Windows 7 on Apple hardware

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  1. Posts : 21
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
       #1

    Windows 7 on Apple hardware


    I'll put it right out there- my (probably) dumb question: Can Win7 be installed on Mac hardware?

    I've been a PC user for decades...literally. I really like Windows 7...best version yet, IMO, and I've always disliked the Apple OS.

    But....the hardware quality of Windows laptops has deteriorated so much in recent years that I'm having a REALLY hard time finding decent replacements for the two laptops that need replacing at my house. I've been looking for months. Right now, we're double-teaming on an Asus that, despite its high-end style and price, I find disappointing in many regards. (Crappiest keyboard I've ever used, poor display, etc.)

    I know Apple makes very high quality hardware. It's not just pretty, but it's known to be pretty rugged and durable.

    So...is it possible to take an Apple laptop and just do a fresh Win 7 install? I don't mean bootstrap, dual-boot, or any of that ....I mean just buying an Apple laptop and using it to run Win 7 exclusively...running it as a PC. No Apple software.

    I guess I'm assuming this isn't possible, or I would have heard about people doing it. Can anyone enlighten me on this? If it's not possible, what's the reason? (Does Apple write a self-destruct mode into the BIOS? )

    TIA for any feedback.
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  2. Posts : 273
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #2

    I'm sure it's possible, the only way I have seen it done though is through boot camp.
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  3. Posts : 578
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #3

    Even though Apple Macs use the exact same hardware as MS PCs I don't think you can load a MS OS on it natively. Something to do with the BIOS I believe.
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  4. Posts : 2,039
    Several, including Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #4
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  5. Posts : 21
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thank you for the link. That seems geared toward running Windows alongside OSX...or within it or something...using the Boot Camp utility.

    Obviously, Apple isn't going to say, right on their website, that you can just delete all their software and install Windows, if you'd prefer. But I'm still left wondering whether that's doable, or as Shootist suggested, there's something like a BIOS restriction that prevents it.

    Seems like somebody would have been curious enough to at least try it at some point....
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  6. Posts : 578
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #6

    I think it is the same for the other way around also.

    I got a bug up my U no what the other day and looked for a way to install OS X on a PC.
    One guy did it using specific hardware and wrote a tutorial on it.
    I tried it on my new PC and couldn't get it to work.
    I need a boot loader installed from a boot CD and then I could start the OS X install. But then it just gave me a "You need to restart you computer by pushing and hold the power button until it turns off. Then turn it back on". Of course with that the boot loader was not loaded and the PC BIOS does not see the OS X DVD in the drive.

    I suspect it is the same for the Mac trying to boot a Windows DVD. The BIOS is set to look for a specific type of boot file.

    Now if we could only change out the BIOS chips. Ha Ha.

    Now looking at running it in a Virtual Machine. Heck OS X Snow Leopard is only 29 bucks.
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  7. Posts : 21
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Well.....went to a ballgame tonight, where I remember that the guy who has the seats next to ours happens to be a Mac geek. How handy!

    So I asked him about this and he said it'll work just fine....that I can run Windows on an Apple laptop as the only OS if I want. He said to do it just like any other clean install- boot from the optical drive, and when Setup asks what size to make the new partition, just use the entire drive. He suggested, however, that I leave the Mac OS intact on a small partition, and then set the Windows installation as the default OS (so it would start automatically without having to select it at every start).

    I think I'll check out Apple's return policy and, if they give me at least a couple weeks to give this a try without incurring fees, I might go for it.
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  8. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 64bit
       #8

    Did you ever try this?


    Well.....went to a ballgame tonight, where I remember that the guy who has the seats next to ours happens to be a Mac geek. How handy!

    So I asked him about this and he said it'll work just fine....that I can run Windows on an Apple laptop as the only OS if I want. He said to do it just like any other clean install- boot from the optical drive, and when Setup asks what size to make the new partition, just use the entire drive. He suggested, however, that I leave the Mac OS intact on a small partition, and then set the Windows installation as the default OS (so it would start automatically without having to select it at every start).

    I think I'll check out Apple's return policy and, if they give me at least a couple weeks to give this a try without incurring fees, I might go for it.

    BrodyBoy:

    Did you ever try this?
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  9. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    if that does not work, look for a program called Parallels. It is supposed to let you run windows on a Mac.
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  10. Posts : 2,973
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1
       #10

    If you are looking for a good laptop, you could look at Samsung's lineup. I think Mac's are the only laptops made out of billet aluminum, but some others are very high quality. Also, just a point of interest: Apple doesn't make ANY of the hardware in their laptops. The chassis is nice, but most of the hardware inside is made by Samsung. Save yourself a grand or so and try to find a PC.
      My Computer


 
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