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- 2006.03.23 - Tip Jar
When Apple released the first of its Intel-based Macs, there was immediate interest in running Windows on them - not necessarily to replace Mac OS X, but as an additional option, allowing Macintel owners to run software (like Microsoft Access database) that doesn't have Mac equivalents without performance-sapping workarounds like Virtual PC (which isn't available for the new Macs in any event).
There was an initial optimism; it ought to be easy. After all, these Mac models were using the same sort of Intel CPU as all millions of Windows systems. But as I pointed out in my January 24th article, Windows on Intel Macs? OS X on PCs? Don't Hold Your Breath, it was harder than it looked.
The Intel Macs use a new-generation startup called EFI Extensible Firmware Interface) rather than the PC-standard BIOS used on nearly all Windows systems. Windows XP (and earlier versions) has no built-in support for EFI.
In fact, while there was early hope that EFI would be supported in the upcoming Windows Vista operating system, Microsoft recently announced that only 64-bit versions of Vista would have EFI support.
The Intel Macs are 32-bit systems.
As it became clearer that getting Windows to work on the Intel Macs would be a challenge, Houston shipping broker Colin Nederkoorn decided to formalize the challenge. He offered what started off as a $100 reward and solicited donations to up the ante for the first demonstration of Windows running on a new Mac. Eventually nearly US$14,000 was donated to OnMac.net.
There were some conditions: Windows needed to coexist with the Mac OS, the two operating systems must not interfere with one another, and upon boot up, a user would need to be able to choose between the two operating systems.
On March 16th, two Bay Area software developers, Jesus Lopez and Eric Wasserman, won the prize. (Lopez says he never owned a Mac before buying one to work on the challenge).
Details of the steps necessary to create a dual-boot system have been released and are available for download from OnMac.net. They have been open-sourced, allowing the developer community to improve on them.
I haven't tested them, but while they appear do-able, they're not for the faint of heart. As a first step, they require setting up separate partitions on the Mac's hard drive for OS X and Windows. Using Disk Utility on the OS X install CD, this would require nuking your current OS X installation and all the hard drive contents. An EFI bootloader is included in the download.
Apparently, when the grey screen with the Apple logo appears at the beginning of startup, this process allows a user to press the down-arrow; that brings up a Windows logo on the grey background. Pressing enter confirms the choice of Windows, and bootup continues to the Windows XP system.
The solution has been demonstrated working on 17" versions of the Intel iMac, the new Intel Mac mini models, and the MacBook Pro.
Nederkoorn is hoping that the open-source development will help it
evolve into something that's easier to apply for nontechnical
computer users. 
Alan Zisman is Mac-using teacher and technology writer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Many of his articles are available on his website, www.zisman.ca. If you find Alan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent Columns by Alan Zisman
- Time Machine can now backup to a shard hard drive, 07.08. Earlier versions of Leopard didn't seem to allow backup to a shared drive on another Mac, but the 10.5.4 update allows it.
- SanDisk Sansa Clip a low cost alternative to iPods for Mac users, 07.01. There's no video or photo support, but the Sansa Clip works with MP3 files and includes an FM radio and a microphone.
- Leopard makes it easy to share your Mac's screen locally and over the Internet, 06.30. Mac OS X 10.5 makes it easier to remotely access a Mac's screen on a network or over the Internet with more options than ever before.
- More in the Mac 2 Windows index.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- More air: Expectations for future MacBook and MacBook Pro models, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.08. Next generation 'Books are expected to include Intel's next generation Montevino processor, but wireless power and wireless USB could give Apple a leg up on the competition.
- Safari 3.1 Is the best browser for Macs and for Windows, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.08. Apple's Safari browser is fast, lightweight, and compatible with pretty much any website that doesn't require users to run Windows and Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.
- Best iBook G3 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.08. Used clamshell, $100; 500 MHz CD, $169; 700, $279; 600 CD-RW, $240; 900 Combo, $299; 14" 700, $300; 900, $449.
- Best Power Mac G4 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.08. Used 450 MHz ACP, $79; 533 DA, $100; 867 QS, $200; 1.25 GHz MDD Combo, $375; 867 dual, $325; 1 GHz, $395; 1.25, $529; 1.42, $619.
- Best classic iPod deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.08. Used 20 GB, $100; 30, $120; 40, $150; 60 color, $175; 30 video, $160; 80, $200; refurb 80 classic, $209; new, $229; refurb 160, $299; new, $319.
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- List of the Day: PowerList for those using Power Computing Mac clones.
- July 9 in LEM history: 01: Anti-spam measures marginalize low-end Macs - Color Classics on eBay - DSL diary - The 25th Anniversary Mac - 02: eMac test drive - Women in IT - 03: A week with an eMac - Are Apple's applications helping or hurting? - 04: Hardware failure, that rare Mac headache - Radeon Enabler unlocks video features
- Macintosh reliability improving since the shift to Intel, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 07.07. For a while in the G3 and G4 era, Apple was plagued with logic board failures and analog board problems, but they seem to be a thing of the past.
- 1.8 GHz, SSD MacBook Air price cuts; Samsung vs. Hitachi notebook drives; Centrino 2 preorders; and more, The 'Book Review, 07.07. Also MacBook shipments up 61% over Q1 2007, Apple notebook redesign rumored, Santa Rosa MacBook Pro video failure, Mopar in-vehicle wireless Internet, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,749, and m
- iPhone 3G service more costly in States, outrageous in Canada, and more, iNews Review, 07.07. Also long fingernails and the iPhone, future iPhone may include keyboard and Intel Atom CPU, voice control for iPods, Ringtons Studio for the iPhone, and more.
- Best MacBook deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.07. Used 1.83 GHz Combo, $819; 2.0 SD, $975; refurb 2.1 GHz Combo, $949; 2.4 SD, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1 Combo, $1,005 a/r; 2.2 SD, $1,205 a/r; more.
- Best eMac deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.07. Used 700 MHz CD, $140; CD-RW, $150; Combo, $170; 1 GHz, $200; 1.25 GHz SD, $230; 1.42 GHz Combo, $300; SuperDrive, $439.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.07. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $40; 10.1, $49; 10.2, $60; 10.3 DVD, $80; CD, $160; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $80; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $130.
- More links in our archive.
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