How to Create a Windows Partition in Macintosh
Mac computers ship with the OSX operating system, but there are some often-used programs that run more smoothly -- or only run at all -- on Microsoft Windows. If you have a Macintosh computer with an Intel processor, it's possible to create a disk partition that allows you to install the Windows operating system on your Macintosh for dual booting options. This partition format is known as "Fat32." You can usually do this easily by using the built-in Disk Utility program, but if that does not work for any reason there is a more complicated option using Terminal commands.
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Instructions
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Partitioning With Disk Utility
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Insert your Mac OSX start up disk and restart your machine.
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When the computer starts make the startup tone you need to hold down the "C" key until you see the progress indicator. The indicator looks like a rotating gear.
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3
Wait for the installer to appear. Select "Utilities" and then "Disk Utility." On that menu, select the disk you want to partition and click "Partition."
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4
Select any options you wish to partition the disk with (note: you'll need to select Fat32 for the format) and then click on the button "Partition." It will be at the bottom of the window.
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Wait for the utility to finish, and then restart the computer. When it reboots, you'll have a Windows partition on your Macintosh.
Partitioning With Terminal
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Launch the Terminal application located in the Utilities folder. (See "Warnings" below for a note on using Terminal.)
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Type "ls /dev/rdisk?" This command will list what drives are in the computer. Choose which drive you want to put a Windows partition on and remember what number it is.
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Type in "ls /dev/rdisk?*" where "?" is the number of the hard disk you are going to format with a Windows partition. You'll should see "rdisk?s1" appear (again "?" is the number of the drive you chose) and the s1 shows you the partition already on the drive.
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Run the command "newfs_msdos -v FAT_VOLUME_NAME -F 32 /dev/rdisk2s1" and change "FAT_VOLUME_NAME" to whatever you are going to name this partition. The terminal will now format your drive creating the Windows partition (Fat32). Enjoy your Windows partition!
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Tips & Warnings
Only use Terminal if you are experienced with it. It just takes one incorrect command in a line of coding to potentially seriously mess up your file structure, so type the phrases exactly as they appear in the quotation marks. Be careful and read the instructions before you just start copying the code.
