or vista? The only thing I will be using windows for is for my accounting program so I dont want to spend a heck of alot of money on it.

benparko · benparko #7 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy123

Ok, thanks again folks. So then if I still have to get a windows key and serial number why would anyone use the VM Fusion or Parallels? Why wouldn't folks just use the BootCamp product on the Mac? I was doing some reading and it seems easy enough to use the BootCamp on the Mac to run it as a pc....or am I mistaken, and I have to get the VM Fusion or Parallels.

With BootCamp, you need to reboot your Mac to then boot it up as a MAC OSX or Windows. With a Virtual Machine, you are running OSX and run the VMWare Fusion or others and you can run both OSX and Windows at the same time. I think the VM would be a better option for you so you can run OSX and then just switch between the two quickly. And for your accounting program, you wouldn't need to allocate much memory or hard drive space.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy123

Does anyone have any ideas where to go to get a reasonably priced windows key - even for xp or vista? The only thing I will be using windows for is for my accounting program so I dont want to spend a heck of alot of money on it.

Take a look on eBay.

All the best mate,

-Ben

benparko · benparko #8 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 10:46 AM

I found this one which is pretty cheap:

?³³Windows? ?XP PRO? Professional ?SP3? Full with COA? - eBay (item 110533644738 end time May-22-10 09:32:07 PDT)

cwa107 · cwa107 #9 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 10:47 AM

Quite a bit more info here:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/win...ers-guide.html

Slydude · Slydude #10 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 03:21 PM

If you already have an installation of Windows XP or higher installed it might be worth investigating Parallels. I haven't trued this yet but Parallels Desktop 5 is supposed to be able to transfer an existing Windows installation into a virtual machine on the Mac. Features Summary

jammy123 · jammy123 #11 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 08:08 PM

Folks...I thank you all so very much for your answers. I have another issue - So I have purchased the windows 7 and now I am confused as to how to actually go about installing it on the mac. I have downloaded it and saved it to a usb key..any step by step help would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to use it with virtual box.

Thanks,
Jamal.

cwa107 · cwa107 #12 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy123

Folks...I thank you all so very much for your answers. I have another issue - So I have purchased the windows 7 and now I am confused as to how to actually go about installing it on the mac. I have downloaded it and saved it to a usb key..any step by step help would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to use it with virtual box.

Thanks,
Jamal.

Where exactly did you download it from?

jammy123 · jammy123 #13 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 08:23 PM

An ebay member. It is an iso file. I got the product key from the individual. Also, when I click on the link that he provided to me for the iso file, it starts downloading to my mac right away. How do I tell it where to save the file? On the pc, before it starts downloading you can specify where to save the download file, but is this not the case with the mac?

chscag · chscag #14 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy123

An ebay member. It is an iso file. I got the product key from the individual. Also, when I click on the link that he provided to me for the iso file, it starts downloading to my mac right away. How do I tell it where to save the file? On the pc, before it starts downloading you can specify where to save the download file, but is this not the case with the mac?

The reason you were asked where you downloaded it from is that downloaded copies are generally ones that have been pirated. You more than likely just paid for a pirated copy of Windows 7. Doesn't matter if it has a SN. Pirates use serial number generator software and can generate thousands of serial numbers. Problem is that when you go to activate with MS, it will fail and come back and tell you that it is not "Genuine Windows". Which means you can do nothing with the copy. It won't update.

