Looking to run Windows on a MAC

I am looking to the best virtualizer program that will allow me to run Windows on my MAC Pro. Unfortunately, Quickbooks for MAC is a subpar version of the program that is offered for PCs. By no means do I want to abandon my MAC... except when working on the program quickbooks. I am looking for a seemless way to switch back and forth between MAC and Windows.

Look at the alternatives laid out in this article:
http://gigaom.com/apple/running-quickbooks-for-windows-on-your-mac/

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Looking to run windows on my MBPro through Bootcamp or Parallels, but would like to use a downloaded Windows 7, is it possible to install without the Windows Disc?

Looking to run windows on my MBPro through Bootcamp or Parallels, but would like to use a downloaded Windows 7, is it possible to install without the Windows Disc?
Need to set up a workstation on my MBPro that will only run on Windows. Im willing to use Bootcamp or Parallels to see what works best. Need to get this set up this week to enable working from home on my MB - rural and hoping to buy Windows 7 online - am I able to get windows working through either bootcamp or Parallels without the actual Windows disc? Bootcamp set up guide calls for a disc.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
First, the answer to your question is yes, it IS possible to install Windows in Parallels without a disc, using an .iso image file.
Boot Camp since OS X 10.8 also installs Windows without a disc: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4889551?tstart=0
Parallels has complete documentation, series of forums, and a knowledgebase. You can also download the current release of Parallels 9 and try it for free for a few weeks before you decide to purchase it.
The Parallels Desktop for Mac product page: http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/
The Desktop for Mac forums: http://forum.parallels.com/forumdisplay.php?58-Parallels-Desktop-for-Mac
Documentation: http://www.parallels.com/support/desktop-virtualization/desktop/#c12970
The Knowledgebase for Desktop for Mac: http://kb.parallels.com
The primary difference between a Boot Camp installation and a Parallels installation is that in the Boot Camp installation, you're installing Windows into a separate partition on your internal mass storage device (hard drive or SSD) and then rebooting your Mac directly into Windows.
In Parallels, you're always running OS X on the Mac and Parallels is running a Windows virtual machine.
Not to get too technical here, but it is also possible for Parallels to run an installed Windows Boot Camp partition as a virtual machine. If you're evaluating system performance with a trial copy, that might be the way to go, because you only have to install Windows once on Boot Camp as a dual-boot system, then install Parallels Desktop and run the Boot Camp partition as the virtual machine.
There is a performance difference between the two, with the Boot Camp Windows installation being faster, but without the convenience of running both Mac and Windows applications simultaneously offered by Parallels. Sometimes that convenience outweighs a performance hit.
I can't give you more Mavericks and Parallels 9 specifics, because I'm currently running Windows 7 with Parallels 7 on OS X 10.8.5. Parallels 7 will not run on OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
I've been using Parallels (to run a few old rarely-used WIndows applications with features that would require a steep learning curve and major expense to purchase and learn a similar Mac app) occasionally since Parallels 3 and Windows XP. With each new release of OS X, each new release of Parallels, and each new Windows release, there are ALWAYS 'early adopter' bugs that get worked out over time.
Message was edited by: kostby

Running Windows on a mac?

Can I run windows on a MAC? I have a program that is only written for a MAC.
Thanks.

Lyssa, Allan,
Thanks for your questions/suggestions. What I am looking to do is use the MACs in Lybia. I want to avoid buying a new computer but need to use a GPS tracker software that only works on windows. This software allows us to see where the children will be every set time interval and receive notification if they leave a pre-set GPS boundary and ehere they are heading. The GPS tracker also uses a sim card to allow listening in and emergency phone calls to two preset numbers. The system terefore will presumably only run 2D mapping type software - it also uses google mapping to locate the position. The system is called GPS-911(R).
http://www.gopass.com.tw/Product/GPS911GPStracker.htm
Does this push me one way or another... I am happy to go the Bootcamp route. I just know nothing about it.. Does it also require Win XP to be installed - I guess so....?
Thanks for all the help!!

