How to install Windows on Mac using various programs. Ways to install Windows on Mac

Installing Windows on Mac OS is possible and quite simple if you come prepared. In this article we will tell you how to install Windows on Mac OS - possible methods and options, as well as additional information and subtleties of the process.

MacOS users may need to use the Windows operating system for several reasons, ranging from the habit of using Microsoft's operating system to the need to use special software that is designed only to run on Windows. To avoid having to purchase a new device, but to take advantage of excellent hardware characteristics and the use of the desired system, MacOS allows you to use multiple systems on one device.

What should I do before installing another OS?

  • Find out about the compatibility of equipment and OS versions (compatibility with Windows 10 and compatibility with version 7 of the system).
  • Check for updates to MacOS and utilities and update if found.

Boot Camp

Installing Windows 10 on Mac OS Sierra can be done through the special BootCamp utility.

Utility "Boot Camp Assistant"- Software from Apple, which allows you to create an additional partition on the disk for installing an additional OS and further use.

Before installation, you must download an image of the desired Windows system. This can be done on the official Microsoft website.

  • Go to the Windows 10 image download page (or version 7, but this will require a key).
  • Select the desired system and language, and then begin downloading the image.

To start Boot Camp, open Programs – Utilities and select "Boot Camp Assistant".

In the Boot Camp window, you will need to select the amount of free space that will be allocated for Windows. When choosing, we recommend taking into account your needs - whether you will play games and install “heavy” applications or rarely use the system.

It is worth noting that if you allocate 100 GB of free space in Boot Camp, after installing the system, about 75 GB will be available to you.

In the ISO disk image line, specify the path to the downloaded system image. Click the “Install” button and the software will begin downloading for further configuration.

After the device reboots, the standard Windows installation process will begin. Using the “ten” as an example, let’s look at the main points.

  • Initially, agree to the terms of the agreement.
  • Select the OS version and bit level.
  • At the stage of selecting a partition where files will be copied, you need to select a partition called BootCamp.

  • The process of copying files and preparing the main components of the system will begin.

  • After all reboots are complete, you will be greeted by a system pre-configuration window, where you will need to specify a Microsoft account to log into the system; if you don’t have one, create a local profile. You will also need to specify privacy settings, which are recommended to be disabled - this will speed up the device a little and Microsoft will receive less of your data.
  • When finished, you will be greeted by the Windows desktop and a small BootCamp application window. You will need to allow the application to configure the system drivers so that the screen resolution becomes correct and all components such as network connectivity, Bluetooth and others.

Installing Windows 7 on Mac via BootCamp is done in the same way, the only difference is the welcome screen and the initial screen.
It's also worth knowing a few additional facts about Boot Camp if you want to know how to install Windows on a Mac using BootCamp:

  • All device drivers necessary for correct operation are also updated via Boot Camp.
  • It is recommended that you initially download the required driver package from the Apple website.
  • The system will work quickly and responsively, using the device's resources to the maximum. There is also a low probability that problems will arise from the drivers, since Apple treats this very seriously and carefully. But no one has canceled the bugs and problems on the part of Windows, although on version 10 there are fewer and fewer problems (until the release of a major update).
  • Using MacOS and Windows at the same time is not possible, since the device can only operate and use resources with one system running. And here virtualization tools come to the rescue, which will be discussed further.

Important! Sometimes, when installing Windows on a Mac, you may get the no Bootable device error. To solve this problem, use the following tips:

  • Using a legal image (no pirated builds).
  • Try changing the boot priority to MacOS and repeat the installation.
  • Try using USB drives or ISO files when using Boot Camp.

Parallels Desktop

There may be situations where you may need to install Windows 7 or 10 on a Mac without using BootCamp. For example, when you need to use both MacOS and Windows at the same time, but having 2 devices is too expensive and inconvenient. Virtualization tools will come to the rescue, one of which is Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Parallels Desktop is a software solution for creating a virtual machine and then installing Windows, Linux and other operating systems. Allows you to use another operating system without rebooting the device and enjoy the functionality of different operating systems at the same time.

The latest version of Parallels Desktop 14 is currently available at a price starting from 4,990 rubles.

The application has truly outstanding functionality:

  • Common desktop for Windows and MacOS.
  • Using Win applications in the MacOS interface without having to start a virtual machine.
  • Backup, shared clipboard, Drag-n-Drop, huge tools for working with a “windowed” OS and much more.