Regards.

jammy123 · jammy123 #15 (**permalink**)

05-16-2010, 09:49 PM

Oh boy......great.

benparko #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 318 Mac Specs: 15" MBP i5 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD 7200 + iPhone 4 32GB iOS4.1	05-16-2010, 04:37 AM You could see if the software vendor has a Mac version of the program, or you could install Windows via Bootcamp (search in the forums or on google) then run it from there. or you could run Windows as a Virtual Machine with something like VMWare Fusion or Parallels so you don't have to reboot to log into windows. Have a look around and go for what suits you best. Regards, -Ben Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon
	QUOTE Thanks

benparko #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 318 Mac Specs: 15" MBP i5 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD 7200 + iPhone 4 32GB iOS4.1	05-16-2010, 08:08 AM Yeah mate, you will need a Windows CD/DVD, with a serial. Anything else, just ask... -Ben Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon
	QUOTE Thanks

benparko #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 318 Mac Specs: 15" MBP i5 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD 7200 + iPhone 4 32GB iOS4.1	05-16-2010, 10:46 AM I found this one which is pretty cheap: ?³³Windows? ?XP PRO? Professional ?SP3? Full with COA? - eBay (item 110533644738 end time May-22-10 09:32:07 PDT) Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon
	QUOTE Thanks

cwa107 #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,951 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	05-16-2010, 10:47 AM Quite a bit more info here: http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/win...ers-guide.html Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

Slydude #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 15, 2009 Location: North Louisiana, USA Posts: 4,031 Mac Specs: 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro 10.8,3 8 GB mem, 2.66 GHz Mac Pro - Dead, iPhone 4	05-16-2010, 03:21 PM If you already have an installation of Windows XP or higher installed it might be worth investigating Parallels. I haven't trued this yet but Parallels Desktop 5 is supposed to be able to transfer an existing Windows installation into a virtual machine on the Mac. Features Summary Sylvester Roque Former Contributing Editor About This Particular Macintosh No matter what time it is where I am it's early morning somewhere in the world. At that hour of the morning follow my advice at your own risk. Anything sounds good before your first cup of coffee
	QUOTE Thanks

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jammy123 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2010 Posts: 8	05-16-2010, 03:44 AM Hey folks, I am very green to my new mac so please bear with me. I have an accounting program that can only be run in windows. Is there anyway that I can get this program to work on my mac? Where can I find the cheapest and easiest to use program that will let me run my windows based accounting program on my mac? Thanks!!
	QUOTE Thanks

scathe #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 12, 2009 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 1,096 Mac Specs: 2,4Ghz 15" unibody	05-16-2010, 04:54 AM For your accounting program, the best way would be to use a Virtual System with VMWare, Parallels or VirtualBox. This sort of thing is exactly what virtualization on the user level is meant for. I would recommend Virtual box since it's free and you only need to use one simple program. And yes, you need a Windows installation disc along with a valid CD key. Just an fyi, there is another way I can think of, and that would be to use wine translation or a wineskin wrapper, but that's a more advanced topic and usually best left alone.
	QUOTE Thanks

jammy123 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2010 Posts: 8	05-16-2010, 09:14 AM Ok, thanks again folks. So then if I still have to get a windows key and serial number why would anyone use the VM Fusion or Parallels? Why wouldn't folks just use the BootCamp product on the Mac? I was doing some reading and it seems easy enough to use the BootCamp on the Mac to run it as a pc....or am I mistaken, and I have to get the VM Fusion or Parallels. Does anyone have any ideas where to go to get a reasonably priced windows key - even for xp or vista? The only thing I will be using windows for is for my accounting program so I dont want to spend a heck of alot of money on it.
	QUOTE Thanks

jammy123 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2010 Posts: 8	05-16-2010, 08:08 PM Folks...I thank you all so very much for your answers. I have another issue - So I have purchased the windows 7 and now I am confused as to how to actually go about installing it on the mac. I have downloaded it and saved it to a usb key..any step by step help would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to use it with virtual box. Thanks, Jamal.
	QUOTE Thanks

jammy123 #13 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2010 Posts: 8	05-16-2010, 08:23 PM An ebay member. It is an iso file. I got the product key from the individual. Also, when I click on the link that he provided to me for the iso file, it starts downloading to my mac right away. How do I tell it where to save the file? On the pc, before it starts downloading you can specify where to save the download file, but is this not the case with the mac?
	QUOTE Thanks

jammy123 #15 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2010 Posts: 8	05-16-2010, 09:49 PM Oh boy......great.
	QUOTE Thanks

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