Boot Camp - How Many Partitions?

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Boot Camp - How Many Partitions?

For work, I need a Windows XP installation and for the occasional gaming I need a Windows 7 installation. I just wondered if you could set up boot camp to have 2 windows installations. All the directions seem to only talk about 1 windows installation in boot camp.

Can I have two? (I'd rather have none.)

27" iMac, and iPad 64gb 3G, Mac OS X (10.6.5), Core i7, iPad is iOS 4.2

Posted on Dec 6, 2010 9:00 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

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Dec 6, 2010 9:09 PM in response to GamerGeekTN

Only one. Boot Camp partitions a single OS X volume that is not already partitioned into more than one volume. It creates a single Windows partition. You can make it any size as long as there is a contiguous space at the end of the drive large enough for the request. If it cannot meet the request you will be so informed.

You cannot have more than one Windows partition nor can you repartition the remaining OS X partition into more than one volume. If you do then Boot Camp no longer can manage the drive meaning you cannot get rid of the Windows partition without repartitioning the drive.

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Answer 2

GamerGeekTN Author

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Dec 6, 2010 9:15 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks, that answers my question. Although it isn't really what I wanted to hear. Since I need two different Windows OS's, could I run one in Boot Camp, and then use something like Parallels for the other? For example, Windows 7 in Boot Camp installed on the disk, and then Parallels or VM Ware (or the like) to run Windows XP (since it is just for work and won't really need a lot of resources)?

Thanks for the previous answer.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Dec 7, 2010 9:35 AM in response to GamerGeekTN

Yes. In fact you can run as many VMs in Parallels as you want without even using Boot Camp.

If you are adventurous you can have multiple partitions on the drive with multiple operating systems using rEFIt - CNet Downloads or MacUpdate. It's a different bootloader from Boot Camp but it's a bit more complicated to use, and of course unsupported by Apple. It comes with documentation meant more for a geek than a novice, but there is virtually no outside support. It does work, however, very well.

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Answer 4

Dec 9, 2010 1:42 AM in response to GamerGeekTN

What Windows games are you playing that requires Windows 7? I don't think ive seen a game yet that doesn't work with Windows xp.

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Answer 5

GamerGeekTN Author

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Dec 9, 2010 6:23 AM in response to Applesoft

Windows XP doesn't support DirectX 10. There are many games that use DirectX 10 for the best graphics. One is Dungeons and Dragons Online, another is Lord of the Rings Online, both allow DirectX 9, but have better graphics if you play them with DirectX 10.

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Answer 6

Dec 9, 2010 1:36 PM in response to GamerGeekTN

Ahhh, i didnt know that. I play alot of PC games and I guess I never came arcoss one that required Direct X 10.

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Answer 7

GamerGeekTN Author

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Dec 9, 2010 1:41 PM in response to Applesoft

In a game like LoTRO, the difference between 9 and 10 is quite noticeable. It's what got me to upgrade from XP to Vista. Shadows are especially better in 10. Unfortunately since most games now seem to be written for multiple platforms, and most are stuck on DirectX 9, most of the games are still using DirectX 9. It's a shame, since they could be so much better.

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Answer 8

Dec 9, 2010 2:16 PM in response to GamerGeekTN

Hmm, Im having a huge problem with Black Ops on XP, I meet system requirements but for some reason I cant get more than 30fps on the lowest settings w/ everything turned off. Ive updated Direct X9 but still the same thing. Do you think I need Direct X10?

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Answer 9

GamerGeekTN Author

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Dec 9, 2010 3:19 PM in response to Applesoft

Looks like it runs on DirectX 9.0c. So you should be good. Make sure you are up to date on drivers, etc.

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