Windows XP on macbook pro with retina display?

Question

Windows XP on macbook pro with retina display?

I am going to be helping a client with putting Windows XP on a brand new Macbook Pro with retina display later this week.

This client has two programs that are XP-specific, and MUST be run by booting XP fully and not virtually with Parallels or other options.

So we are going to be using bootcamp.

We have the XP install disc, and an external USB CD/DVD drive from Apple.

I've found postings online about people installing more recent flavors of Windows (Vista, 7, etc) on these machines

but I haven't found anything about Windows XP on the MBPro with retina display.

Anyone have any tips to share?

This should still be possible and not a big problem, right?

Yes, I know the resolution will likely be the biggest issue, but it should still install and run, yes?

Thank you for any helpful info anyone can provide.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Aug 13, 2012 3:50 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,995 points

Aug 13, 2012 3:53 PM in response to David Lawrence4

Not possible unless with VM software. Boot Camp requires Windows Vista or Windows 7 only. XP is not supported in Boot Camp any longer.

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Answer 2

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

Aug 13, 2012 4:00 PM in response to David Lawrence4

This should still be possible and not a big problem, right?

It is a big problem becaues it's not possible to run XP in Apple's Bootcamp.

If your a major hacker then it's possible, but Apple provides drivers and software to make Windows 7 work on a Mac, which won't work in XP.

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Answer 3

Aug 13, 2012 4:10 PM in response to ds store

Wow, thank you very much.

I called Apple before we ordered the new laptop, and asked, "Can we still install Windows XP on a MBPro with Retina display using a USB CD/DVD drive?"

And the answer was, "Yes."

Now I'd better see where we can get Windows 7, what version is best, and pray that the two very important programs even run on it.

Thanks much. Sigh.

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Answer 4

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Aug 13, 2012 4:24 PM in response to David Lawrence4

First off there are no programs that are XP specific and no programs, that I know of or ever heard of, that can not run in XP in a virtual machine.

Most all programs that will run on XP will run on Win 7, unless they are older programs. Those older program that will run on XP and not on Vista or 7 will also run on Win 2000 or 98SE. So as stated before I don't know of any programs that will only run on XP and no other operating system.

A Virtual Machine is Just That, IE a set of Virtual hardware. The Operating system has No Idea it is running in a Virtual Machine on top of a Host operating system. They are completely separate except for the VM using some of the physical hadware in the host computer. Like the USB ports, the network interfaces and the CD/DVD drive. And the VM software is made to allow those devices to look like they are part of a Physical computer the VM OS is running on.

So I have not idea what these programs could be that would not run on/in a Virtual Machine with XP Installed.

Please let me know for future reference.

So your options are.

1) Install a Virtual Machine software program. VMware Fusion, Parallels or Virtualbox. Then install Win XP into a Virtual Machine.

2) Buy and older Windows computer that will run XP natively. It doesn't need to be that old, 3-4 years old will do as most all major PC manufacturers have XP drivers for their 3-4 year old computers and most if not all hardware manufacturers, Vid cards, Ethernet & WiFi cards, still list drivers for XP.

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Answer 5

Aug 13, 2012 5:00 PM in response to Shootist007

So XP can still be virualized on a MacBook Pro with retina display (running 10.7.4) ??

Just not with bootcamp? If so, would resolution still be problematic at all?

One of the two programs is called RORSCAN and it runs literally from a USB drive. The program is NOT installed on the machine itself.

I am waiting for my client to remind me of the 2nd program.

I am not sure which of these two she said cannot be run virtually, but was going by what she said. Obviously she could be wrong but I only touch Windows if it's on a Mac. I refuse to otherwise, so I am not an expert.

I took her word for it and agreed to help her install everything on a new mac laptop after we called Apple and they said yes, we could still install XP on a new MBPro retina.

I appreciate that you have been helpful very much.

It would be AWESOME to end up learning that we can use her current programs and XP virtually.....more investigating needed.

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Answer 6

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Aug 13, 2012 5:03 PM in response to David Lawrence4

Running Lion 10.7.x or Mountain Lion 10.8, Yes it can. Mac model isn't important, works on all of them.

That is what I do.

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Answer 7

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Aug 13, 2012 5:10 PM in response to David Lawrence4

The only reason it will not work with Boot Camp is because Apple has made it that way. Apple doesn't want to bother putting together a driver package for the Mac hardware for XP. Not that the Mac hardware is any different then all other computers made today. They all use the same hardware.

Apple just doesn't want their users to run XP in a BC partition anymore.

You'd actually be hard pressed finding XP specific drivers for any modern computer, made in the last year or 2.

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Answer 8

Aug 19, 2012 5:00 PM in response to Shootist007

I successfully installed Windows 7 Home after finding out that both programs my client needed were compatible in XP and Windows 7.

And since you asked, the program that apparently cannnot run inside of Parallels thus requiriing booting into Windows directly on a Mac is called PAI.

I didn't try it in Parallels, but I called their tech support before the install, and they said that their users run into big problems and simply cannot use the softare if they try running Windows via Parallels.

http://www4.parinc.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=PAI-SP#Items

Thank you to everyone for the responses in this thread. It was very helpful.

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Answer 9

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Aug 19, 2012 5:10 PM in response to David Lawrence4

If it is one of those program that need a USB doggle to function properly then that may be the reason.

But if it was me I would try it.

I'm always up for a challenge.

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Answer 10

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Aug 19, 2012 5:15 PM in response to David Lawrence4

What is funny is they recommend VirtualBox which IMHO is the low end of Virtual Machine software programs.

But then there is no reference to when that page was written or updated so at one point older versions Parallels and VMware Fusion may of had some restrictions.

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Answer 11

HenSoh

Level 1

0 points

Nov 27, 2012 6:57 AM in response to David Lawrence4

As mentioned earlier, it's of course possible to install and use winXP without a VM - use for example refit http://refit.sourceforge.net/

Although, as I'm experiencing at the moment, it's seriously difficult to find drivers, since Apple Boot Camp does not provide winXP drivers.

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