What do you love most about your Mac?

I LOVE the ability to install ANY Intel-based OS I want on it as the ONLY OS.

This is actually just as easy as installing OS X.

You oughta see Vista Home Premium on an Intel-based iMac. Beautiful.
And NO EFI partition, as well as NO OS X partitions. Only my Vista partition. Sweet!

Donald McDaniel

It definitely says something about the quality of the hardware that mac supplies today. I have seen so many windows machines right out of the shipping box, that are barely able to run MS operating systems.

Intel based macs run XP, Vista, Linux, and Mac OS X. What more could you want when you're looking for a computer to fulfill your ever changing needs?

Do I just format the drive on my Intel iMac to NTFS and run the Vista installer?

Do I need to format at all?

You don't use Boot Camp to do this?

This sounds neat, more details please

Humphrey

Here's how:

A few necessities first.
1) An Intel-based iMac.
2) OS X currently installed (don't worry, it will be gone soon enough).
3) Latest firmware updates for your iMac installed. This is absolutely necessary, or even BootCamp won't work. (don't worry, you will NOT be installing Vista via BootCamp,. Never the less, it has to be installed to burn the Windows driver's disk.)
4) NEWEST version of Boot Camp installed (1.4)
5) A full installer disk for Vista (this can be either a "Full OEM (sometimes called a "System Builder Kit") or a "FULL Retail" DVD. Note that UPGRADE disks cannot be used, since to use an upgrade disk, one needs to be able to open the DVD tray after the Microsoft installer begins. This is not possible with Apples, which use slot-loading drives.) Note also that the license associated with the CD key MUST be a valid license. I do not approve of piracy AT ALL.


Now that you've gotten those together, let's start:

First, Start Boot Camp Assistant and do NOTHING but burn a Macintosh Drivers Disk for Windows. Again, DON'T do ANYTHING ELSE!!! at this point. Boot Camp Assistant is ONLY needed for burning a drivers disk in this method.
Once you have this disk burnt, set it aside (don't forget to label it so you won't lose it on your desk somewhere).

Next, put your Vista install DVD in the drive and RESTART your machine, remembering to hold down the Alt key until the Apple Boot Menu appears. At this time, say goodbye to OSX completely, since once Vista is installed, the machine will be an Apple Windows PC ONLY.

DON'T DO THIS if you aren't SURE it's what you want to do. Also remember that if Apple releases any firmware updates for your particular Apple, you will have to reinstall OS X from start, deleting your Vista partition in the process. Using this method, you CAN'T have BOTH OS X AND Vista installed as the primary OS. No way around this. So Make a decision NOW, before you do something to your Apple you really don't want to do.

NOTE that this method requires NO hacks to OS X or Windows, nor does it break either your Apple Warranty, or your Vista EULA. It is completely safe, if you follow my directions carefully.

Choose the Vista Install Disk as your Boot drive from the Apple Boot Menu.
The Vista installer will throw uo a message asking you to press any key to boot from CD/DVD. Press any alpha-nnmeric key immediately.

The Vista installer will begin.

Choose a CLEAN install (that's the only kind you can do at this point). Then choose to do work on the hard drive. Delete ALL partitions on the drive, INCLUDING ALL OS X partitions, as well as the 200MB drive at the beginning of the disk (this is the EFI partition, necessary for OS X to operate). Then create a SINGLE NTFS partition filling the entire drive, and format it.

Then install Vista installation on partition "C:" (disk 0, partition 1).

Once the Vista installation finishes, and you are at the Vista Desktop, remove the Vista Install disk, and replace it with the Windows driver disk you created earlier under OS X. The drivers will be installed.

Then make sure to update Vista using Windows Update. Two very important updates will not be included, so you will have to download them frim Microsoft Downloads. These are:
1) KB

I will post the links to these updates as soon as I get back in Windows.

Again, Sorry.

Anyway, if you know how to install Windows clean, you will have no problems.

NOTE 1:
Most Apple devices will be enabled, EXCEPT:
The Apple built-in iSight camera. Doesn't work at present in Vista. The previous versions of Boot Camp drivers did support the iSight camera under XP, but not Vista. And the current version STILL doesn't support the camera in Vista.

I advise you to use a Logitech Bluetooth desktop set, rather than a Microsoft or Apple set, both of which lose the bluetooth connection each time you reboot. The Logitech Bluetooth drivers don't.

NOTE 2.
DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, use a third-party tool to repartition/format your Apple disk. Use ONLY the Microsoft Partition utility built in to the Vista installer (DURING Vista installation). I cannot say this stronger. JUST DON'T DO IT!!!

If you follow these directions carefully (and actually know what you are doing) OS X WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE HD. PERIOD.

