I know that it has been asked before but .......

...... Please help a numpty.
It's about this Bootcamp malarkey. I've thought about it long and hard and there's just no way that I can avoid running some Windows programmes that just won't work on a Mac.
The snag is that I'm a complete numpy when it comes to computers. I know that I have a Bootcamp App in my Apps folder and a Win 7 disc, but where do I go from there?
If some kind soul would be so kind as to write out a step-by-step list of what I need to do to make Windows work on my computer I'd be ever so grateful. Failing that, just a link to a demo of what I need to do would be nearly as good.
Cheers,
Steve

A step by step is provided in Boot Camp Assistant - open it - click the link that says 'Open Boot Camp Help'.

I suggest anyone wanting to install Windows read through it "twice".
It's fairly simple and it's not that long.
It doesn't get much simpler than what Apple has already provided.

After you have read through it twice, then you can find the same online tutorials we can find by searching google. But, you'll find they are the same as Apple's - maybe more pictures.

When you're ready, I would also print it out, so you have it in hand to follow along while working through the steps.

5tevie said:

I know that I have a Bootcamp App in my Apps folder and a Win 7 disc, but where do I go from there?

Click to expand...

A great place to start would be to read these two threads:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ru...4239-running-windows-mac-switchers-guide.html
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ru...otcamp-save-yourself-possibly-hours-time.html

- Nick

And remember the Windows 7 disc needs to be 64bit preferably, and activating is precisely the same as on a Windows PC.

It sounds like you don't have any special (e.g. gaming) needs for your Windows applications. Why not run Windows in a Virtual Machine? It's explained in Nick's first link above...but it basically allows you to run Windows as an app on the Mac, with all Windows' programs running inside of it. You can easily swap back and forth between Mac and Windows without having to reboot your system, maintaining a good degree of the Mac experience!

Arghhhhhh!!! ..... I was getting on nicely with the links that you guys have kindly provided but then Checco came along and threw a spanner in the works. Am I right in thinking that with Checco's plan, I will be able to have an icon on my desktop that I can click on to to open up Windows and from there I will be able to run the progs that I need?
Cheers,
Steve.

ps .... Sorry for the delay but I've been very busy just lately.

Virtualisation runs an operating system within the operating system, as if it's a program. You typically have three options (see attached screenshots for reference):

1. Single Window: Windows is run as an App, as if you have a monitor within your monitor and you run programs inside it.
2. Unity: Windows programs appear on the dock (I personally don't like this one), almost as if they're native OSX apps. Note the OSX Word next to Visio for Windows and Windows Calculator overlapping both.
3. Full Screen: as per 1 above, but full screen. Windows is the Desktop labelled VMWare Fusion, with Visio and Calculator open.

If you don't have serious processing/graphics requirements, it's a nice and easy way to go, complete with 3 options.

5tevie said:

Arghhhhhh!!! ..... I was getting on nicely with the links that you guys have kindly provided but then Checco came along and threw a spanner in the works. Am I right in thinking that with Checco's plan, I will be able to have an icon on my desktop that I can click on to to open up Windows and from there I will be able to run the progs that I need?

Click to expand...

This is covered in link #1 in my earlier post.

- Nick