Boot Camp
Encyclopedia
Boot Camp is a multi boot utility
included with Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X
that assists users in installing Microsoft Windows
operating system
s on Intel-based Macintosh computers. The utility's Boot Camp Assistant guides users through non-destructive disk partitioning
(including resizing of an existing HFS+ partition, if necessary) of their hard disk drive and installation of Windows device driver
s. The utility also installs a Windows Control Panel applet
for selecting the boot operating system.
Initially introduced as an unsupported beta for Mac OS X Tiger, the utility was first included with Mac OS X Leopard and has been included in subsequent versions of the operating system ever since. Previous versions of Boot Camp supported new installations of Windows XP
, Windows Vista
and Windows 7. However, with the release of Boot Camp 4.0 for Mac OS X Lion
, only installations of Windows 7 are officially supported. Users have also installed Linux
using the utility, although Apple has not listed support for Linux operating systems.
(⌥) at startup brings up the boot manager, allowing the user to choose which operating system to boot. When using a non-Apple keyboard, the alt key
usually performs the same action. The boot manager can also be launched by holding down the “menu” button on the Apple Remote
at startup.
Boot Camp displaced the open source Xom Project for dual booting Mac OS X and Windows XP.
Its functionality relies on BIOS
emulation through EFI
and a partition table information synchronization mechanism between GPT
and MBR combined.
Utility software
Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer. A single piece of utility software is usually called a utility or tool....
included with Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
that assists users in installing Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s on Intel-based Macintosh computers. The utility's Boot Camp Assistant guides users through non-destructive disk partitioning
Disk partitioning
Disk partitioning is the act of dividing a hard disk drive into multiple logical storage units referred to as partitions, to treat one physical disk drive as if it were multiple disks. Partitions are also termed "slices" for operating systems based on BSD, Solaris or GNU Hurd...
(including resizing of an existing HFS+ partition, if necessary) of their hard disk drive and installation of Windows device driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
s. The utility also installs a Windows Control Panel applet
Applet
In computing, an applet is any small application that performs one specific task that runs within the scope of a larger program, often as a plug-in. An applet typically also refers to Java applets, i.e., programs written in the Java programming language that are included in a web page...
for selecting the boot operating system.
Initially introduced as an unsupported beta for Mac OS X Tiger, the utility was first included with Mac OS X Leopard and has been included in subsequent versions of the operating system ever since. Previous versions of Boot Camp supported new installations of Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and Windows 7. However, with the release of Boot Camp 4.0 for Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....
, only installations of Windows 7 are officially supported. Users have also installed Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
using the utility, although Apple has not listed support for Linux operating systems.
Overview
Holding down the option keyOption key
The Option key is a modifier key present on Apple keyboards. It is located between the Control key and Command key on a typical Mac keyboard. There are two option keys on modern Mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar....
(⌥) at startup brings up the boot manager, allowing the user to choose which operating system to boot. When using a non-Apple keyboard, the alt key
Alt key
The Alt key on a computer keyboard is used to change the function of other pressed keys. Thus, the Alt key is a modifier key, used in a similar fashion to the Shift key. For example, simply pressing "A" will type the letter a, but if you hold down either Alt key while pressing A, the computer...
usually performs the same action. The boot manager can also be launched by holding down the “menu” button on the Apple Remote
Apple Remote
The Apple Remote is a remote control made for use with Apple products with infrared capabilities released after October 2005. The device was announced by Steve Jobs on October 12, 2005. The remote is largely based on the interface of the first generation iPod Shuffle and has only six buttons...
at startup.
Boot Camp displaced the open source Xom Project for dual booting Mac OS X and Windows XP.
Its functionality relies on BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
emulation through EFI
Extensible Firmware Interface
The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface is a specification that defines a software interface between an operating system and platform firmware...
and a partition table information synchronization mechanism between GPT
GUID Partition Table
In computer hardware, GUID Partition Table is a standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical hard disk. Although it forms a part of the Extensible Firmware Interface standard , it is also used on some BIOS systems because of the limitations of MBR partition tables, which restrict...
and MBR combined.
