Booting

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I know with Macs we can boot from a firewire drive. If my Windows desktop PC has a firewire port, can I connect the Mac to the PC and boot the PC on the Mac?

 

[TheStu]

I am not sure what you are asking... do you want to boot your desktop windows install on the Mac?

Even if that were to be possible, it wouldnt work since Windows would freak out over the hardware differences.

You can use macs in what is known as target disc mode, but that is with another mac.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Let's say for example that you use VMWare or Parallels, can you boot it through that?

Sorry for not being clear, but you got the idea, I want to boot the Windows HDD on my Mac.

 

[TheStu]

I don't think so no. Booting over Firewire implies a Firewire enclosure. Firewire port on a computer is trickier, and I am fairly certain that you can't Target Disk a Windows box.

However, for what you are wanting to do, i would recommend using VNC. That would let you connect to your windows desktop over the network and control it that way.

 

[Injury]

Even if it was possible, there isn't software out there that COULD do it.

I can't fathom any good reason why, if you have physical access to both machines and they are close enough to connect with a firewire cord, why you could possibly WANT to do this other than to say you did it.

What would it accomplish? Seeing windows on the mac monitor and using the mac keyboard and mouse?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I was thinking if I could do it maybe in a VM environment. Would that be feasible?

 

[TheStu]

Still no.

Parallels comes with Parallels Transporter which will apparently let you turn your Windows install into a VM... I am sitll unsure as to why you want to do this though

 

[Scott66]

Parallels and VMware allow you to run windows software on your mac. all the drivers are for your mac machine. Your window computer uses totally different devices and drivers, so your mac would be unable to control the windows computer. you might be able to use the firewire connection as a communications port (Like ethernet). This would allow you to access files on the Windows machine but that would be it.