04-15-2012, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Sue de Nimes

Cheers - thanks.

Just one final thing. Will OSX write to a Windows Samba share?

Yes, OS X has Samba built in, and will write to a Windows share, using SMB.

04-15-2012, 02:49 PM

Brilliant!

I think it is looking like Mac time when the new iMacs come out.

Assuming they don't get changed into something weird.

08-30-2012, 09:05 AM

The comments seem really informing. HOWEVER, I am really a newbie. Too many choices for me to understand.

All I want to do is install Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 on my intel iMac desktop. I need for the solution to be relatively simple. I would prefer to be able to switch back and forth. I will only be using Windows for office applications and hopefully picture editing in Picasa 3.

Any hope? Thx

08-30-2012, 11:20 AM

I use Parallel 7 on my laptop & desktop. Very straightforward and easy to use. I run Money 2008 and store my database on Dropbox. My neighbor does the same and he is not a computer expert.

08-30-2012, 03:07 PM

All I want to do is install Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 on my intel iMac desktop. I need for the solution to be relatively simple. I would prefer to be able to switch back and forth. I will only be using Windows for office applications and hopefully picture editing in Picasa 3.

A better solution is to run the Mac version of both. Since Picasa (Mac and Windows version) is free you've nothing to lose by trying it. Office 2011 for the Mac is fully compatible with Office for Windows. You can buy the Mac version of Office 2011 (Home and Student single install) for as little as $90 from several web retailers.

08-30-2012, 11:26 PM

Thx MikeV99. I did just that. It couldn't have been easier. Gosh, now I can throw away all the pages I printed explaining much more complicated ideas that were way beyond me.
I would love to trade my apple gift card to pay for the Parallels software.

09-28-2012, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by cwa107

1. Running Windows on a Mac is just like running Windows on a PC. So, your Windows installation is certainly susceptible to viruses.

2. Yes and no. If you run Windows in a virtual machine (i.e. Parallels or VMWare) and you give the virtual machine access to your Mac's hard drive, there is a potential for a virus to damage your Mac's files. Likewise, if you run Windows in Boot Camp and you've installed a driver that allows the Windows installation to access your Mac's partition, the same thing could potentially happen. In either case, this would require a very specific set of circumstances and is rather unlikely. In real world usage, any virus infections would be relatively confined to the Windows installation and not harm Mac OS X in the slightest.

3. No. Just as you can't run Windows software on Mac OS, you can't execute a Windows virus and have it effect OS X. While you could potentially download a virus, the virus would not be able to run in Mac OS X. With that said, you could potentially forward on a Windows virus to another Windows machine, but your Mac OS install would remain undamaged.

I was advised by a Mac expert from an authorized Apple retailer to install ESET Cybersecurity for Mac before installing Parallels and the Windows os. This way, I would be protecting both Mac and Windows at the same time, thus alleviating the necessity to buying separate antivirus software for the Mac and PC OS's. Can I get a confirmation on this. Thanks...

09-28-2012, 08:33 PM

It's not needed. Just install the free "Microsoft Security Essentials" in your Windows virtual machine running under Parallels. A virus or malware contracted in Windows has no impact or effect on OS X whether you're running Windows from a dual boot or VM.

09-29-2012, 08:16 PM

Thank you chscag for that answer; it has saved me $$ and precious TIME. BTW, that's a great photo of your avatar...

Flying Seed

01-03-2013, 04:18 PM

Is there a way to install Windows 7 using a VM on a Mac without an optical drive (and not using an external optical drive at all)? So far my Googling has brought up complicated procedures and using rEFIt or other odd approaches.

01-03-2013, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by MYmacROX

Is there a way to install Windows 7 using a VM on a Mac without an optical drive (and not using an external optical drive at all)? So far my Googling has brought up complicated procedures and using rEFIt or other odd approaches.

In a VM? Sure. All you need is an ISO of Windows 7. VMWare Fusion will boot off of it and proceed with the install seamlessly. I've done the same with XP, 7 and Linux. No problem at all.

01-03-2013, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by cwa107

In a VM? Sure. All you need is an ISO of Windows 7. VMWare Fusion will boot off of it and proceed with the install seamlessly. I've done the same with XP, 7 and Linux. No problem at all.

Thanks for the quick reply and info. I am planning out how to get Win 7 on my new iMac since it has no optical drive. (there's no way to just download Win 7 onto the iMac, is there?)


Ok, so I could use my MBP's disc drive to read the Win 7 CD and create the ISO. I just found directions for that - seems pretty straight-forward.

Then do I copy it to a flash drive and install it onto the iMac? I'm thinking of using VirtualBox. Does VBox allow for that type of install (flash drive ISO)?

01-03-2013, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by MYmacROX

Thanks for the quick reply and info. I am planning out how to get Win 7 on my new iMac since it has no optical drive. (there's no way to just download Win 7 onto the iMac, is there?)


Ok, so I could use my MBP's disc drive to read the Win 7 CD and create the ISO. I just found directions for that - seems pretty straight-forward.

Then do I copy it to a flash drive and install it onto the iMac? I'm thinking of using VirtualBox. Does VBox allow for that type of install (flash drive ISO)?

I can't speak to VirtualBox, unfortunately. I believe that in Parallels, you can actually purchase Windows 7 through Parallels itself and then it will download and prep it as needed to allow for the install. Not sure if Fusion will do this - but I've read that Parallels can.

01-18-2013, 07:10 AM

I'm a new Forum member and new to the Mac family. I received a Macbook Pro w. retina display (15.4/2.6GHz/8GB/512GB Flash Storage) for Christmas and intend this to be my "go to" travel computer for personal and office use. The problem is that my business has operated in a Windows environment for 25 years, and for those business needs, I will have to be able to work well and remotely link into our office files and file server that is all in a Windows environment. That means being able to operate the Office suite of products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Access). We run Windows XP Professional on our office computers and server.

I have read much of what has been posted on "A Switcher's Guide" with great interest, and found it helpful. I may have missed a thread that addresses my particular question, however, and that is: With the obvious disadvantage of installing Boot Camp to run in the Windows environment (to me, that is having to shut down and re-boot when switching OS's), why not just install the latest Microsoft Office for Mac on my Macbook?

If this has been already addressed on the Blog someplace, I would greatly appreciate being directed to that thread. I just haven't been able to find anything on this. Otherwise, I look forward to hearing from someone on the advantages/disadvantages, etc. Thanks!

01-18-2013, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by cbavol

With the obvious disadvantage of installing Boot Camp to run in the Windows environment (to me, that is having to shut down and re-boot when switching OS's), why not just install the latest Microsoft Office for Mac on my Macbook?

The simple answer is that MS Office for the Mac is somewhat incomplete. The Mac version comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook in the highest end edition. You're missing Access, Publisher, OneNote, InfoPath and in the more advanced editions, Visio.

There are of course Mac-specific replacements for these products, but if 100% feature-parity is needed, there's no substitute for running a native install of Office.

I have the Mac version of Office (2011) Professional and use it regularly. I also have a copy of Windows 7 running in VMWare Fusion. I very rarely need to use it, but during those times that I do, it's a lifesaver and very convenient.