How can I run Windows on my Mac?

I want to place games on my computer. However, some of the games I want to play are not compatible with my Mac and I want to know how to run Windows on my Mac.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Your Intel Mac comes with Boot Camp, that allows you to install Windows into your Mac. See > http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp
Go to this website, look for your Mac model under "Boot Camp requirements by Mac model" and choose one Windows version.
Then, open Boot Camp Assistant and follow the steps to install Windows. Follow Apple's steps > http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf

I run windows on my mac for school. went into windows and cant get back to mac. how would i get back to the mac i love

i run windows on my mac for school. went into windows and now cant get back to the mac i love please help

Windows on Intel Macs
There are presently several alternatives for running Windows on Intel Macs.
1. Install the Apple Boot Camp software. Purchase Windows XP w/Service Pak2, Vista, or Windows 7. Follow instructions in the Boot Camp documentation on installation of Boot Camp, creating Driver CD, and installing Windows. Boot Camp enables you to boot the computer into OS X or Windows.
2. Parallels Desktop for Mac and Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7. Parallels is software virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
3. VM Fusionand Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7. VM Fusion is software virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
4. CrossOver which enables running many Windows applications without having to install Windows. The Windows applications can run concurrently with OS X.
5. VirtualBox is a new Open Source freeware virtual machine such as VM Fusion and Parallels that was developed by Solaris. It is not as fully developed for the Mac as Parallels and VM Fusion.
Note that Parallels and VM Fusion can also run other operating systems such as Linux, Unix, OS/2, Solaris, etc. There are performance differences between dual-boot systems and virtualization. The latter tend to be a little slower (not much) and do not provide the video performance of the dual-boot system. See MacTech.com's Virtualization Benchmarking for comparisons of Boot Camp, Parallels, and VM Fusion. Boot Camp is only available with Leopard or Snow Leopard. Except for Crossover and a couple of similar alternatives like DarWine you must have a valid installer disc for Windows.
You must also have an internal optical drive for installing Windows. Windows cannot be installed from an external optical drive.

I am going to buy a mac mini i7 with 3 thunderbolt displays for forex trading. the question is if i use bootcamp and run windows on the mac mini will the displays still run the same way as if i was running it on Lion?

I am going to buy a mac mini i7 with 3 thunderbolt displays for forex trading. the question is if i use bootcamp and run windows on the mac mini will the displays still run the same way as if i was running it on Lion?

No idea if Windows will do it, but you can run Windows without Bootcamp & have OSX available at the same time, which should give you all the Monitors that OSX uses.
Parallels...
http://www.parallels.com/
VmWare Fusion...
http://www.vmware.com/mac

How to best run windows on my mac and what version?

I want to run windows on my mac by partitioning part of an external hard drive. What version of windows should I license, use parralels or fusion, and any other recommendations?

There are two ways to run Windows on an Apple computer.
1. Use Bootcamp Assistant to create a Bootcamp partition then install Windows on the Bootcamp partition. http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/. Use Windows 7. Windows in a Bootcamp partition will not boot nor run from an external drive. You must use the first internal drive.
2. Use a virtual machine like Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox and install Windows as the guest operating syste. See the virtual machine sites for instructions. Use whichever version of Windows you want.

What is the best way to run windows on my Mac? And What are the pitfalls I should watch for?

What is the best way to run windows on my Mac? What are the pitfalls/

If you need Windows as your main operating system you would be better off buying a Real Windows PC.
Running windows on a Mac is always a compromise. Whether in a Boot Camp partition or in a Virtual Machine.
In boot camp you can't easily Re-Partition and or Re-Size the drive it is installed on. You can't use both graphics cards as Apple has limited Windows to use the discrete graphics only, that is if your mac has 2 graphics cards (15" MBPs), which will shorten the battery run time in Windows.
The trackpad only has limited functions in Windows, less then is available on the Mac side and a real Windows PC.

