Installing and Running Windows 8 on a Mac

Got a Mac and want to Run Windows 8 on it? Here’s how.

More and more, people have not just PCs, but Macs as well. Some people like Macs so much, in fact, that they like to run Windows on their Mac. That can be done, and they enjoy both of the worlds the apple and windows both.
                                  
                              There are many ways to do this.One is to use the Apple program called Boot Camp.
                                              
                                       Boot Camp requires you to boot into either Mac OS X or Windows. When you want to switch between the operating systems, you’ll have to reboot.

Three popular programs let you do this: Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, and VirtualBox.

Installing and Running Windows 8 Using Parallels Desktop

Get a copy of Parallels. It costs $79.99. You’ll also need a copy of Windows 8, either on DVD or other media or as an .iso file. Before you install Windows 8, you must install Parallels Desktop, which is the same simple process as installing any Mac program.

Now you’re ready to install Windows 8. But since you’re installing Windows 8 as a virtual machine, you have to install it from within Parallels Desktop.

1. Run Parallels and select File→New. A screen like the one shown in Figure appears. 

2.On this screen, you have the choice of migrating Windows from an existing PC (which makes sense if you already have a Windows 8 PC) or installing Windows from either a DVD or an .iso file. 3.Down toward the bottom of the screen, there’s also an option for downloading Windows 8 for free. 
                                         
                                         Keep in mind that this will be a trial version of Windows 8, not a fully paid one, so you can only use it for 90 days. It will likely be the Enterprise edition of Windows 8. You’ll download it as an .iso file.
  
                                 When you migrate, you’ll choose the method you want to use for the migration: over a network, from an external storage device, or using a USB cable you can buy from Parallels in the company’s “Switch to Mac” kit. From there, follow the wizard’s instructions. 

                         If you’re instead installing a fresh copy of Windows 8, select the “Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file,” and click that option. 

                                      On the next screen (Figure ), choose whether you’re going to install from a DVD or .iso file (Parallels calls it an image file). If you’re installing from an .iso file, browse to the location of the file and choose it. Then click Continue.

4.  On the next screen (Figure 1), you’ll need to enter your Windows 8 product key. If you’re using a trial version of Windows 8, turn off the “This version requires a product key” checkbox. 

                                          Also, if you’re using the trial version, also turn off the “Express installation” option. (If you don’t uncheck that box, your trial version may not install.) If you keep “Express installation” checked and click Continue, your installation will be straightforward. 

                                          Just follow the prompts and you’re good to go. If you uncheck the box, the process will require a few more steps, so read on for the details. 

                                              Whether you use the express installation or not, on the next screen you come to (Figure ), you’ll be asked to choose between two different ways that Windows 8 can run: Like a Mac 20 If you choose this option, you won’t see the familiar Windows 8 interface, including the Start screen, Desktop, and so on. 



                                      Instead, you’ll only use applications that you install onto Windows, such as Office. Each of these applications will run in their own windows on Mac OS X, like a Mac OS X app. Unless you’re only installing Windows 8 to run specific Windows programs, this isn’t a good choice.

Like a PC Choose this alternative, and Windows 8 runs like normal in its own Mac window, with the Start screen, Desktop, and so on. This setup is the best choice for most people. 

                                       Make a choice and click Continue (the rest of this section assumes that you’ve chosen Like a PC). On the next screen, you’ll see details of the virtual Windows 8 machine you’re creating, including its name location, and similar options. Make any changes, or leave them as is, then click Continue.

                                                   At this point, Windows 8 starts installing on your Mac in the same way that it installs on a PC. You’ll see the same prompts, choose the same options, and so on. You can see it in action in Figure .

                                When you come to a screen asking whether to install as an Upgrade or Custom, select Custom. Then select the Mac’s hard disk as the place to install Windows and continue. After the usual restarts, Windows 8 will be installed on your Mac as a virtual machine. You’ll be able to run it every time you start Parallels.