We show how to install Windows on a Mac, using Boot Camp, VMware, Parallels or VirtualBox and explain the pros and cons of each method. Actually, I am trying to talk with the Microsoft Techs about this, as this is part of the problem with how they are doing activations. One of the things is, VMWare itself states that you will have to do a second activation with Windows if you are mounting a Boot Camp Windows while in VMWare Fusion. Dec 10, 2019 For more information about using Windows on your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant and click the Open Boot Camp Help button. If you're using an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) with a 3TB hard drive and macOS Mojave or later, learn about an alert you might see during installation. Apr 11, 2020  The choice to use Bootcamp over VMWare depends largely on your situation and what you are trying to accomplish. Be aware that as an Apple proprietary software product, Bootcamp is only available on Mac OSX. However, VMWare Workstation Player is available on all the major operating systems, namely Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux.

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For years, Mac users found themselves having to circumnavigate the restrictions of the built-in operating system so that they could make the most of the sleek and sophisticated hardware and software but still make use of Windows that, unfortunately, often held the cards when it came to program compatibility. Because of this, virtual machines began to rise in popularity, tools like VMware Fusion that allowed for the safe running of Windows on a Mac without much issue. Developed by a Dell Technologies subsidiary, VMware Inc., this is virtualization software that lets users run a wide variety of operating systems on the same Mac without the need for rebooting. But then came Boot Camp, Apple’s own answer to the issue, its dual-boot utility that has been built into its desktop computer since OS 10.5 Leopard. And though one is a paid-for product and the other is an in-built Mac utility, it still begs the question: which one is best for your needs?

Boot Camp is a utility that comes with your Mac and lets you switch between macOS and Windows. Download your copy of Windows 10, then let Boot Camp Assistant walk. Jun 11, 2019 Running Windows in a virtual machine (dubbed a “VM”) also allows you to store it all on something like an external SSD, as Boot Camp requires a chunk of your boot drive. For that trade, Boot Camp offers direct, native access to your Mac’s hardware. If you want to game in Windows on your Mac, it’s the way to go.

Boot Camp

Sometimes Mac users need to run industry-specific software that is available only for Windows. Boot Camp serves well in this specific scenario: without the need to buy any third-party software, users can install Windows on their Mac just by following the on-screen instructions of the assistant.

Since it is part of macOS the software is free, but users will need to allocate space on their startup disk for the Windows partition, which isn't dynamic as it is with a virtual machine. As such, users need to keep in mind how much space they will need to run Windows and any accompanying third-party software.

Setup Process

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Windows Installed via Boot Camp

Control Panel Overview

A major advantage of Boot Camp is the ultimate Windows experience that they get. Thanks to this dual-boot utility, users can select whether they boot their Mac in macOS or Windows. Opting for the latter will mean that Microsoft's operating system will use the Mac hardware to its maximum potential without sharing its hardware resources simultaneously with another operating system. This means that Windows will fly on the Mac, while images will look much clearer and the text sharper on Macs thanks to the Retina display.

This advantage turns to be a disadvantage when it comes to sharing files, however. With Boot Camp users have access to two completely isolated operating systems, so they have to figure out a way to get access to the same files from both sides of the virtual fence. Annoyingly they will need to reboot every time they want to exit or run a different operating system.

VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is one of the top paid choices for both consumers and enterprises, offering the convenience of running a wide variety of operating systems without the added cost of a new computer dedicated to that purpose. After installing VMware Fusion on a Mac, users can pick any of the 200 operating systems supported by the hypervisor and run them simultaneously with macOS.

Select Operating System

Choose Windows Firmware

Windows Integration Options

Having such an application on the Mac greatly expands the capabilities of the computer as it doesn't limit the user to just two operating systems and creates a safe environment that enables the possibility of running more than two operating systems at the same time and even allows for shared folders between different platforms. This is highly convenient for testing purposes but isn't quite as well optimized for gaming, in which case Boot Camp is the better option since it gives you a full-fledged, unhindered Windows experience.

While VMware Fusion includes OpenGL 3.0 and DirectX 10 support and is even able to detect a gaming mouse, the downside of virtual machines is a roughly 10% performance penalty that occurs when running a guest operating system. The per-user-based VMware Fusion lifetime license costs $79.99 but it can be tested for free for 30 days.

Conclusion

Both solutions have their pros and cons and selecting a ‘winner’ is ultimately a subjective choice. When it comes to price, Boot Camp easily comes out on top, but VMware Fusion has many more features for its $79.99 price tag.

Boot Camp solves an issue that users may encounter – namely the need to run a Windows app on a Mac – and it does so Apple way by building it into the operating system to ensure the best possible user experience – even on Windows. Since it isn't a virtual machine, it requires users to reboot into the desired operating system. It is also limited to just Windows as its secondary OS, too, which is very limited compared to VMware Fusion's 200 fully-supported operating systems and the added convenience of running any guest operating system without the need to turn the machine off.

Hello and welcome to my User Tip

I wrote this because we get a lot of questions what would be the best way to run Windows on a Mac.

If one PC program or so, you can check if it will run well in the program called Wine, but it might be a hassle and problematic.

If one PC program or so, you can check if it will run fine in the program called Codeweavers, but it might be a hassle and problematic.

You can run a paid commercial virtual machine program (Parallels or VMFusion) that runs Windows/Linux and some OS X versions in a window in OS X, the updates are paid some are more frequent, but it gives more features (copy BootCamp partition to use as a vm for instance) and ease to install. Easy to revert to earlier snapshots of the guest OS. Have to purchase a copy of Windows.

You can run a free virtual machine program (VirtualBox) which will do the job like the commercial ones do (revert snapshots too), but isn't as feature rich, but it is supported in older OS X versions a lot longer than the commercial versions and it is free, so it only nags to update.

You can run Windows in Apple's BootCamp, which partitions the boot drive and you install Windows in there, which gives the best hardware performance as one directly boots into Windows, but you can't use Windows System Restore or other disk/backup utilities but there is WinClone which clones it from OS X to restore later.

BootCamp - Pro's

Full access to the hardware for 3D games and heavier CPU needs

Can run on less powerful Mac hardware

Free, included with all new Mac's.

Easy Mac like setup for BootCamp partition

BootCamp - Con's

More 'geekier' requires more computer knowledge and skills.

Have to boot into OS X or Windows at start time by holding the option key down (to switch if other is set to start first)

Get's malware like a PC, hard to eradicate, may affect OS X

Have to use WinClone to make backups

Have to keep OS X partition on the drive for updates, firmware, repairs.

Harder to fix and repair than a generic PC which third party Windows software designed for

Only supports Windows 7 (recent OS X version supports Windows 8 also.)

Issues with partitioning with bad sectors and/or data on the lower part of the drive

There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing the install method too.

Backing up BootCamped Windows: For cloning/backing up Windows in BootCamp, search for 'WinClone' on MacUpdate.com, runs in OS X.

BootCamp issues:

For bad sector issues and failing to partition: on hard drives, (SSD's not affected). Quit Bootcamp and use Disk Utility from the OS X install Disk or via Recovery HD (hold command r at boot) to Repair the drive two times to make sure.

Then reboot normally and then use Disk Utitity > Erase Free Space > Zero option (not Erase w/Security Option > Zero) and on 10.7 or later 'Zero' in Disk Utility is the slider selection #2 (one space to the right) and make sure it's Erase FREE space only on the Macintosh HD partition only.

Once that's finished, quit and try partitioning BootCamp in the BootCamp Utility again.

Can't parititon/move files issue: For data on the lower part of the hard drive (not SSD's) that inhibits the creation/size of the BootCamp partition, requires backing up User data, cloning OS X partition off to a external drive, erasing the OS X internal drive partition of data and reverse cloning the OS X data back on.

Virtual Machine software - Pro's

Runs guest OS in a window on OS X, more friendly to new users and those not sure yet.

Easy to switch from OS X to Windows to Linux back and forth, as many operating systems as your RAM can support.

Commercial versions of VM software can copy presently installed BootCamp and use that Windows in OS X for best of both BootCamp AND virtual machine versions.

Easier to use, 'snapshots' of Guest OS state can be reverted back to in seconds for updates/malware issues.

Runs most any OS version, Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, Linux's, OS X Server editions only (VMed Lion in Lion, ok)

Run more than one Guest OS at a time with enough RAM and drive space

Easier to use for most lightweight guest OS programs, no need to dual boot, run guest OS like a file in a program.

Some integration possibilities, copy and paste, shared folders etc between the two or more OS's

Easier to get out of trouble via the virtual machine software or OS X 'Force Quit'

Dev c exe. Virtual Machine software - Con's

Guest OS doesn't have access to the hardware, no Direct X, 3D animation limited /slowed apx 1/5th speed as native boot, really only shows on 3D games etc.

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Requires more RAM, more powerful machine: 4+ cores, 4GB+ RAM, dedicated video card preferred. (2 cores 2GB RAM possible but not recommended)

Have to share RAM and cores with OS X

Can't run OS X client versions (except Lion in Lion) as Apple asked them not too.

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Note: I scaled the virtual machines windows down for effect, they can be full size or larger

More advice in this User Tip here