Why can you run windows on a mac, but not mac on windows

I dont understant why you can run windows on a mac, but not mac on windows. Any help. I would purchase OS X Mountain Lion if you gave me a way.

Microsoft builds software to run on other companies' hardware, pretty much exclusively if you don't count the long line of failed devices: Zune, Windows phone, and now the Surface.
Apple builds hardware. They support that hardware with their own operating system. It is designed to run only on their very tightly integrated hardware. Trying to write software for the plethora of crap being sold would be a failing proposition and would divert resources away from the great software they provide for their hardware customers.
The hardware and software are very well engineered to provide the best possible experience.
If you want to experience a Mac, buy a Mac.

Can you run windows on a mac without a partition

i want to run windows on my mac but i do not want to have a partition.
is there any way to run windows without a partition??????

william12frommagdalena wrote:
i want to run windows on my mac but i do not want to have a partition.
is there any way to run windows without a partition??????
Yes,
You can run Windows and a few programs at the same time as OS X in a window if your willing to take a performance penalty, no heavy duty 3D games or heavy CPU needs.
See this thread.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3655715?tstart=0

How do you run Windows on a Mac?

I have had a Dual Core MacBook Pro since last July, but I have never run Windows on it. Could someone here please explain to me how I can run Windows on my Mac, how to switch between Windows and Mac OSX, and if Windows Vista is able to be run on a Mac. Or, at least point me in an article already posted on this subject. Thank you!
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) 17" Screen, 2.16 GHz Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive

Please search the discussions before posting. You'll find hundreds of threads detailing how to run Windows on a Mac and could have answered your own question. Or better yet, just search Google.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Running windows apps on mac

Does anyone out there have any suggestions as far as running windows based programs on a mac.... I am new to the mac community... Also, what do you guys (and girls) think about parallels?

Windows on Intel Macs
There are presently several alternatives for running Windows on Intel Macs.
1. Install the Apple Boot Camp software. Purchase Windows XP w/Service Pak2, Vista, or Windows 7. Follow instructions in the Boot Camp documentation on installation of Boot Camp, creating Driver CD, and installing Windows. Boot Camp enables you to boot the computer into OS X or Windows.
2. Parallels Desktop for Mac and Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7. Parallels is software virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
3. VM Fusionand Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7. VM Fusion is software virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
4. CrossOver which enables running many Windows applications without having to install Windows. The Windows applications can run concurrently with OS X.
5. VirtualBox is a new Open Source freeware virtual machine such as VM Fusion and Parallels that was developed by Solaris. It is not as fully developed for the Mac as Parallels and VM Fusion.
6. Last is Q. Q is a freeware emulator that is compatible with Intel Macs. It is much slower than the virtualization software, Parallels and VM Fusion.
Note that Parallels and VM Fusion can also run other operating systems such as Linux, Unix, OS/2, Solaris, etc. There are performance differences between dual-boot systems and virtualization. The latter tend to be a little slower (not much) and do not provide the video performance of the dual-boot system. See MacTech.com's Virtualization Benchmarking for comparisons of Boot Camp, Parallels, and VM Fusion. Boot Camp is only available with Leopard or Snow Leopard. Except for Crossover and a couple of similar alternatives like DarWine you must have a valid installer disc for Windows.
You must also have an internal optical drive for installing Windows. Windows cannot be installed from an external optical drive.
You should choose whatever method of running Windows that would work best for you. Don't ask people's opinions of what to use here. Do you own research. There is plenty of information you can search out on Google that provides the information needed to help with the decision.

How to run windows on a mac

i have a stupid computers class which requires me to have a pc... which i refuse to get. i would like to know how to run windows on my new macbook pro for about the next 15 weeks or so... just until i finish this class...
if anyone knows how to go about doing this, PLEASE HELP (: thanks!!