With Parallels Desktop, you'll learn how to quickly install Windows 10 on a Mac as a second system, with just the click of a button. What do I need to do:

  • Download and install the trial version of Parallels Desktop from the official website.
  • And click Install to start

  • And at the end of all procedures there will be a notification about the successful completion of the installation

The developers have made sure that the process is as simple and fast as possible for Mac users. We will also look at how you can perform a clean installation of Windows 7 or 10 on Mac OS high sierra or later using Parallels, using version 11 as an example:

  • Launch Parallels Desktop and select "Install".

  • Specify the path to the installation disk, USB flash drive or system image.

  • You can choose express installation of the system, which will require only a system key and a minimum of actions. Or you can uncheck the express installation box and configure the process yourself.

  • You can choose not only the number of active cores, RAM or storage memory, but also video memory, system usage, boot priority and much more.

  • After this, the standard installation procedure will begin. You will need to select a language and select an installation location.

  • After which, Windows 7 will be successfully installed. You only need to give a name to the profile and PC, create a password (if required), enter an activation key, configure the time and settings for connecting to the Internet.
  • The system is ready to use

The application is really very functional and solves many problems at once. But if you don’t have 5 thousand rubles to purchase a license, we’ll show you another way to install Windows 7.10 on Mac OS using VMware virtualization.

Oracle Virtualbox

VM VirtualBox is a virtualization tool from Oracle. A free application that will allow you to run Windows 7 or 10 without a separate installation on Mac or BootCamp. The functionality is not as rich as Parallels Desktop, but this solution is free and will allow you to use 2 systems simultaneously. What is needed for this:

  • Download and install VM VirtualBox for OS X hosts from the official website.
  • Download the image of the desired system, for example “Ten”
  • Create a new virtual machine. Enter name, type and OS version

  • Set the amount of RAM

  • Set the storage capacity for the virtual machine and specify the disk type as VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)

  • Once the virtual machine is created, click on Settings.

  • In the “Storage” tab, specify the path to the image of the loaded OS, and then launch the virtual machine.

  • The standard system installation procedure will begin. You can find out about the procedure in the paragraph about Boot Camp.

As you can see from this article, it’s quite easy to install Windows 7, 8 or 10 instead of Mac OS, you just need to choose the option that’s convenient for you. Using the full power of the device, but putting up with only one active OS, or taking full advantage of all the advantages of Windows and MacOS, but with minor performance losses.

Have a great day!

As great as macOS is, Mac owners sometimes still need Windows on hand. More PC-compatible software is available for Microsoft's brainchild, and if you're a gamer, you'll need Windows to run the most popular gaming titles.

There are two simple ways to run Windows 10 on a Mac that do not require restarting the computer, which is relevant for Bootcamp technology.

Parallels Desktop

The most convenient way to use Windows 10 on a Mac is to download Parallels Desktop for OS X. The application is paid, but has a free trial period. This is the best option considering the features it offers and ease of use.


Before you can use Parallels, you must obtain a copy of Windows 10. You can download the system image in ISO format. Most users will need the Russian 64-bit version of Windows 10, but your requirements may vary. Download the system file to your Mac.

Next, you should download a copy of Parallels Desktop for OS X. Select the "Try Now" or "Buy" option and download the DMG file. After downloading, unzip the archive and go through the installation process. If you decide to purchase Parallels, you can immediately enter a license key for full access to all features of the program. Otherwise, opt for the 14-day free trial.


Launch Parallels Desktop and begin installing Windows 10. You will be given three options: get Windows 10 from the Microsoft website, install Windows from a disk or image file, or transfer Windows from another PC. The second option suits us. The program will pick up the ISO file automatically. If this does not happen, select the image location manually.

While navigating through the settings pages, disable the “This version requires a license key” option. You will be prompted to select how you want to use the virtual machine and allocate available memory. The settings can be changed later, so don't put too much emphasis on them. You must also choose a name and specify a location to store the Windows 10 image.


After completing all the necessary settings, Parallels will boot into Windows. Select "Home Edition" and begin the installation process. In a few minutes, Windows 10 will be installed on your Mac. Parallels should automatically open Coherence mode, which allows you to use Windows 10 features while running macOS. To switch to full-screen Windows display, go to the Parallels section in the Finder menu and select View -> Exit Coherence Mode.

