Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
You want to easily share data between OS X and Windows.
With Boot Camp, you can access files on
your Windows partition when you're working in OS X, but you can't access OS X files while working with
Windows. Also, you can't cut or copy data from an application running in one operating system and paste that
data into an application running in the other operating system. Sharing data is usually much more straightfor-
ward under virtualization. To share files, you can either turn on Windows Sharing in OS X, or you can use the
virtualization software's sharing feature (such as Parallel Desktop's Shared Folders command). Also you can
cut or copy data in Windows and then paste that data into a Mac application (and vice versa).
Still not sure which method to use? That's not a problem because you can always use both! That is, you can set
up a Boot Camp partition to dual-boot Windows and OS X,
and
you can install virtualization software, thus giv-
ing yourself the best of both worlds. The good news is that Parallels Desktop can use the same version of Win-
dows that you've installed using Boot Camp, so you only have to configure and maintain one version of Win-
dows.
If you decide to go the dual-boot route, it's just a matter of installing and configuring Boot Camp, and then in-
stalling Windows in the partition created by Boot Camp. The rest of this appendix takes you through the details.
What You Need to Run Boot Camp
Before you strike out for Boot Camp territory, you should take a second and double-check that you have
everything you need for a successful and trouble-free trip. Fortunately, Boot Camp is a relatively simple affair
(at least on the surface; it's quite complex behind the scenes), so you don't need much to make it happen. In
fact, you need just six things:
OS X 10.5 or later.
Boot Camp is available as a utility that comes with OS X (10.5 or later), so you're out of
luck if you're still using OS X 10.4 or earlier.
Windows 7.
The version of Boot Camp that comes with OS X Mountain Lion only supports Windows 7, and
only the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate versions. You can install either a 32-bit or 64-bit version of
Windows 7. Whatever version you're installing, you must have the installation disc for the
full
install of Win-
dows 7. If all you have is an upgrade installation disc, Boot Camp won't work.
If you want to install Windows 8 instead, just be sure you have a full install disc, not an upgrade disc. Also, you can
install either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version of Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro.
DVD or CD drive.
You need an optical drive so you can insert the Windows installation disc. If you plan on
dual-booting Windows on your MacBook Air, you need to connect a MacBook Air SuperDrive (or some other
external drive).
