The advantages of using Boot Camp are two-fold: you get an entire copy of Windows installed and it is running directly on the Mac hardware. This means it’ll be faster than any other method mentioned below. For more information about using Windows on your Mac, click the Open Boot Camp Help button in Boot Camp Assistant. These resources also contain helpful information: Create an ISO image for Boot Camp from Windows installation media; Use your Apple Keyboard in Windows with Boot Camp * These Mac models were offered with 128GB hard drives as an option.
There are many ways to transfer data (files) from a PC to a Mac, including:
- using the Migration Assistant built into OS X Lion and later
- using the 'PC Data Transfer Service' at Apple Retail Stores and Apple Specialists
- using a portable hard drive or storage device
- using a CD or DVD burner
- using other portable media
- using a shared file server
- using email
- using a direct Ethernet connection
- installing the PC's hard drive in the Mac, if compatible
Migration Assistant
OS X Lion and later has a Migration Assistant application designed to easily move files, programs, and settings from your old Windows-based PC to your new Mac. For more information, see About Windows Migration Assistant.
PC data transfer from Apple Retail Stores and Apple Specialists (United States only)
Apple Retail Stores offer several levels of data transfer services. For further information on PC Data Transfer services, contact your local Apple Retail Store. In addition to the Apple Retail Stores, many Apple Specialists, Apple Resellers, and Apple Authorized Service Providers also provide various levels of PC to Mac data transfers. To locate an Apple Specialist in your area, use the Find Service website.
Portable hard drive or storage device
Portable hard drives that can be used to transfer data from a PC to a Mac include FireWire (IEEE 1394, iLink) drives and USB-based drives or storage devices. Portable FireWire drives provide the fastest transfer rate, and are widely available. However, unless the PC has a FireWire port, which is not common on PC computers, you will not be able to use a portable FireWire hard drive. A portable USB hard drive can be used if no FireWire port is available on your old PC.
CD or DVD burner
Creating a backup disc of the files on your PC is one of the easiest methods you can use to transfer any amount of data. This method provides the added benefit of creating a backup of your data.
Other portable media
Using portable ZIP, Jaz, magnetic optical (MO), or other forms of portable media is similar to burning a CD, and, as long as the media device can be used on both the PC and Mac. Using these forms of portable media is an excellent way to transfer any amount of data.
Shared file server
A server on a network that can be accessed by both your old PC and your new Mac is an excellent alternative to burning CDs, or moving portable drives from one computer to another. Be aware that both computers must be able to access the server.
Email
For small amounts of data such as word processing documents, pictures, or small application data files, using email to send them to yourself as an attachment is another option. However, if the data files are large, or if you do not have a high-speed Internet connection, you should consider other methods before using this one. See How to transfer downloaded emails.
Some Internet service providers (ISPs) place restrictions on how large email attachments can be, so you may not be able to use this method with large data files, even if you have a fast Internet connection.
Direct Ethernet connection
If you have both computers in the same location, you may be able to use an Ethernet cable to connect both computers together and copy files between them. You may need an Ethernet crossover cable depending on which model Mac you own. This method has the advantage of being fast and being able to transfer any amount of data.
Moving the PC's hard drive
While it is possible to move some PC hard drives into some model Macs, this is not the recommended method of transferring data and it should only be used by experienced computer users who understand how to install and format PC hard drives. Mac OS X v10.3 or later can read the contents of an NTFS-formatted drive, but will be unable to save any new files or make changes to existing files without first reformatting the drive (and deleting any existing data on the drive in the process).
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Apple offers a variety of apps that can be quite alluring to Windows PC users, and you don’t have to buy a brand new machine to try them. Using a program called VirtualBox, you can run Apple’s OS X on your Intel-based PC. This will be a complete version of OS X, allowing you to run Apple-specific software like Mac apps and programs.
Initial Installations and Downloads
1.Download and install VirtualBox and the VirtualBox Extension Pack (link available in Resources).
2.Download the Hackboot 1 and Hackboot 2 ISO files (link available in Resources). These ISOs will be used to start the OS X installer and the operating system itself, respectively.
4.Name the new virtual machine and set the Operating System box to Mac OS X and the Version box to “Mac OS X Server (64 bit).”
5.Use the slider to allocate RAM to your virtual machine; at least 4GB of RAM is a recommended.
6.Click “Next” and select “Create New Disk.” The program will return to its main menu.
7.Right-click the named OS X virtual machine and click “Settings.”
8.Uncheck the box next to 'Enable EFI' in the System tab. EFI is an alternative to BIOS but Windows machines are unable to use EFI to boot in VirtualBox as of August 2013.
9.Navigate to the Storage tab and click on the CD icon called Empty. Select “Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file” and select the Hackboot 1 ISO. This sets your virtual machine to boot from Hackboot 1 the first time it starts up.
Installing OS X
1.Select your OS X virtual machine in the VirtualBox main menu.
2.Click “Start” in the toolbar and then click the CD icon at the bottom of your screen.
3.Click “Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file” and select the ISO disc image of the Mountain Lion version of OS X.
4.Click on the main screen and press “F5” to refresh the program. An icon in the middle of your screen will now be labeled as “OS X Install DVD.”
5.Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard to bring up the OS X Installation screen.
6.Select your language and agree to the operating system’s terms. You will be taken to an installation page that gives you no hard drive installation option.
7.Click “Utilities” and then click “Disk Utility…” in the VirtualBox toolbar labeled OS X Installer.
8.Click on the VirtualBox hard drive, navigate to the Erase tab and click “Erase” to clean the virtual hard drive and allow OS X to be installed. None of your data will be lost by erasing the drive.
9.Close the Disk Utility window and click on the hard drive icon now in the middle of your screen.
10.Follow the on-screen steps to finish the OS X installation.
11.Youtube fleetwood mac looking out for love live. Click the CD icon at the bottom of your screen when the installation finishes and you see a black screen with white text. Select the Hackboot 2 ISO so your virtual machine will properly boot when you restart it.
13.Select the Apple icon and press “Enter” on your keyboard.
14.Follow the final on-screen instructions to setup Mac OS X. You can now use this virtual operating system to run any Mac programs on your Windows PC.
Things Needed
- A 64-bit Windows PC with 4GB of available RAM
- An ISO disc image of OS X Mountain Lion
Tip
- Since multiple downloads are required, it is best to keep a record of where each is located to make the installation process easier.
Warning
- You must allocate a minimum of 2GB of RAM to your virtual machine -- though at least 4GB is recommended -- but the majority of your RAM should remain allocated to your Windows installation in order to properly run VirtualBox and all of your other software.
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Resources (2)
About the Author
Geoff Whiting is a writer and copy editor who has specialized in business technology, consumer electronics and research reports since 2007. He has written for national magazines like 'American Shipper' and 'BIC Magazine,' has written daily news articles for FierceMarkets, and has crafted research reports for Rider Research, Intel and Spotify.
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Whiting, Geoff. 'How to Run Mac Programs on a Windows PC.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/run-mac-programs-windows-pc-72291.html. Accessed 25 October 2019.
Whiting, Geoff. (n.d.). How to Run Mac Programs on a Windows PC. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/run-mac-programs-windows-pc-72291.html
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