How to Install a Windows Operating System in an Apple Macintosh Computer

Install Windows on your Macintosh computer via Boot Camp.

Although Macintosh computers and Windows PCs use different operating systems, you can install a Windows operating system on your Mac by using the Boot Camp Assistant utility application. The Boot Camp application partitions, or sections off, a portion of your computer's hard drive to be used for the installation of the Windows operating system. Once installed, you have the option to run your Apple computer using the Macintosh operating system or the Windows operating system.

Things You'll Need

• Mac OS X 10.5 or later
• 2GB of RAM
• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (or later) installation disk

Instructions

1. Select "Go" at the top of the screen on your Macintosh's desktop, and click "Applications" from the drop-down menu. Double-click the "Utilities" folder in the Applications window to open the folder, and double-click the "Boot Camp Assistant" icon in the Utilities window to run the application.

2. Select the partition slider in the Boot Camp window to adjust how much hard drive space to designate to the Windows operating system, and click the "Partition" button in the Boot Camp Assistant window.

3. Click the hard drive you wish to install the Windows operating system on if you are using multiple hard drives, and select "Start Installation" in the lower-right corner of the application window.

4. Insert the Windows installation disk into your Macintosh computer's optical drive with the label side face up.

5. Select the BOOTCAMP option in the Windows partition window, and click the "Next" button to continue or press the "Return" key on your keyboard.

6. Once the computer restarts, click "Mac OS X" or "Windows" as the start-up drive for your computer.

References

• Apple: Boot Camp Installation and Setup Manual