Windows on Intel Macs
There are presently several alternatives for running Windows on Intel Macs.
Install the Apple Boot Camp software. Purchase Windows XP w/Service Pak2, Vista, or Windows 7. Follow instructions in the Boot Camp documentation on installation of Boot Camp, creating Driver CD, and installing Windows. Boot Camp enables you to boot the computer into OS X or Windows.
Parallels Desktop for Mac and Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7. Parallels is software virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
VM Fusion and Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7. VM Fusion is software virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
CrossOver which enables running many Windows applications without having to install Windows. The Windows applications can run concurrently with OS X.
VirtualBox is an Open Source freeware virtual machine such as VM Fusion and Parallels that was developed by Solaris. It is not as fully developed for the Mac as Parallels and VM Fusion.
Note that Parallels and VM Fusion can also run other operating systems such as Linux, Unix, OS/2, Solaris, etc. There are performance differences between dual-boot systems and virtualization. The latter tend to be a little slower (not much) and do not provide the video performance of the dual-boot system. See MacTech.com's Virtualization Benchmarking for comparisons of Boot Camp, Parallels, and VM Fusion. Boot Camp is only available with Leopard or Snow Leopard. Except for Crossover and a couple of similar alternatives like DarWine you must have a valid installer disc for Windows.
You must also have an internal optical drive for installing Windows. Windows cannot be installed from an external optical drive.

What is the best way to run windows on my mac?

What is the best way to run windows on my mac?
I have a particular program that i need to run, and it only runs on windows. I have a macbook pro

As Templeton noted, it depends and will at least be somewhat subjective.
There are basically three options out there. You can use a Windows emulator (Wine or the commercial version of it, Crossover Office), use Boot Camp to "dual boot" or use virtualization software (Parallels, VMWare Fusion, or VirtualBox). Each has its advantages or disadvantages.
The Windows emulators have the advantage of being the one option that doesn't need the purchase of a copy of Windows. Unlike Boot Camp, but like the virtualization options, this allows you to run Windows programs and OSX programs side by side. The big problem, though, is that it is the least compatible option--a lot of Windows software either has "issues" or will not function at all. The Crossover website has information on which programs are known to work and how well they are known to work.
Boot Camp is the option that Apple ships OSX with. You'll need a copy of Windows to install into the partition. You'll effectively divide your disk into two parts and have two machines. The major advantages are, first, you don't need to acquire separate software *AND* the Windows license. As well, it's the highest performance Windows system. What you have is truly a Windows machine. That's both the good and the bad--you aren't going to be able to use OSX software at the same time, and you have to reboot to get back to OSX. I've always thought it was best for someone who likes the Apple hardware and wants to use it for a Windows box--in that case Boot Camp is clearly a great solution.
Finally there's virtualization which seems to be the most popular way to handle Windows, especially if you need to run one vertical market package. It has the advantage of allowing you to use your OSX software at the same time, and the virtualization gives an extremely high level of compatibility. About the only thing that won't run is a virtualization package (and there's not a lot of reason to run that in a Windows VM). There is a performance hit compared to Boot Camp, but it's minimal for all but the most demanding applications (that being high end games).
It will chew up RAM on the OSX machine, but if you have at least 4 GB of RAM it will probably be manageable, especially if you only need to run one Windows program.
You will need both a virtualization program (there are three major ones) and purchase Windows. Two of three programs are commercial packages (Parallels and VMWare Fusion), while the other is an open source option (VirtualBox). Virtual Box has the advantage of being free, but it's by far the least polished of the group.
Which way is best? As was noted, it depends. I run VMWare Fusion on my machines, and I have used CrossOver Office for limited purposes. I've not yet seen, in my use pattern, a reason to go to Boot Camp but I certainly can see cases where it might make sense.

Is ok to run windows on my mac with?

is it a good idea to run windows on my mac with software like Parallel (?) ?

It depends of what you're going to use Windows on your Mac. See > https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3321
Parallels, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox work great, but if you need maximum performance, you must install Windows with Boot Camp

Looking to run Windows on a MAC

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