Install Vista on a MacBook?

[Tweakin]

I've read that it works, works but media player or cd burner doesn't work, all the way to the track pad having problems.

Looking for some real answers...

 

[TheStu]

Use bootcamp to fiddle with the EFI and partition the drive. Then, install Vista normally, but make sure you format the partition with the Vista installer.

Do not install 64bit Vista.

Install the drivers from the Leopard install disk.

That should do it for you.

 

[Tweakin]

What's bootcamp? Third Party application? Is it needed to wipe the disk clean?

 

[TheStu]

Ok, we are going to need to step back a bit

Bootcamp is a an application provided by Apple that will partition the drive, and then I believe it writes an MBR to the GUID on the disk, in addition to possibly modifying the EFI to give it BIOS emulation. It was originally beta'd in 10.4 Tiger, and then with the release of 10.5 Leopard, Bootcamp came out of beta. Bootcamp actually helped Apple do a lot of things that otherwise might have taken them quite a bit of time, such as modifying HFS+ (the filesystem in OS X) and Disk Utility to allow for non-destructive partitioning on a system drive.

Bootcamp can ordinarily be found in the Utilities folder on the Mac in question (Utilities is in the Applications folder). In the event that it is not there, then I suggest downloading Pacifist (Third party application that will expose all the packages on the OS X install disk) and installing Bootcamp from the Leopard disk.

If you are looking to solely install Vista, and not have OS X on the drive at all, then you do not need bootcamp. Just drop the Vista x86 disk into the MacBook, hold ALT or C when it is booting, and then select the disk from the boot screen. Install Windows normally, but make sure that you format the drive NTFS using Windows' formatter.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Ok, we are going to need to step back a bit

Bootcamp is a an application provided by Apple that will partition the drive, and then I believe it writes an MBR to the GUID on the disk, in addition to possibly modifying the EFI to give it BIOS emulation. It was originally beta'd in 10.4 Tiger, and then with the release of 10.5 Leopard, Bootcamp came out of beta. Bootcamp actually helped Apple do a lot of things that otherwise might have taken them quite a bit of time, such as modifying HFS+ (the filesystem in OS X) and Disk Utility to allow for non-destructive partitioning on a system drive.

Bootcamp can ordinarily be found in the Utilities folder on the Mac in question (Utilities is in the Applications folder). In the event that it is not there, then I suggest downloading Pacifist (Third party application that will expose all the packages on the OS X install disk) and installing Bootcamp from the Leopard disk.

If you are looking to solely install Vista, and not have OS X on the drive at all, then you do not need bootcamp. Just drop the Vista x86 disk into the MacBook, hold ALT or C when it is booting, and then select the disk from the boot screen. Install Windows normally, but make sure that you format the drive NTFS using Windows' formatter.

Out-Fricking-Standing...thank you very much. I have no intentions of running OS X, I just can't help myself with the technology of the MBP. Now all I have to do is decide which one...I'm really leaning toward the the baby...but the new claims regarding the 17" model have me drooling also.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

I liked Parallels Desktop a bit better than bootcamp but then again its better for full support.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: ajaidevsingh
I liked Parallels Desktop a bit better than bootcamp but then again its better for full support.

I'm looking to wipe out the Apple OS and replace with Vista only...not looking for dual boot.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Tweakin

Originally posted by: ajaidevsingh
I liked Parallels Desktop a bit better than bootcamp but then again its better for full support.

I'm looking to wipe out the Apple OS and replace with Vista only...not looking for dual boot.

Parallels is a virtual machine solution. You install Windows inside of OS X. Bootcamp helps with the dual booting.

However, as the OP just said, he wants neither and instead just wants to put Vista on to the MacBook.

 

[Tweakin]

Thanks Stu...

I'm still looking to see if anyone has any issues doing this. If I can't run this bug free, I'll look at a Dell or HP (which I really don't want to do...)

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Tweakin
Thanks Stu...