You can now run Windows 10-compatible apps and enjoy all the features of both systems, including Cortana, quick viewing of Windows documents (by pressing the Spacebar, just like in macOS), easier file sharing, printing, Mac location services for Windows apps, and more Further.


VirtualBox

If you don't need as many features that Parallels offers, then to work with Windows 10 on a Mac, you can get by with a free utility called VirtualBox (you'll need a copy of Windows 10 anyway).


You can download VirtualBox for macOS. Download the DMG file, open it and double-click to install the application. After completing the procedure, launch VirtualBox from the Applications folder, specify the name, amount of allocated physical and RAM to create a virtual machine with Windows. Then click on the green arrow and perform a “custom” installation of the system.

Congratulations! You now have fully functioning Windows 10 on your Mac.

Not long ago, Apple released a new version of the 13-inch MacBook Air. Contrary to the usual year difference, the new product came out just six months later, however, the changes in it are small: a slightly more powerful processor, and that’s all. Reviewers decided on a desperate experiment - installing the Windows operating system on a MacBook Air. You can find out more about the results below.

In the standard configuration of the new MacBook Air 13, the default Intel Core i5-4260U processor with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz is installed instead of the Intel Core i5-4250U with 1.3 GHz in the six-month-old model. This gives a very small increase in performance, it can only be noticed in benchmarks, however, the new product is offered to customers for the same money, and the previous model is cheaper. It is difficult to find adequate competitors for the MacBook Air. Models that are more or less comparable in price tend to have lower performance (despite the higher clock speed, the Intel Core i5-4200U itself is less productive than the i5-4250U/4260U).

On the other hand, you can find Windows laptops similar in size and performance, but they will cost much more - it will be a completely different price category, and some characteristics will be noticeably better (screen resolution, for example), which is not always justified in such laptops.


Well, moreover, it is impossible to find a Windows laptop that would last as long as a MacBook Air on battery power. This is due, among other things, to the energy efficiency of the OS X operating system.

How to Install Windows on MacBook Air

It is very difficult to install the OS X operating system on a regular Windows PC, and even then it is not a fact that everything will work. In most cases, the so-called “Hackintosh” is used - a special build of OS X, which, after performing special rituals “with dances and tambourines,” is capable of running on a regular PC. However, if the user is lucky with the motherboard, then after flashing the BIOS and replacing the bootloader, you can even install a completely official OS X distribution, which will even receive regular updates from the Apple server. Some, however, also call this method hackintosh.

But installing Windows on any Mac is a piece of cake. No more difficult than installing Windows on any “regular” computer, perhaps a little longer. The simplest method of installing Windows on a Mac is to use the Boot Camp Assistant utility built into OS X, which will help you partition the disk, configure the bootloader and prepare a bootable USB flash drive with drivers and a distribution image (or without it, if you have a DVD at hand).

Note that even if you prefer virtualization to installing multiple operating systems on your computer, this is also not a problem in OS X: the most popular virtual machine for Mac, Parallels Desktop, allows you to work with Windows installed in Boot Camp and does not require additional manipulations: that is, you can use Windows both in virtualization mode and loading into it separately. But for the purposes of this article we will only work with Boot Camp.

So, we stock up on an external USB DVD drive, an image of 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium and an 8 GB flash drive. Now it's time to do something small - launch Boot Camp.


First, the utility will ask what we are going to do. The top checkbox: “Create a Windows installation disk or later” can be removed immediately - we don’t need this, because There is already a disc (DVD). Click “Next”.


Since we have already inserted the flash drive into the USB, Boot Camp suggests using it to save drivers and other useful utilities that will be useful to us when working in Windows. The next stage is disk partitioning.


Usually programs that deal with disk partitioning are quite complicated for beginners, but here everything is elementary - you don’t have to do anything by hand. Maybe just pull the slider, choosing how much space on the built-in drive will be allocated for OS X and how much for Windows. We chose the “Divide into equal parts” option.

Basically, that's all. After clicking the “Install” button, Boot Camp will begin preparing the USB flash drive. At this time, you can go have tea, having previously connected a USB-DVD drive and inserted the Windows distribution into it. Boot Camp will work for about half an hour, it all depends on how much you have to download from the Internet. Remember the checkbox in the first step: “Download the latest Windows support software from Apple”? This is what it is. You could turn it off, but we prefer everything fresh. After Boot Camp finishes, the computer will reboot and Windows installation will begin as usual. Select your country, select your keyboard, sit back, enter your product code, sit back again, and so on. Unless you have to manually format the newly created partition (it will be called BOOTCAMP) in NTFS. But Windows will warn you about this.

