Can I Use Boot Camp to Install Windows XP on Late2012 MacMini

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Level 2

346 points

Can I Use Boot Camp to Install Windows XP on Late2012 MacMini

I can't remember everything I've read here in the Community, I still have my Windows XP laptop, haven't used it except to transport videos. Can I use Boot Camp to partition & install the XP on my Dec 2012 Mac Mini? Running Mountain Lion 10.8.5. I still have my Seagate ext HD 1.5 TB, connected to the Mini, but haven't reset it to Mac only. I'm having a slight prob with memory loss, mine, not the Mac's. I think I read that I can't do this with Mountain Lion, but when I try to find what I think I read, it's so far back, I can't get to it. Please help? Thanks in advance.

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), Samsung Display

Posted on Sep 24, 2013 7:15 PM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Sep 24, 2013 11:03 PM in response to LINDA CATE

The Late 2012 Mac mini only supports 64-bit Windows 7 and 8 versions, so you can't install Windows XP with Boot Camp.

If you need Windows XP, download an application like Parallels, VMware Fusion or VirtualBox, create a virtual machine and install Windows XP there. You shouldn't have any RAM problem with Windows XP.

OS X can copy to FAT and exFAT drives, so you can format your external drive in "MS-DOS (FAT)". First, open Finder, choose your external drive in the sidebar and copy all the files to the desktop. Then, use Disk Utility to format your external disk in "MS-DOS (FAT)" > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU1.html Finally, copy all the files back

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2013 11:11 PM in response to LINDA CATE

Yes you can..

try my guide here

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5305138

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Sep 24, 2013 11:13 PM in response to Jamie Telford

You can't. It may work, but there are no drivers for the Late 2012 Mac mini and Windows XP. The processor won't work correctly and Windows won't use all the RAM. Also, it's not worth trying to install Windows XP when you can run it in a virtual machine

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Answer 4

Dec 19, 2013 9:19 PM in response to mende1

Virtual machines cannot run programs at full speed, especially anything with 3D graphics.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Dec 20, 2013 5:16 PM in response to DieselFuelForLife

There will be no proper drivers for XP runningr in BootCamp, it won't run anything at Full Speed anyhow. A VM will at least have drivers.

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