PLEASE, FOLLOW MY ADVICE, AND THINK THIS OVER CAREFULLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING IT.

I REFUSE TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MESS IT UP. IN FACT, I REFUSE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN ANY CASE. I OFFER NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. PERIOD.

Donald McDaniel

Wow!
Replacing OS X with Microsoft Windows!
The number of extra programs I could run is in the thousands. Shame that most of these programs are written by some script kiddy in his mothers basement.

One wonders why anyone would consider it necessary to remove an OS that has not got a virus problem with one that is plagued by them.
Coupled with the lack of support from anywhere, present poster excepted of course, and the need to uninstall one, install another, to update firmware or such.

The whole thing seems to be an exercise in futility. From the way you describe it, it is not even a challenge to one's ingenuity.

Think I'll stick with OS X until Redmond come out with something better than their current offerings.

has been deleted.

If you cannot keep a civil tongue then I have no alternative other than to delete your posts.

Just because you did not like the reply, which did not contain any abusive comments, there is no need to launch into an offensive rant.

I would suggest that you consider not posting in the Mac forums again as the Mac, and its users, seem to cause you great stress.

P

Ask yourself and others these questions:
1) What is a so-called "Microsoft Computer"
2) Where are "Microsoft computers" manufactured
3) Who manufactures them (If indeed they exist)

If you can answer these two questions rationally, I will seriously begin to consider learning the delicate art of self-disembowelment as practiced by the medieval Japanese.

I personally at present own no "Microsoft computers", nor have I ever seen or owned any such creatures in the wild since at least 1979 or before. In fact, I am convinced that no such beast exists (except for the TablePC(R), which is so high priced that even Bill Gates wouldn't buy one.)

Donald McDaniel


I do not even own the iMac I am writing on. In fact, currently I own neither an IBM clone, nor an Apple.

Is this an obsessive compulsion to answer whether it is truly possible to pass an elephant through the eye of a needle? Are you searching for the great white guppy? The one responsible for the loss of your leg and the early end of your tap dancing career?

I believe those Microsoft machines pre 1979, you speak of, were the ancient abacus found in the pyramids of Giza. Good explorers and fashionable flappers alike, were shocked to find the archaic calculators... prehistoric Babbage machines, if you will... and the hieroglyphic trademark for Microsoft, prominently displayed across the attached limestone monitor when the decrepit clay bottle batteries were once again filled with vinegar. A primitive version of Pong was the only game to be found on the machine's hard drive.

I enjoyed answering your seven questions... and applaud you in your effort to take up new hobbies.

I remain your obedient servant...

Queequeg

I love Pong!
We still play on my MacMAME machine, (circa 1987) and running strong.

Sir, your useless reply is...well...useless.
Why?

1) Apparently you missed my sarcasm completely.
2) Apparently, you missed what I was saying entirely.

Just in case you never finished elementary school,

The gist of my reply was that MICROSOFT is NOT in the business of manufacturing "Microsoft Computers". PERIOD.

Microsoft has NEVER manufactured a "Microsoft computer", and probably never will be.

Apparently, you've been reading Wikipedia too much.

There has NEVER been a "Microsoft Computer"
There most probably never wil be a "Microsoft Computer."
Microsoft is in the business of manufacturing SOFTWARE.
The current Microsoft Operating System (Windows Vista in all its beauty) is in no way a "Microsoft computer".

NOR is the current Apple Macintosh Operating System a computer.

While Apple has manufactured several iines of computers , the Apple Macintosh (or "Mac", as it is popularly called) has been its most popular line, and the one which has lasted the longest.

While all Apple computers previous to the Intel-based "Macs" REQUIRED the so-called "MAC OS", Intel-based Apples NO LONGER DO. PERIOD.

ANY Intel-based OS may now be installed on them, obviating the NEED for OS X.

Got it yet, stud?

BTW, provided the needle is large enough, and its eye is large enough, a planet-sized elephant may easily pass through the eye of a needle.

Your precious little Mac is more than capable of running Vista as its ONLY Operating system, and capable of doing it BETTER than most other non-Apple, Intel-based computers.

Now, just to give you a little basic information you seem not to have:
1) A "computer" is manufactured from pieces of silicon, plastic, and metal.
2) An "OS" is not a "computer", it is "an operating system."

Stop confusing the two, MaccieBoi.