When Windows installs and finally boots, it will install the very same Windows support software from Apple that it includes.

In total, Windows 7 was installed via Boot Camp in just over an hour with minimal user interaction. Even a child can handle it.

Running Windows on MacBook Air

Windows 7 feels great on the latest MacBook Air.


This is not surprising - the hardware of poppies is quite ordinary.

To help a Mac driver who has just left the friendly and familiar world of OS X and entered Windows - a world little familiar to him and therefore hostile, there is a “Boot Camp Control Panel”, which is automatically installed from a USB flash drive. The icon of this application is placed in the tray and you can always call it from there.

The application has three sections: boot volume selection, keyboard settings, and touchpad settings.


In the keyboard settings - only selecting the operating mode of the functional row of keys F1-F12. Unfortunately, there is no key mapping. By default, the Alt/Ctrl control keys correspond to their Windows counterparts, and Cmd turns into the Windows key (accordingly, to launch Explorer, for example, you need to press Cmd+E). If you connect an external Windows keyboard, it will work as expected from a Windows keyboard. As for the layout, the default will be “Russian (Apple)” - completely similar to the standard Russian layout in OS X, but you can simply select “Russian”, and then the button under Esc, to the left of the “1” key will turn into the letter “Ё” "


There are more parameters in the trackpad (touchpad) settings. In fact, they allow you to bring the use of the touchpad in Windows as close as possible to OS X - almost all the usual multi-touch gestures will be available.


By the way, the logical disk with OS X (which is formatted in HFS+) is also accessible from Windows. True, only for reading. You won't be able to delete anything from it, just like you won't be able to create a folder or file.



By the way, formatting will also not work - the system will throw an error. But it’s still better not to do this - after we tried to format the OS X partition from Windows, it crashed and we had to restore OS X via Recovery. In general, this is the only bug that we found. Although quite unpleasant.

From OS X, the Windows disk (formatted in NTFS) is also readable, but not writable.

Download and select OS

On a Mac, there is no “traditional” OS selection menu. By default, after installing Windows in Boot Camp, the laptop will boot into OS X without issue when rebooted or turned on. If you want to boot into Windows, you need to hold down the Alt button while booting - then a menu for selecting a boot partition will appear. If you have not installed anything else, then there will be three sections: recovery (OS X recovery), OS X and Windows. Select the third one and boot into Windows.


And since Windows will reboot much more often than OS X, which generally rarely requires a reboot, it makes sense to configure the Boot Camp utility on Windows to boot into Windows by default. Even if you very rarely use Microsoft operating systems, believe me, it will be easier. After all, you will have to turn off or restart your Mac under OS X even less often.

Performance test

Let's now see what MBA13 is capable of on Windows. First, a performance assessment based on the version of Windows 7 itself.


Everything is quite expected: fast RAM, a fast hard drive (which here, actually, is not a hard drive, but a solid-state drive), although the system clearly flattered the processor and graphics for games. But when working, as they say, with office applications, “everything really flies.”

We also ran PC Mark 7. The results are as follows:


Is it a lot or a little? See for yourself: Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro with Intel Core i3-4010U scored only 4286 points, and Acer Aspire S7-392-74508G25tws with Intel Core i5-4200U processor scored 5048 points.

But we have one more test left. As you know, the MacBook Air 13 is the longest-lasting thinnest laptop available today. Under OS X, it works for up to 12-13 hours without any “dim the screen brightness, turn off all wireless interfaces, move at least 10 steps away from the computer and try not to breathe.” Well, what about Windows? Easy to check. We carried out the following test: in each OS we launched a standard browser (Internet Explorer for Windows and Safari for OS X), opened three pages in the browser: Facebook, Twitter and Vkontakte (so that they were constantly updated), and also launched an MPEG video for loop playback. 4 with Full-HD resolution and expanded it to full screen. By the way, the screen brightness was set to maximum. In general - harsh conditions and no concessions.

