I'm considering getting a MacBook, and whether to include Windows on it. I
know you have to reboot to access Windows, but what about file access? Is
Windows in its own partition on the HD, and can the Mac OS access files from
the Windows OS, and vice-versa?

Jim
jsibleywebsterATmindspring.com (replace AT with @)

In article <C0BC5522.5225%jsibleywebster@mindspring.com>,
Jim Webster <jsibleywebster@mindspring.com> wrote:

> I'm considering getting a MacBook, and whether to include Windows on it. I
> know you have to reboot to access Windows, but what about file access? Is
> Windows in its own partition on the HD, and can the Mac OS access files from
> the Windows OS, and vice-versa?
>
> Jim
> jsibleywebsterATmindspring.com (replace AT with @)

Short answer is 'it depends'... Windows is in its own partition; you can
(if you're careful) control partition size and format when it is created
using BootCamp.

If you can live with a maximum partition size of 32 GB for Windows, then
you can set up a FAT32 partition-- if you do that, then the Mac OS can
access it when you're booted to OS X. If, however, you create an NTFS
partition (and the Windows XP installer will not work with FAT32
partitions larger than 32 GB, then it will not be visible within OS X.

To access your Mac partition from within Windows, you'll need to get a
3rd party utility-- I like DataViz's MacOpener, but there are others as
well.

Note that a usable alternative (for many people) to Boot Camp is
Parallels Workstation-- this allows you to run Windows (any version) or
Linux or other PC OS in a virtualized session within Mac OS X.

Some advantages (compared to Boot Camp):

-- no reboot needed; you can save your session and restart where you
left off.
-- other PC operating systems besides WinXP supported
-- you can work on your Mac and in Windows at the same time; it's easy
to set up a folder on the Mac that can be accessed from Windows.

Disadvantages:
-- you have to buy a copy of Parallels Workstation
-- the Windows (or other OS) system does not have access to all the
system RAM- only the fraction that you let it use
-- it doesn't take full advantage of your Mac's graphics card, making it
a poor choice for running many games.

Performance is good-- far better than older emulation programs like
Virtual PC.

In article <C0BC5522.5225%jsibleywebster@mindspring.com>,
Jim Webster <jsibleywebster@mindspring.com> wrote:

> I'm considering getting a MacBook, and whether to include Windows on it. I
> know you have to reboot to access Windows, but what about file access? Is
> Windows in its own partition on the HD, and can the Mac OS access files from
> the Windows OS, and vice-versa?
>
> Jim
> jsibleywebsterATmindspring.com (replace AT with @)

Short answer is 'it depends'... Windows is in its own partition; you can
(if you're careful) control partition size and format when it is created
using BootCamp.

If you can live with a maximum partition size of 32 GB for Windows, then
you can set up a FAT32 partition-- if you do that, then the Mac OS can
access it when you're booted to OS X. If, however, you create an NTFS
partition (and the Windows XP installer will not work with FAT32
partitions larger than 32 GB, then it will not be visible within OS X.

To access your Mac partition from within Windows, you'll need to get a
3rd party utility-- I like DataViz's MacOpener, but there are others as
well.

Note that a usable alternative (for many people) to Boot Camp is
Parallels Workstation-- this allows you to run Windows (any version) or
Linux or other PC OS in a virtualized session within Mac OS X.

Some advantages (compared to Boot Camp):

-- no reboot needed; you can save your session and restart where you
left off.
-- other PC operating systems besides WinXP supported
-- you can work on your Mac and in Windows at the same time; it's easy
to set up a folder on the Mac that can be accessed from Windows.

Disadvantages:
-- you have to buy a copy of Parallels Workstation
-- the Windows (or other OS) system does not have access to all the
system RAM- only the fraction that you let it use
-- it doesn't take full advantage of your Mac's graphics card, making it
a poor choice for running many games.

Performance is good-- far better than older emulation programs like
Virtual PC.

Jim Webster wrote:
> I'm considering getting a MacBook, and whether to include Windows on it. I
> know you have to reboot to access Windows, but what about file access? Is
> Windows in its own partition on the HD, and can the Mac OS access files from
> the Windows OS, and vice-versa?
>
> Jim
> jsibleywebsterATmindspring.com (replace AT with @)
>
I downloaded and installed Parallels, loaded XP Pro and Win 2K and both
work great! Parallels uses a shared folder which will let you access
anything on the OS X system. I have it set to the Documents folder so I
don't accidentally muck up any system files. It's $49.95 well spent.

Fred
escapejunkATearthlink.net
(replace the AT by the at-sign)

Jim Webster wrote:
> I'm considering getting a MacBook, and whether to include Windows on it. I
> know you have to reboot to access Windows, but what about file access? Is
> Windows in its own partition on the HD, and can the Mac OS access files from
> the Windows OS, and vice-versa?
>
> Jim
> jsibleywebsterATmindspring.com (replace AT with @)
>
I downloaded and installed Parallels, loaded XP Pro and Win 2K and both
work great! Parallels uses a shared folder which will let you access
anything on the OS X system. I have it set to the Documents folder so I
don't accidentally muck up any system files. It's $49.95 well spent.

Fred
escapejunkATearthlink.net
(replace the AT by the at-sign)