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bootcamp on mac

N

narreth

Senior member
hey, i just got a MBP 13" and i want to install windows on it....
would i be able to use the same windows xp cd key that i used on my desktop on my mac for bootcamp? I wouldn't be using the desktop AT ALL from next month so I was thinking i could just use the windows i have instead of buying another...
 
Technically... no.

If you removed windows from the desktop, then yes.

I'm not an expert but this is what I seem to recall.
 
Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
You'll be fine.
Click to expand...

No, you won't. It'll install just fine. Then the next time Windows Update runs and installs the WGA tool or whatever it's called, it'll start throwing errors saying the key has already been used. If you go ahead and call MS, they will then ask you how many computers said copy of Windows is installed on. Now, this is where I become unsure... You could lie and say just one, but I'm pretty sure you'd still see the errors - on both machines most likely. Like I said though, I'm just not 100 percent sure.
 
so it wouldn't install at all or is it just that i wouldnt be able to update?
Click to expand...

If it installs and activates it'll be able to run WU just fine, and even if WU fails AU still works so you can still update. The questionable part comes in if it doesn't activate, you should be able to call MS and lie to get an activation code however you'll be violationg the license at that point.
 
at the point when i'm installing the windows xp, if it doesnt take the cdkey as valid, (if it doesn't activate), can i cancel the installation at that point?
 
at the point when i'm installing the windows xp, if it doesnt take the cdkey as valid, (if it doesn't activate), can i cancel the installation at that point?
Click to expand...

It should always take the key, it's after the installation that it'll ask you to activate.
 
Originally posted by: narreth
but there is no risk of it damaging my mac in any way, since i can always delete the partition, right?
Click to expand...

No risk that I have ever encountered.
 
Have Apple wrinkled out all the imperfections yet? I can't remember which model this applies to but for those who have a unibody anything, how is the touchpad? I remember people complaining it was too sensitive.
 
Originally posted by: sindows
Have Apple wrinkled out all the imperfections yet? I can't remember which model this applies to but for those who have a unibody anything, how is the touchpad? I remember people complaining it was too sensitive.
Click to expand...

I believe those got worked out shortly after the original unibodies came out.
 
It will install just fine with the key (it does need to be a WinXP SP3 disc I think). However, as has been mentioned you will probably have to call MS to activate it. That will work fine also, but when you activate your XP key on the Mac, your PC install of XP will become de-activated. Essentially, what happens is that you can only legally activate your Windows key on one machine at a time, but you can transfer licenses from one machine to another. You could theoretically bounce your license back and forth from Mac to PC, you just can't simultaneously activate two different machines on the same key. which means you can't run XP on both machines at the same time legally.

This is the case with XP, is supposed to only be the case with Vista retail (although I've transferred a Vista OEM key once), and I have no idea how it works with Win 7.
 
Originally posted by: sindows
Have Apple wrinkled out all the imperfections yet? I can't remember which model this applies to but for those who have a unibody anything, how is the touchpad? I remember people complaining it was too sensitive.
Click to expand...

There were problems with it but Apple released a driver update shortly after they came out that fixes the issues. Sound problems were another big thing which Snow Leopard supposedly fixes. Third party drivers fixed the audio glitching for me though.
 
Originally posted by: mmntech
Originally posted by: sindows
Have Apple wrinkled out all the imperfections yet? I can't remember which model this applies to but for those who have a unibody anything, how is the touchpad? I remember people complaining it was too sensitive.
Click to expand...

There were problems with it but Apple released a driver update shortly after they came out that fixes the issues. Sound problems were another big thing which Snow Leopard supposedly fixes. Third party drivers fixed the audio glitching for me though.
Click to expand...

The trackpad is still too sensitive on the uMBP, even with Boot Camp 3 drivers. It is usable, but a huge adjustment after rebooting from OS X. They added the ability to right click by clicking the bottom-right of the trackpad though, which I know a number of people were interested in.
 
Originally posted by: nitromullet
Originally posted by: mmntech
Originally posted by: sindows
Have Apple wrinkled out all the imperfections yet? I can't remember which model this applies to but for those who have a unibody anything, how is the touchpad? I remember people complaining it was too sensitive.
Click to expand...

There were problems with it but Apple released a driver update shortly after they came out that fixes the issues. Sound problems were another big thing which Snow Leopard supposedly fixes. Third party drivers fixed the audio glitching for me though.
Click to expand...

The trackpad is still too sensitive on the uMBP, even with Boot Camp 3 drivers. It is usable, but a huge adjustment after rebooting from OS X. They added the ability to right click by clicking the bottom-right of the trackpad though, which I know a number of people were interested in.
Click to expand...

Is the sensitivity adjustable within Windows? Have you tried unselecting "Enhanced Pointer Precision"? As far as I've been able to work out, Enhanced Pointer Position is Microsoft's terminology for mouse acceleration.

I've also read that there seems to be other issues, the most annoying ones being that the keyboard is lit permanently and the lcd cannot be dimmed using the fc controls. Did Apple resolve these issues?

And how how is Windows overall? Any glaring issues besides the extreme touchpad sensitivity?

Sorry for the questions, I reallly want a MBP 13" but I need Windows more than a Mac.
 
Originally posted by: alevasseur14
Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
You'll be fine.
Click to expand...

No, you won't. It'll install just fine. Then the next time Windows Update runs and installs the WGA tool or whatever it's called, it'll start throwing errors saying the key has already been used. If you go ahead and call MS, they will then ask you how many computers said copy of Windows is installed on. Now, this is where I become unsure... You could lie and say just one, but I'm pretty sure you'd still see the errors - on both machines most likely. Like I said though, I'm just not 100 percent sure.
Click to expand...

You will be fine. WGA works by using a blacklist. You can activate over the internet just fine without having to call anyone.

Like I said you'll be fine.
 
Originally posted by: sindows
Originally posted by: nitromullet
Originally posted by: mmntech
Originally posted by: sindows
Have Apple wrinkled out all the imperfections yet? I can't remember which model this applies to but for those who have a unibody anything, how is the touchpad? I remember people complaining it was too sensitive.
Click to expand...

There were problems with it but Apple released a driver update shortly after they came out that fixes the issues. Sound problems were another big thing which Snow Leopard supposedly fixes. Third party drivers fixed the audio glitching for me though.
Click to expand...

The trackpad is still too sensitive on the uMBP, even with Boot Camp 3 drivers. It is usable, but a huge adjustment after rebooting from OS X. They added the ability to right click by clicking the bottom-right of the trackpad though, which I know a number of people were interested in.
Click to expand...

Is the sensitivity adjustable within Windows? Have you tried unselecting "Enhanced Pointer Precision"? As far as I've been able to work out, Enhanced Pointer Position is Microsoft's terminology for mouse acceleration.

I've also read that there seems to be other issues, the most annoying ones being that the keyboard is lit permanently and the lcd cannot be dimmed using the fc controls. Did Apple resolve these issues?

And how how is Windows overall? Any glaring issues besides the extreme touchpad sensitivity?

Sorry for the questions, I reallly want a MBP 13" but I need Windows more than a Mac.
Click to expand...

At least on my old MacBook, the F keys work just fine on the keyboard to control hardware features. I know that on my buddy's Penryn MacBook Pro the keyboard was backlit all the time, but his drivers never quite took. But that was probably my fault for accidentally downloading and installing a cracked copy of Vista that did weird BIOS things, especially weird since a Mac has an emulated BIOS at best.

I will check with Tyranicus and see how his is doing with Windows 7.
 
Originally posted by: sindows

Is the sensitivity adjustable within Windows? Have you tried unselecting "Enhanced Pointer Precision"? As far as I've been able to work out, Enhanced Pointer Position is Microsoft's terminology for mouse acceleration.

I've also read that there seems to be other issues, the most annoying ones being that the keyboard is lit permanently and the lcd cannot be dimmed using the fc controls. Did Apple resolve these issues?

And how how is Windows overall? Any glaring issues besides the extreme touchpad sensitivity?

Sorry for the questions, I reallly want a MBP 13" but I need Windows more than a Mac.
Click to expand...

The pointer isn't too fast. The trackpad is too sensitive. The trackpad has the option to let you tap-drag. This means you tap once, then highlight text or drag your window, and tap again to release. This works brilliantly on the MBP under OS X. Under Windows when you enable the same feature, you end up constantly selecting and highlighting things unintentionally.

Other then that, Wndows runs fine on the MBP.
 
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