SolidWorks x64 Edition up and running on Mac Pro
I have the 64-bit version of Solidworks running on my Mac Pro and it's a screamer!
I used Solidworks 2007 x64 Edition on Windows XP x64 Professional on my Mac Pro for a solid 3 hours today at work. I had no problems other than a slow SATA hard-drive issue that is well known and remains unfixed on my machine. However, once Windows has loaded the registry with the program guts it runs like a top, just don't expect it to load up a program for the first time blazingly fast and you'll be fine.
Be that as it may, even with all the hardware issues I still have, SolidWorks is AWESOME on the Mac Pro, even better than any other Intel boxes I've used previously. To be fair, I don't have any experience with SW 2007 x64 on real XP x64 box.
(I posted this on another thread earlier, but at the time I didn't know what I was doing. I felt this information would be of better use under this category.)
For those who want to do this and run the x64 version of XP here's the drivers and the drill:
My Windows software is sourced from a free download of x64 120 day trial version from Windows.
Interestingly enough, I called Microsoft and asked what happens after 120 days, the answer was...."I don't know"...
weird.
Anyway, for those who don't know how to get the format of the download file to be correct for Boot Camp to recognize it as a Windows CD, here's the procedure.
This is all done on the Mac Pro.
1. Download XPx64 from: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx
2. Open Disk Utility
2. Double click downloaded file: WS03SP1 RTM_1830_PX6EN.iso (this will allow you to see it in Disk Utility)
3. In Disk Utility select the WS0...EN.iso file mentioned previously and click the "convert" button.
4. When the "Save as" box pops up set the location to wherever you want ( I named the file the same name w/o the .iso extension and put it on my desktop) and set the Image Format to "DVD/CD master", Encryption to "none"
5. After saving the file, it will show up with a new extension *.cdr. Double click this file in the Disk Utility drive list.
6. After Finder finishes launching the file, go back to Disk Utility and select your new *.cdr file and click the Partition button to the right.
7. Once in the partition window, select Options and set the partition scheme to "Master Boot Record", hit OK.
8. After getting back in the partition window, select Volume Scheme and set to "1 partition", The size should be around 558.62 MB (don't worry about the format set to mac OS extended and the other greyed functions)
9. Select the Burn icon, insert your CD-R, set your post burning options, and have a Coke and a smile. Verify the file format is ISO 9660 file system by selecting the "get info" on the CD under "Finder".
**TIP #1 - make sure you've printed out the e-mail from Microsoft outlining the setup instructions and including the CD-Key. Don't be like me and get 98% through the Windows setup where it asks you for CD-Key and have to power off the computer and get it out of OS X.**
**TIP #2 - Since you are using an Apple keyboard Windows doesn't seem to be able to use it on the blue screen portion of the install. My remedy (after assuming the install locked up 6 times in a row) is to go find a cheap-o usb keyboard and mouse lying around (probably standard Microsoft stuff in your closet) and plug it in to be back of your Mac Pro tower. You do not need to go through the Mac OS hardware setup thing that pops up.
10. After printing out your MS instruction e-mail and plugging in your keyboard and mouse (see above), launch Boot Camp (don't even try to use the driver CD it makes, it's useless for XP x64) and install XP x64.
11. Have a beer and a smile, you will need the alcohol in your blood from here on out.
**TIP #3 - go buy 2 or 3 magazines and get a comfortable chair.**
12. Install Windows, follow the Boot Camp Beta instructions carefully until you get to the part where you install the driver CD. It won't work.
13. Follow these links to get the x64 drivers:
Audio: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlhd-2.aspx?lineid=2004052&famid=2004052&ser ies=2004061&Software=True&title=HD%20Audio%20CODECs
Nvidia Graphics driver for the 7300GT (remember, this is for Win XP x64 edition so it's not the same as the regularly posted 32 bit version):
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64_91.47.html
LAN drivers (Be sure to get the x64 version):
Download PROEM64T.exe from the Intel website
13. Update Windows.
**NOTE: I am still having the same driver issues as others that have installed XP x64 on a Mac Pro, for example the Apple keyboard and mouse function, but the Ctl AltDel and Eject CD disk remain non functional.**
14. Install SolidWorks 2007 x64 from the included DVD in your software update box that came in the mail last week.
15. GO TO BED...IT'S 4:30 am!!!
Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional
Please correct me on any driver postings if they are in error or missing. These are the ones I used and they are working for me. I do not claim to be a guru (this is only my 7th day of using Macintosh in my entire life), I'm just a CAD guy that has a MacNut for a boss. It was either adapt or die, so I'm hapilly adapted.
Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional
I used Solidworks 2007 x64 Edition on Windows XP x64 Professional on my Mac Pro for a solid 3 hours today at work. I had no problems other than a slow SATA hard-drive issue that is well known and remains unfixed on my machine. However, once Windows has loaded the registry with the program guts it runs like a top, just don't expect it to load up a program for the first time blazingly fast and you'll be fine.
Be that as it may, even with all the hardware issues I still have, SolidWorks is AWESOME on the Mac Pro, even better than any other Intel boxes I've used previously. To be fair, I don't have any experience with SW 2007 x64 on real XP x64 box.
(I posted this on another thread earlier, but at the time I didn't know what I was doing. I felt this information would be of better use under this category.)
For those who want to do this and run the x64 version of XP here's the drivers and the drill:
My Windows software is sourced from a free download of x64 120 day trial version from Windows.
Interestingly enough, I called Microsoft and asked what happens after 120 days, the answer was...."I don't know"...
weird.
Anyway, for those who don't know how to get the format of the download file to be correct for Boot Camp to recognize it as a Windows CD, here's the procedure.
This is all done on the Mac Pro.
1. Download XPx64 from: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx
2. Open Disk Utility
2. Double click downloaded file: WS03SP1 RTM_1830_PX6EN.iso (this will allow you to see it in Disk Utility)
3. In Disk Utility select the WS0...EN.iso file mentioned previously and click the "convert" button.
4. When the "Save as" box pops up set the location to wherever you want ( I named the file the same name w/o the .iso extension and put it on my desktop) and set the Image Format to "DVD/CD master", Encryption to "none"
5. After saving the file, it will show up with a new extension *.cdr. Double click this file in the Disk Utility drive list.
6. After Finder finishes launching the file, go back to Disk Utility and select your new *.cdr file and click the Partition button to the right.
7. Once in the partition window, select Options and set the partition scheme to "Master Boot Record", hit OK.
8. After getting back in the partition window, select Volume Scheme and set to "1 partition", The size should be around 558.62 MB (don't worry about the format set to mac OS extended and the other greyed functions)
9. Select the Burn icon, insert your CD-R, set your post burning options, and have a Coke and a smile. Verify the file format is ISO 9660 file system by selecting the "get info" on the CD under "Finder".
**TIP #1 - make sure you've printed out the e-mail from Microsoft outlining the setup instructions and including the CD-Key. Don't be like me and get 98% through the Windows setup where it asks you for CD-Key and have to power off the computer and get it out of OS X.**
**TIP #2 - Since you are using an Apple keyboard Windows doesn't seem to be able to use it on the blue screen portion of the install. My remedy (after assuming the install locked up 6 times in a row) is to go find a cheap-o usb keyboard and mouse lying around (probably standard Microsoft stuff in your closet) and plug it in to be back of your Mac Pro tower. You do not need to go through the Mac OS hardware setup thing that pops up.
10. After printing out your MS instruction e-mail and plugging in your keyboard and mouse (see above), launch Boot Camp (don't even try to use the driver CD it makes, it's useless for XP x64) and install XP x64.
11. Have a beer and a smile, you will need the alcohol in your blood from here on out.
**TIP #3 - go buy 2 or 3 magazines and get a comfortable chair.**
12. Install Windows, follow the Boot Camp Beta instructions carefully until you get to the part where you install the driver CD. It won't work.
13. Follow these links to get the x64 drivers:
Audio: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlhd-2.aspx?lineid=2004052&famid=2004052&ser ies=2004061&Software=True&title=HD%20Audio%20CODECs
Nvidia Graphics driver for the 7300GT (remember, this is for Win XP x64 edition so it's not the same as the regularly posted 32 bit version):
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64_91.47.html
LAN drivers (Be sure to get the x64 version):
Download PROEM64T.exe from the Intel website
13. Update Windows.
**NOTE: I am still having the same driver issues as others that have installed XP x64 on a Mac Pro, for example the Apple keyboard and mouse function, but the Ctl AltDel and Eject CD disk remain non functional.**
14. Install SolidWorks 2007 x64 from the included DVD in your software update box that came in the mail last week.
15. GO TO BED...IT'S 4:30 am!!!
Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional
Please correct me on any driver postings if they are in error or missing. These are the ones I used and they are working for me. I do not claim to be a guru (this is only my 7th day of using Macintosh in my entire life), I'm just a CAD guy that has a MacNut for a boss. It was either adapt or die, so I'm hapilly adapted.
Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional
