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use existing windows hard drive in mac pro with boot camp

Can I use an existing windows xp installation from a windows computer> In other words, I have a windows computer with XP Pro service pack 2 on it. I want to take that hard drive and put it in my mac pro and then use it through boot camp. Could'nt I just install the boot camp drivers on it? Thank you in advance.

Posted on Apr 7, 2012 10:56 PM

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8 replies

Apr 8, 2012 10:18 AM in response to GreekGeek1157

They'll be fine (unless they are 16-bit, in which case run a Windows VM).


Because 32-bit does not make good use of and manage memory, and you would only get less than 3GB available, you want 64-bit (there is next to zilch reason for 32-bit OS at this point).


When Vista came out in 2006-7 there were 64-bit drivers and the adoption rate. Not now.

Apr 8, 2012 3:22 PM in response to The hatter

Thank you. What I am going to do then is install (4) 1 TB HD's: HD #1 for OS Lion and all apps, HD #2 for Time Machine backup of HD #1, HD #3 for Windows 7 Ultimate and all programs thru Boot Camp, HD #4 for backups of HD #3 thru Acronis and Second Copy synchronization software. I am getting a Mac Pro mid 2010 with (1) 2.4GHz standard configuraion and am going to up the memory to 16GB. The main reason I am doing this is because my mid 2010 Macbook Pro has been a disaster. Thank God for AppleCare! I've had it in for repair 5 times already. Three logic boards later, it has been alright for 4 months now. Wow! When it goes down, so does my business. Therfore the Mac Pro. I'll keep em in sync with Chronosync. The heaviest thing I will be running is Photoshop CS4 for Mac. I use Windows basically to run Quickbooks, because the Mac version is a poor excuse for Quickbooks. I also have to run my electrical estimating software through Windows also because nobody makes estimating software for Mac. I may do some gaming through Windows also. I think this should be a pretty good system, your opinion would be welcome. Thank you for your help.

Apr 8, 2012 3:45 PM in response to GreekGeek1157

Acronis does not play well with Macs. It might on a dedicated Windows drive, but I know and use Paragon Hard Disk MGR 12 $49 and also their $20 Clone OS to HDD (makes a bootable clone so you can use either disk but it is 'whole disk" OS only.


I'd get the 4-core 2.8, and not a 2.4GHz 2.4 is not standard, it might be in 8-core or something.


People are upgrading cpu to W3680 $589 DIY


RAM: 2 x 8GB with room to grow. The sweet spot for CS5.5 is to have 24GB RAM to play with so depending.... 4 x 8GB would still be possible later. And CS5/6 under Windows for some... and ability to use GTX 680 or even 580.


CS4 is not a good idea but then I have not seen anyone - it is 10.5 era version and CS5.x is now Cocoa code base plus 64-bit - that helps a lot.


www.macperformanceguide.com has a lot to offer in ideas.


Know that your Mac Pro can run those Windows apps in a VM like VirtualBox without breaking a sweat too.


I'd get it stock and then add an SSD or two as you can afford to.

OWC has SSD on PCIe $500 for 1TB.

use existing windows hard drive in mac pro with boot camp

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