In this mode, the MacBook running OS X worked for 9 hours and 32 minutes. Not a bad result, we approve. Well, what about Windows? Alas, the situation here is not so rosy: 5 hours 11 minutes. In principle, this is not so little compared to the same ultrabooks on Windows, whose manufacturers claim 6-7 hours of operation, but in reality they (if used approximately as we described above) are discharged after 4-4. 5 o'clock. But still, the difference is almost double with OS X. This, by the way, once again confirms the energy efficiency of OS X itself.

By the way, at first we wanted to test without launching the video player, but simply open the fourth page in the browser, from YouTube, where we could launch the Full-HD video. In OS X, MacBook Air 13 worked in this mode for 6 hours 26 minutes (such a low result is explained by the constantly running Flash Player - because of YouTube), and in Windows 7 - five hours, but for some reason in Internet Explorer it was impossible to select YouTube Full-HD resolution (1080p), only HD (720p), and when using Google Chrome, where there were no problems with Full-HD on YouTube, the laptop generally worked for 4 hours 15 minutes. We rejected this test - you can hardly trust its results, because... conditions were unequal. But, if anything, keep in mind: the Google Chrome browser drains your computer faster than Safari or Internet Explorer.

How to Remove Windows from MacBook Air

What should you do if you no longer need Windows on your Mac and need to remove it? Apple took care of this too. Boot into OS X, launch “Boot Camp Assistant” and select “Remove Windows 7 or later.”


That's it, nothing else is needed - the program itself will erase the disk partition that is no longer needed and fill the remaining space with the main partition.



Removing Windows has never been so fast - the entire procedure took less than a minute.

Practice shows that Apple still produces the best laptops in the world. Reliable, powerful, lightweight, energy efficient. But even if the Windows world doesn't let you go, all is not lost. Apple took care of the user and provided him with an amazing opportunity to use Windows on a Mac, if necessary.

If you have never reinstalled an operating system in your life, much less installed several operating systems on one computer, Boot Camp will still not let you get confused. You won’t even have time to get scared - a minimum of questions and Boot Camp will already start working. Well, if you are an experienced geek, then you will certainly be surprised by the simplicity and ease of the process. Although, it is worth noting that not every geek is able to appreciate the simplicity and ease.

Even the most ardent OS X fans sometimes need to take advantage of the “enemy” Windows. There are different situations: from the need to use banking clients and corporate software to launching games. There are many ways to run applications written for Windows, using both third-party tools and proprietary Apple solutions.

Conventionally, they can be divided into three categories: a full installation of Windows, the use of virtual machines and emulators of the Windows software environment. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so we will look at them all so that you can choose the one that is most convenient for you.

Installing Windows using Boot Camp

Especially for those unfortunates who are unable to break all ties with Windows, Apple created the “Boot Camp Assistant” utility, with which you can prepare your Mac for installing Windows and, in fact, install it. In this case, a separate partition is created on the disk, allowing both operating systems to work independently of each other.

You will need 50 GB of free space and a Windows boot disk. The installation process itself is very simple, you just need to follow the wizard's prompts and wait for completion. After the reboot, you will have a full-fledged version of Windows at your disposal, just like on a regular PC. All you have to do is install the necessary applications or games - and you can use it. You can find out more about the requirements and supported versions.

Benefits of Boot Camp

  • Performance. Since all the resources of the Mac are used by only one OS, we get maximum performance.
  • Compatibility. Thanks to full-fledged Windows, full compatibility with any applications and games is ensured.

Disadvantages of Boot Camp

  • Need to reboot. To start Windows, you will have to restart your Mac every time.
  • Lack of integration. Windows does not support the HFS+ file system, which means you won’t be able to access OS X files from it, and vice versa.

Using virtual machines

This method has much in common with the previous one, but is slightly different in implementation. With it we also get a full-fledged OS, but it is installed not on real hardware, but on virtual one. Special software (virtual machine) emulates the hardware platform for running Windows, taking away some of the Mac's resources, and it turns out that one OS runs inside another.

Parallels Desktop


parallels.com

Perhaps the most popular virtual machine among Mac users. Parallels is regularly updated, always works with the latest versions of OS X and Windows, and has additional features such as hybrid mode, when the OS X and Windows interfaces are simultaneously displayed on the screen, and applications run regardless of their ownership. In addition, the program can launch Windows from Boot Camp partitions, which is convenient if you need to access any applications or data without rebooting.

The disadvantage of the program is that Parallels is not free. The junior version will cost you $79.99.

