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Date Posted: 12:17:41 11/09/09 Mon
Author: Kashmanik
Author Host/IP: 93.97.170.133
Subject: Daaaaaaaaaaaarren...

Need some advice!

We were running Boot Camp quite happily for ages, using Windows to play games, when something went kersplooey whilst booting up and I was forced to reinstall the whole Mac OS and lost the Windows partition.

I've since tried again to use Boot Camp and (an admittedly pirated) copy of Windows that hasn't worked (this was a different copy to the original pirate copy we used).

I'm now thinking of actually buying a proper version of Windows and I've found this one.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123052

My only question is, would OEM be an issue or should I use a retail version of Windows?

Alternatively, don't suppose you would happen to have a copy of Vista or XP lying around, would you? :-) I'm a little cautious of buying my own version in case it's some kind of hard drive/partition error rather than a software issue.

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Replies:

[> Hmmm -- DZR, 13:36:38 11/09/09 Mon [1] (212.198.136.138)

That doesn't sound good at all. What do you mean something went kersplooey and you were forced to reinstall Mac OS? I've never ever experienced a Mac problem that forced reinstalling the OS that wasn't a hardware problem like a failing disc drive. This isn't Windows. You don't need to reinstall the OS every time something goes wrong!

Are you sure the hard disk is ok? Boot your iMac from the install CD/DVD, and go to Applications/Utilities and start Disk Utility. (You can't run it on a mounted volume which is why you need to boot from the optical drive.)

I'm afraid I don't have a copy of Windows myself. Why wouldn't the version of Windows you have install?

I *think* the OEM version will be fine. Are you sure you want Vista? (Do they even sell XP anymore?) Vista really is a pile of shit.


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[> [> The issue was... -- Kashmanik, 14:59:58 11/09/09 Mon [1] (93.97.170.133)

One time when leaving Windows (and booting up into Mac instead) the system froze on the white screen.

After numerous, numerous attempts to hold down the alt button (and choose which drive to boot up in) it never worked. Just had the white screen constantly. It seemed almost like the computer was wedged between booting up in either Mac or Windows, and in the end, the only way I could resolve it was to put in the original Mac OS disks that came with the computer and reinstall the whole kit and caboodle.

I just ran a disk verification on both the Macintosh HD and the partitioned drive and both say they're OK. (I should add that this whole kersplooey incident was about a month ago and since then things have been alright.)

Having lost our original pirate copy I downloaded a different pirate copy of Windows XP and burnt it to CD. Went through the usual Boot Camp process of partitioning etc. and got through the Windows setup (old fashioned DOS-y type blue screen choosing the type of formatting etc.) and it seemed like it had all installed. Then, when it came to booting up Windows for the first time, I got an error message stating that some file (something to do with system info, I think) was "missing or corrupt". I assumed it was a consequence of using a pirated burnt disk.

(I should add that this version of Windows DID work on Parallels, but I abandoned Parallels after it wouldn't run my games.)

As to whether I want XP or Vista, I've really no preference! I only use the Windows side of things long enough to double-click a game icon. :-)


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[> [> [> Could be a couple of things -- DZR, 16:25:46 11/09/09 Mon [1] (212.198.136.138)

You may have installed the wrong version of XP. It HAS to XP SP2 or above. If you installed an earlier version the drivers won't work when you try and boot into Windows. Otherwise, it could just be a a chance error during the install process. It might be worth trying the install again.

The thing about Vista is that even if you're just playing games on it it takes bloody ages to boot up and then is really slow, and if any of your games need network access you get all these infuriating security prompts.

http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac/apple-getamac-security_640x496.mov


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[> [> [> [> Heh heh... -- Kashmanik, 16:34:26 11/09/09 Mon [1] (93.97.170.133)

Yep, I have Vista on my laptop. Even sticking things in the recycle bin takes about 4000 clicks. :-)

It was definitely SP2, so I might try installing it again...


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