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WinXP and Mac OS X can dual-boot on Intel Macs!

by Bob Crabtree on 17 March 2006, 11:43

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qae6z

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The original deadline might have been missed but the prize money - totalling US$13,854 - has now been handed over. Yes, someone has come up with a verifiable way of dual-booting Windows XP (SP2) and Mac OS X on Intel-based Mac computers.

As our original story pointed out, the competition deadline had been set at February 15. However, this was extended - seemingly, to good effect.

Windows XP SP2 running on an Intel-based iMacWindows XP SP2 running on an Intel-based iMac


The working solution looks pretty complicated and time-consuming - though it's probably unrealistic to expect anything ultra-simple. It also requires some very specific items, such as an original XP Pro SP2 CD. And it isn't perfect - certain elements don't yet work on any Intel-based Mac and others don't work on specific models.

So, for instance, iSight, Bluetooth and the supplied remote handset don't work at all under XP as yet. And nor does the hardware acceleration option for the video drivers. On MacBook Pro, the NumLock and Del keys don't work (there's a work-around for the Del-key, though), and nor do the keyboard backlight and the screen-brightness adjustment.

Nonetheless, we do have what looks like a viable solution for dual-booting XP and OS X on Intel-based Macs, so we'd extend our congratulations to the winners, blanka and narf2006, and to Colin, the man behind the competition. Comments in the HEXUS.community.

HEXUS.links

Main WinXPonMac compo site 

Support forums

WinXPonMac Wiki

Download site - instructions and more

narf2006's pictures


HEXUS Forums :: 2 Comments

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Awesome.

Did this come before people being able to boot linux on the macbookpro?
No, Linux has been able to boot on the intel macs for about a month, theres ELILO, which adds EFI support to the LILO boot loader. I dont really care about that myself, I just want some hacked ATI drivers so some sweet gaming luuuurve can take place. :D