VMware Fusion


vmware.com

Another commercial solution for OS virtualization. The key feature of VMware Fusion is the sharing wizard, which allows you to transfer the entire environment from your Windows PC to a virtual machine and continue using applications on your Mac. Installed Windows shares a clipboard with OS X, as well as access to files and network resources. Its applications are fully integrated with OS X features (Spotlight, Mission Control, Exposé). In addition, it supports running Windows from the Boot Camp partition.

VMware Fusion costs 6,300 rubles, but before purchasing you can explore its capabilities in a free trial version.


If your plans do not include additional expenses for running Windows applications, then your choice is Oracle. Compared to paid analogues, it has much fewer capabilities, but is quite suitable for simple tasks. You shouldn't count on integration with OS X system functions, but basic things like a shared clipboard and access to network resources are available here. The free nature of VirtualBox fully justifies all of its limitations.

Benefits of virtual machines

  • Simultaneous operation of two operating systems. You don't need to restart your Mac to run Windows apps.
  • File sharing. Since Windows runs inside OS X, file system support is not an issue.

Disadvantages of Virtual Machines

  • Poor performance. Because Mac resources are shared between the two operating systems, application performance is significantly slower, especially on older computers.
  • Compatibility issues. Some applications (most often games) that require direct access to hardware may not work correctly or not work at all.

Using emulators

With emulators, everything is completely different than with virtual machines and Boot Camp. More precisely, they have something in common with virtual machines, only they do not emulate Windows as a whole, but only those of its software components that are necessary for the operation of the desired application. We will not have a full-fledged OS and access to its functions: we get a certain compatibility layer that allows us to run a Windows application directly in the OS X environment.

All emulators work on the same principle. The installation of the application is initialized via setup.exe, and then during its process the necessary launch parameters are configured and the necessary libraries are automatically loaded. After this, an application icon appears on Launchpad, which will work in the same way as all native OS X programs.

WineBottler


winebottler.kronenberg.org

This emulator can turn an .EXE file into an OS X compatible application. WineBottler also allows you to automatically load some already configured Windows applications. It is completely free and compatible with OS X El Capitan.

Wineskin

Another emulator, which, like the previous one, uses the Wine libraries to create ports. Compared to the previous solution, Wineskin has more settings and allows you to fine-tune the settings. We talked in detail about its setup and use in.

CrossOver

A commercial emulator whose development team has already adapted and configured many popular Windows applications and games for you. CrossOver has a friendly interface and eliminates the need to delve into settings and deal with possible errors. The only negative is that it is paid. The license costs $20.95, but there is a 14-day trial period.

Advantages of emulators

  • No Windows license required. Emulators run applications through a compatibility layer, so a licensed copy of the OS is not needed.
  • Performance. Again, due to the savings in resources that are spent on running full-fledged Windows in virtual machines, we get higher performance compared to them.

Disadvantages of emulators

  • Difficulty setting up. To use Windows applications, you first need to configure them, and this is not always easy, especially with games.
  • Compatibility issues. In some cases, applications (usually resource-intensive ones) may not work correctly or not work at all.

What to choose

What to ultimately choose from such a variety? There is no clear answer to this question. In each specific case you need to build on your needs, but in general the recommendations are as follows.

  • Boot Camp Suitable primarily for gamers, as well as those users who need maximum performance and compatibility with software. We reboot the Mac and we get a full-fledged Windows computer.
  • Virtual machines will help out in cases where you need both OSs at the same time. We sacrifice performance, but avoid reboots and get good integration.
  • Emulators Can only be recommended for simple tasks and infrequent use. For example, when you need to use a bank client a couple of times a month or occasionally feel nostalgic in your favorite game.

Choose the most suitable option for yourself, and in the comments tell us for what needs you use Windows applications on your Mac and how you launch them.

To work with iSpring programs on a Mac computer, you must additionally install the Windows operating system on it. This will allow you to work with Windows applications that have no analogues for Mac OS.

The two most common ways to install Windows on a Mac computer are through the Boot Camp tool included with Mac OS and virtualization. In this article we will look at both methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and how to use them together.

You will need:

    Mac computer with an Intel processor (2007 or newer) with the latest Mac OS updates installed.

    Install Parallels Desktop for Mac.

    Create a new virtual machine: File > New or press Command + N on your keyboard.

    Choose an action Install Windows from a USB flash drive or using an ISO image.

    Read more on the official Parallels website.

