How do I install Windows 7 on my new MacBook Air?

There are 2 ways to install W7 on your MBA:

1. Bootcamp (included in OSX): it will run W7 in a separate partition, this means you can run either W7 or OSX, thus you have to restart to use the other (Holding the option key). Restarting is no issue on the very fast MBA.

You need a W7 install disk.

2. Using a Virtualizer App like Parallels Desktop or VMware: this will run a Virtual Machine with W7 after the install of W7 in the VM. These PD and VMW are paid apps, you need also a W7 install disk. In this way you can run both operating systems at the same time. (BTW: there exists also a free Virtualizer called "Virtualbox", personally I have bad experience with that one).

If you did not install it yourself, the Boocamp partition is not installed on your Mac. You have the choice to make for the method you want to use.

Your second question: depending on the size of the Solid State Disk, but you should always make backups...

Your third question: NO, you cannot add Ram, MBA comes with the amount of Ram you ordered.

Your fouth question: the touch pad will work in W7 the same as in OSX.

Some added info: if you use Bootcamp to install Windows you can (since you have the new OS Lion) only run Windows 7, not XP. If you use Parallels you can install W7, XP, and Linux and you can install more VMs at the same time (each will "take" 30-60GB), VMware W7 or XP, also more VMs possible at the same time.

And even more info:

do not install antivirus or antimalware programs in OSX, only in Windows.

Do not defrag your SSD, it will shorten the SSD life considerably, and is automatically handled by the OSX.

Also cleaners etcetera are not needed, OSX takes good care of itself.

Forward delete is a two key operation.

fn delete

OS X does not mean Lion.

10.4.x Tiger

10.5.x Leopard

10.6.x Snow Leopard

10.7.x Lion

You can get the OEM version of Windows 7 from TigerDirect. It's cheaper but you can't call Microsoft for support.

With Bootcamp you have to partition the SSD using the Bootcamp Assistant.

With an emulator (Parallels, VMWare, Virtualbox) you do not partition the hard disk.

With an emulator you can run OS X and Windows at the same time.

The easiest way to do the install is with a USB connected external DVD drive.

Second easiest for the emulator install is to convert the Windows disk into an .iso file and put the file on the SSD and point the install to that file.

OMG Morgan, you are an inquisitor 😉.

But I will try and answer all your questions:

1+2: it depends on your demands: if you use both OS's often, and have a "normal" HDD you want to avoid restarting all the time and use a Virtualizer. With a MBA restarting is superquick. If you use Mac apps at the same time with Windows you better use the Virtualizer. But if you are having "bootcam windows" and decide to install a virtualizer later, this Virtualizer can make the VM of the bootcamp partition...

3: you can not install Windows without a disk.

4. The X stands for 10: Snow Leopard is 10.6... Leopard is 10.5... Lion is 10.7... They are all OSX. Befrore that there was OS9.

5. The Bootcamp install is very good guided: Bootcamp makes the partition on your SSD and after that it will ask for the W7 install disk (in case of a CD you need the Apple superdrive). This partition will be about 60GB for W7.

6. If you use Parallels, there is Kaspersky antivirus included (half a year), it will only install when you say yes on the install question (say no for W7) but as I said before: only use an antivirus in W7 and NOT in OSX, if you do not pay very good attention Parallels will install it also in OSX. Better use Avast, AVG, they are free, simple, fast, and good. NEVER use norton. But you can use the one you know form your PC life....

7. delete button: same as backspace, if you hold the "Fn" key at the same time it deletes forward.

8. When a new OS comes available (this not the same as update), make sure before you install it, that all your apps have compatibilty: you can read a lot of posts here of people who did not check before upgrading to Lion!

(same goes for Windows 8, when it comes).

No I don't know where W7 is the cheapest.

9. 32-bit or 64 bit: both are good, it does not make much difference either will run a 32 bit app. I use XP which is 32 bit on a 64-bit Mac OSX, and 64-bit W7. Thus: it depends what you want to run. My old Bankapps are all 32-bit and will not run on W7.

I hope I informed you enough to make your decisions now.

have fun.

That depends on what you want to do when running under Windows 7.

I "only" have W7 32-bit installed in BC as the maximum memory of 3 GBs issufficient for me even for gaming.

When running W7 in VMware from the BC partition I assigned it only 2 GB so that I have still 2 GB for OSX.

It is not relevant how much Ram you assign, it is not exclusively "reserved": it is the max that W7 can use when running with apps. All that it is not using it can be used by OSX. When the bootcamp Windows is not running it does not use Ram and all is available for OSX. When Parallels desktop is not running it and the Windows VM do not use Ram and all is available for OSX. Only the partition size (harddisk space) is reserved.

While you are technically right that not all of the assigned RAM is used by the VM, this is a theoretically discussion.

Everybody using Windows knows that you can simply use up to 1.5 GB by simply opening a few applications.

So in my opinion it is safer to rely on the fact that I always will have 2 GB available in OSX than relying on more and not getting it.

I agree that setting 2GB as MAX is not wrong. But what I said that this is not reserved, but max available, every Ram not used therein is free for the other OS..... while you originally said that it is blocked for...

I start using Virtual Box (need windows 7 for microsoft project, Primaverra, and accounting software). Virtual Box is fine for me.

Actually there is some free soft at torrents (Parallels, and VMware) so you have not to pay.

Hi lobre, VirtualBox is OK. But you shouldn't advertise torrent sites where you can get pirate versions of paid software. Read the forum rules.