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Help, Guides, and News on making the Switch To Apple Macintosh Computers
What is Boot Camp Assistant?
Boot Camp Assistant is Utility in the Mac OS X operating system that helps Mac users install Microsoft Windows on their Intel-based Mac. The latest version of Boot Camp (version 3.0.x) offers support for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Boot Camp Assistant requires that a Microsoft Windows installation disc be used to perform the Windows installation.

Boot Camp Assistant helps you create a Windows partition that will "house" the Windows installation. This partition will reside separate from Mac OS X and once Windows has been installed, you'll be able to boot your Mac into Mac OS X or Windows.
Don't I need Windows drivers?
Yes you do, you will find these drivers on the Mac OS X installation disc that came with your Mac and/or via a Boot Camp Assistant update from Apple.
Can you explain it a high-level?
The Boot Camp Assistant utility helps the person performing the Windows installation create a partition. It then restarts your Mac after you have inserted the Windows installation disc. You then follow the steps to install Windows. Finally, install Mac-specific drivers to allow you to optimally use Windows on your Mac.
So the three key steps are:
- Run Boot Camp Assistant
- Install Windows
- Install the Boot Camp drivers on the Windows partition
What are the requirements?
- An Intel-based Mac
- A USB keyboard and mouse, or for Mac portables, a built-in keyboard and trackpad
- The latest version of Mac OS X - (refer to Software Update)
- At least 10 GB of free space on an internal hard drive
- A built-in optical disc drive or a compatible external optical drive
Key points about the Windows installation disk
A full Windows installation disc is required, an upgrade version is not supported.
Windows 32-bit version
Windows 64-bit is supported on the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro early 2008 or later
By enabling the installation of Windows on a Mac, Apple has made it that much easier for users to make the Switch To A Mac. Users can have a single system that can run both Mac OS X and Windows thereby allowing users to use the operating system they need at any given time.
By: switchtoamac
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