How to Use a PC Sims Game on a Mac

You can install the The Sims PC edition on your Mac.

Although there are Macintosh-compatible versions of The Sims, you can also play the PC version of this computer game by running a virtual machine on your Mac. A virtual machine allows you to install a Windows operating system on your Mac, which in turn enables you to install PC-exclusive software on your computer. The Boot Camp Assistant application on your Mac gives you the tools to section off a part of your hard drive and install your Windows OS. Once it's installed, you can choose to start your system in Windows or Mac OS.

Things You'll Need

• Windows OS installation CD
• The Sims installation CD
• Mac OS v. 10.4 or later

Instructions

1. Click "Go" at the top of your screen and click "Utilities" from the drop-down menu.

2. Double-click the "Boot Camp Assistant" icon, then click "Continue" on the Boot Camp Assistant window.

3. Click "Partition," then insert the Windows installation disc into your optical drive. Click "Install" and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. Depending on the size of your hard drive and speed of your processor, installation can take 45 minutes to an hour.

4. Press the "Eject" button on your keyboard to remove the installation disc after the installation is finished.

5. Click the "Apple" icon at the top of the screen and select "Restart" from the drop-down menu. Click "Restart" on the dialog box to restart your computer, and hold down the "Option" key until a dialog box appears asking which operating system (Windows or Mac) to run.

6. Select "Windows" and insert the Sims installation CD into your optical drive. Double-click the icon for "The Sims" on your desktop to begin the installation, which takes five to 10 minutes to complete. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

References

• Apple Support: Boot Camp Setup & Installation Guide
• "Macs For Dummies"; Edward C. Baig; 2008