Mac OS X Lion
Apple's Boot Camp FAQ lists the following requirements for Mac OS X Lion:- An optical drive
- Blank CD/USB media for installation of Windows drivers for Mac hardware
- 16 GB free hard disk space for 32-bit versions of Windows, 20 GB for 64-bit versions of Windows
- A full version of Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard
Apple lists the following requirements for Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard:- An Intel-based Mac with the latest firmware (Early Intel Macs require an EFI firmware update for BIOSBIOSIn IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
compatibility). - A Mac OS X Leopard or Mac OS X Snow Leopard installation disc or Mac OS X Disc 1 included with Macs that have Leopard or Snow Leopard preinstalled; this disc is needed for installation of Windows drivers for Mac hardware
- 10 GB free hard disk space (16 GB is recommended for Windows 7)
- A full version of one of the following OSs:
- Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or higher (32-bit editions only)
- Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise or Ultimate RTM or higher (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
- Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
Limitations
- Boot Camp does not work if more than three primary OS X partition exists on the target hard drive. To work around this problem, and create a boot drive with 3+ partitions, one must take the following steps.
- It is imperative that one and only one partition exist at the beginning of the Boot Camp setup process. 2+ partitions will cause a failure in the creation of the second boot partition (having a non-Boot Camp partition also prevents the OS X Lion recovery partition from being created as well as the use of File Vault).
- Run boot camp using the installation instructions found on the Apple support site. It can be located by using the search box and searching for "boot camp."
- After setting up Microsoft Windows using the Boot Camp utility, return to Mac OS X and open the Disk Utility application. Shrink the (now in use) OS X partition down so that it and the not yet created third partition have the desired space (limited by hard drive capacity).
- Now that the hard drive has free space, create a new not bootable partition.
- This partition can be used for files, or for encryption purposes. If TrueCrypt is being run within OS X Lion, the partition will not be recognized in Microsoft Windows.
Version history
| 1.0 beta |
April 5, 2006 |
|
| 1.1 beta |
August 26, 2006 |
|
| 1.1.1 beta |
September 14, 2006 |
|
| 1.1.2 beta |
October 30, 2006 |
|
| 1.2 beta |
March 28, 2007 |
|
| 1.3 beta |
June 7, 2007 |
MacBook Pro The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition... 's backlit keyboard |
| 1.4 beta |
August 8, 2007 |
|
| 2.0 | October 26, 2007 |
|
| 2.1 | April 24, 2008 |
|
| 2.2 | November 19, 2009 |
|
| 3.0 | August 28, 2009 |
|
| 3.1 | January 19, 2010 |
|
| 3.2 | November 18, 2010 |
|
| 3.3 | August 24, 2011 |
|
| 4.0 | July 20, 2011 |
|
See also
- Parallels Desktop for MacParallels Desktop for MacParallels Desktop for Mac by Parallels, Inc., is software providing hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors.-Overview:Parallels, Inc...
- rEFItREFItrEFIt is a boot menu and maintenance toolkit for EFI-based machines like the Intel Macs. It can be used to boot multiple operating systems, including triple-boot setups with Boot Camp. It also provides a way to enter and explore the EFI pre-boot environment. The name "rEFIt" is likely a play on the...
- VMware FusionVMware FusionVMware Fusion is a virtual machine software product developed by VMware for Macintosh computers with Intel processors. Fusion allows Intel-based Macs to run x86 and x86-64 "guest" operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris as virtual machines simultaneously with Mac OS...
- VirtualBoxVirtualBoxOracle VM VirtualBox is an x86 virtualization software package, originally created by software company Innotek GmbH, purchased by Sun Microsystems, and now developed by Oracle Corporation as part of its family of virtualization products...