I'm still looking to see if anyone has any issues doing this. If I can't run this bug free, I'll look at a Dell or HP (which I really don't want to do...)

Here are the bugs that you will surely experience.

There is no tap clicking.
Mouse tracking via the trackpad is a little wonky, as is the 2 finger scrolling, but since most windows users use external mice on laptops anyway...

Fan control will sometimes be a little off, either running all the time, or not coming on in time. Usually the former.

Other than that, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Tweakin
Thanks Stu...

I'm still looking to see if anyone has any issues doing this. If I can't run this bug free, I'll look at a Dell or HP (which I really don't want to do...)

Here are the bugs that you will surely experience.

There is no tap clicking.
Mouse tracking via the trackpad is a little wonky, as is the 2 finger scrolling, but since most windows users use external mice on laptops anyway...

Fan control will sometimes be a little off, either running all the time, or not coming on in time. Usually the former.

Other than that, you shouldn't have any issues.

Running dual boot on a new macbook 08 i got all sorts of issues mainly freezes and odd color problems not to mention the noise of the fan...

Also there was a problem with the track pad "It went mad sometimes and did not work at all other times"

EDIT: Forgot about the dvd drive it worked ok for the most part read dvd's ok did not try and write any tough.

OP can you pls tell us which macbook model do u have anyways if its the new one with 9400 chip set dont install Vista at all.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: ajaidevsingh

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Tweakin
Thanks Stu...

I'm still looking to see if anyone has any issues doing this. If I can't run this bug free, I'll look at a Dell or HP (which I really don't want to do...)

Here are the bugs that you will surely experience.

There is no tap clicking.
Mouse tracking via the trackpad is a little wonky, as is the 2 finger scrolling, but since most windows users use external mice on laptops anyway...

Fan control will sometimes be a little off, either running all the time, or not coming on in time. Usually the former.

Other than that, you shouldn't have any issues.

Running dual boot on a new macbook 08 i got all sorts of issues mainly freezes and odd color problems not to mention the noise of the fan...

Also there was a problem with the track pad "It went mad sometimes and did not work at all other times"

EDIT: Forgot about the dvd drive it worked ok for the most part read dvd's ok did not try and write any tough.

OP can you pls tell us which macbook model do u have anyways if its the new one with 9400 chip set dont install Vista at all.

I was looking at the MB (13.3") or the MBP, and yes...they all now come with the 9400M Chipset.

Do you know something...?

 

[TheStu]

The only problems I ran into was when I tried to install Vista 64 onto my friend's MacBook Pro. However, it had the older 8600m GPU, not the newer chipset.

I have heard of trackpad issues, but nothing else.

 

[marketsons1985]

Originally posted by: TheStu
The only problems I ran into was when I tried to install Vista 64 onto my friend's MacBook Pro. However, it had the older 8600m GPU, not the newer chipset.

I have heard of trackpad issues, but nothing else.

Yeah, I've never run into issues that make XP/Vista/7 unusable (And I've installed them all onto my MB Late 2007).

I've not heard of anything like ajaidevsingh is speaking of with the new ones, I've not read of any issues anywhere.

OP, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

Originally posted by: marketsons1985

Originally posted by: TheStu
The only problems I ran into was when I tried to install Vista 64 onto my friend's MacBook Pro. However, it had the older 8600m GPU, not the newer chipset.

I have heard of trackpad issues, but nothing else.

Yeah, I've never run into issues that make XP/Vista/7 unusable (And I've installed them all onto my MB Late 2007).

I've not heard of anything like ajaidevsingh is speaking of with the new ones, I've not read of any issues anywhere.

OP, you shouldn't have any problems.

I should have elaborated when i dual booted Vista's Aero GUI made the macbook hot as hell and due to that the screen started to show weird colors.

The second problem was when ever i started a game HL2 in my case the screen would go dark in matter of min's. In Mac osx i had no games that i could test but basic games work ok and running 24/7 also does not case any heat problems.

Will update later after taking it to a Apple support outlet.