P.S. If I have an "obsessive compulsion" at all, it is to CORRECT idiots like you with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

P.P.S. Something tells me you are NEVER an "obedient servant", never have been a servant, obedient or not, and never will be, even at the cost of your life. But that's usually the way it is with MacIdiots. They hate the truth even if it's shoved in their pimple-covered faces over and over. Heck, man you won't even listen to your guru, Mr. Jobs, and have refused to take HIS advice to "think differently

Donald McDaniel

It's not like you weren't obvious in trying to indicate that MS doesn't make computers. It's just that I was trying to be gracious and laugh off your anal retentive behavior rather than rag your *** for the obtuse and rude cretin you have proven to be.

Why come here and school us about the obvious? Your comments about operating systems and hardware manufacturers being 2 different things have been repeated a hundred times in these forums. What I can't understand is why you think we should be impressed by your comments as being some sort of new revelation.

BTW... this is a forum for mac enthusiast or those looking for answers to questions. Many people ask simplistic questions... so I give simplistic answers. I make responses based on the functional level that the original comments were made on. Obviously, I gave you too much credit. I am puzzled by one thing. Your bio which says you are a mac user, yet you seem to have a lot of animosity towards mac users and the equipment... so why are you here? To demonstrate how brilliant you are?

You threatened to learn how to perform Sepaku, and I did encourage you to pursue new hobbies. It's a shame you didn't take my encouragement to heart, but rest assured, I am 100% in support of your aspirations in learning and practicing this new skill.

If I haven't made myself perfectly clear here "stud", then let me spell it out to you. You can be nice to people in this forum or you can be a rude git. If you think someone made a mistake then feel free to politely add your two cents. With only 24 posts under your belt, I am optimistic you could still become a welcome member of this little forum. Everyone has a bad day. I will choose to imagine that you were having a bad day and that is what caused you to make the comments you have made. If I am wrong and this is they way you think a contributing member should act, then I predict a short tenure here at CNet and wish you luck in finding someplace where comments like yours are acceptable, let alone welcome.

1) I have never attempted to be anything but what I am: a user of Windows on Apple Intel PCs (or whatever I can find).
2) YOU have shown YOUR true stripes, however, by your hatefulness. You, sir, are an evil person.
3) I have no "animosity toward Mac" users. I DO hate, with a purple passion, the "MAC OS".
4) I LOVE "Macs", especially Intel-based Macs, since I don't need OS X on one if I choose to run a different OS as my primary OS.
5) I can't stand those "Mac" users like yourself who post nothing but vitriol toward Windows users.
6) I am most definitely a "Mac enthusiast" (or, more properly, "an Apple Intel PC enthusiast"), for which I offer no apology.
7) I am most definitely a Windows Vista enthusiast, for which I offer no apology.
I am most definitely a "computer enthusiast", for which I offer no apology.
9) I certainly have no "animosity" toward a MACHINE (which has no personality or consciousness to be angry toward). If I have any animosity, it is toward people like yourself.

I've been posting on these forums for several years, so I do not need a MacDroid like you telling me I'm not wanted.

BTW, I am always "nice" to '"nice" people. People like you, on the other hand, deserve any crap flying their way.

Donald McDaniel

Hey bud, you threw the first stone...
Ask yourself and others these questions:
1) What is a so-called "Microsoft Computer"
2) Where are "Microsoft computers" manufactured
3) Who manufactures them (If indeed they exist)

If you can answer these two question...

I took this as if it was intended to be humorous and tried to answer in the same vein rather than be offended.

You, on the other hand pursued a sour tone with your next post and wondered why I was so stupid as to not get your sarcasm...

Sir, your useless reply is...well...useless.

Apparently you missed my sarcasm completely.

Apparently, you've been reading Wikipedia too much.

NOR is the current Apple Macintosh Operating System a computer.

Got it yet, stud?

Your precious little Mac...

Stop confusing the two, MaccieBoi.

P.S. If I have an "obsessive compulsion" at all, it is to CORRECT idiots like you with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

P.P.S. Something tells me you are NEVER an "obedient servant", never have been a servant, obedient or not, and never will be, even at the cost of your life. But that's usually the way it is with MacIdiots. They hate the truth even if it's shoved in their pimple-covered faces over and over. Heck, man you won't even listen to your guru, Mr. Jobs, and have refused to take HIS advice to "think differently


Your bio shows you making 27 posts since 2006. If you have been here longer and made many more posts then I suspect it has been under a variety of other names. Have you been banned previously? It wouldn't surprise me if this was the case.

In any case, you have proven to be vile when there was no reason... and seeming can't keep track of a thread at all, either. Witness the fact that I have not posted any sort of vitriol against windows users anywhere on this thread, as you have accused me of.

I suspect you of being an MPD and certainly know you for a troll. Take it somewhere else or collect your wits, gain some manners, and start acting like the adult your bio says you are.

that is your Mac that is 8 years old and not a reference to something else.



Mac's do tend to continue on for a lot longer than the average WinBox.

P