getting windows on a mac

By Gregory, 2 May, 2015

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Hey all, so I am running 10.10.3 on a mac book pro 2012 and am interested in running windows on my mac. I am looking for advice as this is my first time going about this. Should I go with bootcamp or VMWare? cIs there a way to get a free version of windows and oVMWare? Which version of windows should I run? Also, I heard that going through bootcamp to use windows independently is inaccessible upon set up but that there is a way to do it: how is that?
Thank you all very much.

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Comments

By Joseph on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 14:42

Regarding the free windows thing, I don't think you can get a free copy of windows that's legit unless you use. er. certain sites that I won't bother to discuss on this forem, or this site for that matter. Plus, doing so wouldn't really be your best bet.

By jane suh on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 14:42

hello. I also run Windows on my Mac. I also have a 2012 MacBook Pro running Boot Camp with Windows 7. Talking installer, from Brian smart.
i've also purchased VMware fusion, it is $70. You need to have a valid copy of windows because of the product key.
Boot Camp seems to work for me. You have to boots into the system that you want, that's fine with me. With VMware, you can run your system simultaneously which is very nice, but this is personal preference.

By Niall Gallagher on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 14:42

Hi,

I would strongly recommend using VMWare Fusion 7 and Windows 7.
Fusion is completely accessible, and Windows 7 is a reliable operating system.

I have previously used BootCamp and it works perfectly, but having to reboot the Mac to switch to Windows was not ideal.
Like the previous contributor stated, choosing between VMWare and BootCamp is based on your personal preference.

Hope it works out for you!

Kind regards,

Niall

By Gregory on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 14:42

I've herd of brian smart installer. Is that like a copy of windows installer with license key or is it just some sort of assistant? Also I heard you would need sighted assistance because audio does not come through at first do to some drivers not being installed?
Thanks guys for this advice, much apreciated.

By Unregistered User (not verified) on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 14:42

I have used both Boot Camp and VMware Fusion Pro. If you use the latter, ensure your system is not a 3.33 gHZ Core2 Duo as mine is because Windows will be quite slow, hence my preference for Boot Camp. This is okay because I now have Winclone Pro and Boot Runner [both made by Twocanoes] which makes reinstallation of the current iteration of Windows extremely effortless. If the system you are using is a 2014 model, chances are you will be unable to install anything prior to Windows 8 via Boot Camp. Perhaps this dates back to 2012 but I am not certain. In such case, it is obviously better to use VMware Fusion Pro if you wish to use anything prior to Windows 8.

By Daniel Angus MacDonald on Monday, June 5, 2017 - 14:42

their is now a talking install in Windows 10 if you are going to use that version. you need some sort of USB devices like headphones or a soundcard for it to work. their is a completely leagle way of getting windows 10 for free, with some minor restrictions. so you can download a windows 10 ISO from microsoft's windows 10 site, and the only restrictions are that their is a visual watermark on screen telling you to activate windows, you cannot ajust anything in the personalization settings, and when you go into settings, their is a dialog which says you are not activated.
Daniel

By Tree on Monday, June 5, 2017 - 14:42

I would recommend boot camp. I almost exclusively use windows on my 2016 mac book pro, and with boot camp, your mac will be exactly like a windows machine. I tried v m where on an 2011 mac book pro, but it could not handle v m where. I’m sure my new mac book would do better, but it takes less than `10 seconds to boot, so Bootcamp is still better for me.

As far as paying for windows, I think for most normal people, especially blind people, there will problem never be a reason to pay for windows for the foreseeable future. I downloaded a copy of windows ten from Microsoft, and I have been using it without authorizing it with no downsides at all. In addition, if you have a copy of windows seven and you are blind Microsoft will give you an authorized version of windows 10 for free.

I’m not sure what mac model you have, but windows seven will not run on my mac book. This might not be the case for your model, but I think windows 10 is great and you should feel free to try it.