    Computer resource usage. Windows virtualization applications can only use a portion of your computer's resources. To improve performance, in the settings panel, allocate more processor cores and more RAM to Parallels. Please note iSpring's minimum technical requirements.

    OS display method. Using a virtual machine, you can choose exactly how the two systems will be displayed. We recommend Full Screen mode. The default Coherence mode can be confusing when working with PowerPoint and iSpring, as Windows applications appear directly on the Mac desktop.

    Screen resolution. Retina displays in modern Mac computers have high resolution. Because of this, icons and fonts in some Windows applications, including iSpring, are displayed very small. To avoid this:

    In Parallels settings, select Equipment > Video and make sure the For Retina option is selected.

    Right-click on the Windows desktop > Screen resolution > Make text and other elements larger or smaller, set the scale to 100% and click Apply.

Boot Camp + Virtualization

You can use virtualization in combination with Boot Camp. For this:

    Install Windows via Boot Camp on a separate sector of the hard drive, as described above.

    Install a virtualization program (for example, Parallels).

    When creating a new virtual machine, select Use Windows via Boot Camp.

Pay attention to the installation order: first Boot Camp installation with disk partitioning, then connecting this image through a virtualization program. If you install Windows OS on a virtual machine first, you will not be able to boot into Windows.

By combining the two methods, you can enjoy the benefits of both:

    You can run Windows on Mac OS to work with two systems in parallel without rebooting. This is useful if you need to work with iSpring programs or other “light” Windows applications.

    Can boot to Windows for maximum performance. This will allow you to work with resource-intensive graphic editors that may not start when working with a virtual machine.

Note: The free VirtualBox application does not allow you to use Windows through Boot Camp.

Perhaps the only drawback of combining the two methods is the problem of activating Windows and some programs. Every time Windows starts, it checks to see if the hardware has changed since installation. When you alternate booting Windows between Parallels Desktop and Boot Camp, Windows Activator notices the difference in hardware (virtual and real) and may require reactivation. Solving this problem is not difficult.

Summary

Boot Camp

Suitable for using resource-intensive Windows applications.

Advantages:

    High performance running operating system.

    Does not require installation of additional software. Boot Camp is free software that comes with Mac OS.

    Apple Certified Technology with technical support.

Flaws:

    You need to restart your Mac every time you want to start Windows.

    You cannot use two systems in parallel, since they are installed on different sectors of the disk.

Virtualization

Advantages:

    No hard drive partitioning required.

    A virtual machine takes up exactly as much space on your hard drive as required by Windows and installed programs. The memory size for the virtual machine changes dynamically.

    No need to restart your computer to work with Windows, two systems can be used in parallel without rebooting.

    Virtual Windows image easy to copy, move and delete.

    You can install several operating systems on one computer, for example, different versions of Windows or Linux.

Flaws:

    Lower performance virtual system compared to using Boot Camp.

    Can't boot into Windows to use all the computer's resources.

    Most virtualization software is not free (with the exception of VirtualBox).

Boot Camp + Virtualization

Allows you to boot into Windows, as well as run the same Windows system in a virtual machine in a Mac OS environment if you don’t want to reboot.

Requires a large supply of free hard disk space.

Advantages:

    Possibility to choose a loading method.

    High performance when booting the computer under Windows (Boot Camp technology).

    Windows can be used simultaneously with Mac OS without rebooting the computer (virtualization technology).

Flaws:

    Requires hard drive partitioning, where you need to allocate enough space to the Windows partition.

    Using different methods to boot the operating system may cause activation problems Windows.

System requirements

The main requirement for installing Windows is an Intel-based Mac computer. If your Mac was manufactured in 2007 or later, it is likely one of these. Other system requirements depend on the version of Windows you want to install.

Popular questions

Question: Can I use Wine or CrossOver to run iSpring?

Answer: No. Wine and other similar programs create a virtual copy of only part of the operating system. iSpring runs in a complex environment that includes MS Office and its components, so you won't be able to run iSpring using Wine.

Question: Can I get full access from Mac OS to the Windows Boot Camp sector on my hard drive? I can open BOOTCAMP through Finder, but I cannot make changes on this sector.

Answer: Yes, but to do this you will need to install additional software, such as Paragon or Tuxera. Mac OS and Windows use different file systems (Mac OS Extended (HFS+) and NTFS), so Mac OS does not allow you to make changes to NTFS sectors.