2 versions of osx86....which to use..please help!

[laszen03]

I have a DV1000 series laptop with 100gb hard drive and 512 ram. It is an SSE2 processor, i have an intel pentium M w/centrino.

 

If i were to get my hands on two versions of the osx86 software, one being "Marklar-Tiger.dmg" which is 2.43 gb and apply the "Generic_OSx86_Install_DVD_Patcher_Release1.rar" which is 146 MB on that be the best way to go?

 

I also have the posibility to go with "MacOSX_10.4.4DVDPATCHED_Myz.iso" which is 4.3 GB in size.

 

I guess i have read just about every post on here and i have been looking at the install guides, and i found one for the marklar version, but really nothing on the Myzar version.

 

My suspicion is to use the Myzar version because it is much newer, but then agian, i have also read and have noticed a general trend that in many cases the newer versions are not always better.

 

I understand that im going to face issuse no matter which way i go, and i will be involved just like the rest of you trying to help resolve them, but for the meantime, I would really appreciate some guidence on which might work best for me and if its the Myzar version, where i can be looking to find a detailed instal guide with troubleshooting etc.

 

I currently have XP home installed, yes HOME i know but its a legal key, came with the laptop, and it does the job. I have made 4 DVD's of essential information, which are my backups. I plan to compleatly wipe my computer out, and start all over from scratch, both windows XP and MasOS.

 

I want to dual boot the two, and plan to partition the hard drive 30gb MacOS and 70gb WinXP. I understand ill lose some space to formatting and actual space taken by the OS's, but these should be okay for me.

 

One other question, is there any way to make a partition that is both readable by WinXP and MacOSX86? WinXP uses NTFS and i think the MacOS uses HTFxxx? Something like that, the are obviously not compatible, but is there a universal system i could put on a partition which would show in both OS's assuming I am dual booting? This would be hand for media files such as pictures, and mp3's, i could listen to my music in either OS.

 

One last thing, what is the best route to go dual booting wise? Program, or use windows built in bootloader? I know nothing abour linix and just assume stay away for now, learning the MacOS right now is enough for me.

 

Well im sorry for being so long winded, im really excited about this, and cant wait to get it all working. I really really appreciate any help anyone can lend, dont leave something out just because you think i know that. I consider myself an educated person when it comes to computers, and i do mean that very sincerely, however like most people, I am also ignorant at times, and ill be the first to admit it, so i really mean it when i say, talk to me as if i was 5 years old. I know windows inside and out pretty well, but dont know anythign about bootloading etc. I have messed with my registry before, but only with the help of a tutorial which was side by side with the regeditor. I have made pages back in the day using HTML by hand, and this code knowlege had carried over to my abuility to edit XML files which need to be done on my "Special XBOX". WHen it comes to MacOS, Thats where i am really uninformed.

 

Agian and agian, if you are reading this now, i owe you already, because i realize that just took 5 minutes of your time, but as long as you have 5 minutes invested, why not invest a little more and respond. I promise all you out there, I will post my expieriences as i have them, and will learn and try to help other out if i can beased on these expieriences. I want to help you all just as much as I WANT AND NEED help myself.

 

Nick

[declan]

Go with the Myzar DVD

 

Mac can read NTFS but only read only

XP needs something like mac drive to access HFS+

Or make a Fat32 partition they can both read and write.

Install OS X second and use the darwin boot loader, that would be my choice.

 

Special XBOX, i like it.

[laszen03]

Okay, I will be going with the Myzar version. Thanks for the help.

 

Which would be a better idea, using partition magic to make a partition and install with my current windows XP install, or to wipe that XP install out and start from scratch.

 

Advantages/Disadvantages to each?

 

Is there a universal file system read by both MacOS and Windows?

 

Best route in your opinion?

[declan]

I would always clean install, use the diskpart command to create a mac ready partition.

Use Fat32 as the universal file system.

 

Install XP, creating what ever size you want for XP, leave the other alone.

Once XP is installed.

Use the run command

Type "diskpart"

If you used only one HD

Type

create primary partition id=af

active

 

Now once its active the next time you reboot, you will need to insert OS X install disk, as windows won't boot.

Once installed, you will have darwin's bootloader to select which os

[laszen03]

Okay, i think i got that all, here are a few questions...

 

I will do a clean install....insert the xp disc, restart the computer with the boot sequence switched to CD-ROM b4 HD.

 

Ill boot from the windows CD and delete all partitions.

 

Then I will create a new windows partition which will be 70gb. Do i format that one in FAT32 or use NTFS? Do I format the XP install on say 55gb NTFS patition, and then make a 15gb FAT32 partition where windows isnt installed?

 

If the XP install is all FAT32, then MacOS will see the windows partition? If i install it on NTFS, it wont see the partition right? If i install XP on NTFS, and leave an extra 15gb to format FAT32, when would i do that? Then would MacOS see only its partition, and then the 15gb FAT32 partition. In XP then windows would see the 55gb NTFS partition and the 15gb FAT32 partition. So in sum i'd have

 

55gb NTFS w/Windows XP Home installed

30gb HTFxx w/MacOS installed

15gb FAT32 for mp3's and pictures which both OS's could use and see?

 

Is this right, or no?

 

On the "diskpart" command i'll type "create primary partition id=af"

 

what does ------>"active" refer to? Is this part of the command, or is it feedback from the program? Do i type "create primary partition id=af" which takes me to another menu where i type in "active"?

 

Now all i need to do is reboot and have the MacOS install disc in and away I go? I will choose the unpartitioned 30gb of space to install on.

 

Few questions then, at what point to I format the extra 15gb for the FAT32 partition, and with which OS or how do i go about doing that if my interpetation is correct. Also, MacOS will format the unpartitioned 30gb to its file system right?

 

The Darwin bootloader is the one built into windows right? Just so im clear, same as if i was going to dual boot both PRO and HOME, i can pick which one I want to run right?

 

Lastly, is there any way to make sure my MacOS instal DVD is good before i do this? I dont want to not be able to boot at all if i did something wrong.

 

Agian and agian, thanks so much for your help!

[declan]

Ok answers 1 by 1.

 

Create NTFS for windows xp and install.

Using computer management create a fat32 partition.

Then use diskpart to use the rest for os x

Making the partition active will allow your pc to boot from the osx partition. (active is a command)

 

Darwin is part of os x.

 

If it installs its a good dvd.

You can repair the mbr to enable you to reboot xp if all doesn't go well.

 

Don't bother dual boot home and pro, pointless, just pick one.

[Aurora]

I will do a clean install....insert the xp disc, restart the computer with the boot sequence switched to CD-ROM b4 HD.

 

Ill boot from the windows CD and delete all partitions.

 

'k, so far so good...

 

Then I will create a new windows partition which will be 70gb. Do i format that one in FAT32 or use NTFS? Do I format the XP install on say 55gb NTFS patition, and then make a 15gb FAT32 partition where windows isnt installed?

 

You'll have to format your windows partition as NTFS since FAT32 doesn't allow sizes greater than 32 Gb.

 

If the XP install is all FAT32, then MacOS will see the windows partition? If i install it on NTFS, it wont see the partition right? If i install XP on NTFS, and leave an extra 15gb to format FAT32, when would i do

that? Then would MacOS see only its partition, and then the 15gb FAT32 partition. In XP then windows would see the 55gb NTFS partition and the 15gb FAT32 partition. So in sum i'd have

 

55gb NTFS w/Windows XP Home installed

30gb HTFxx w/MacOS installed

15gb FAT32 for mp3's and pictures which both OS's could use and see?

 

That looks fine.

 

First install XP on the first partition. I'd also stay away from diskpart (it's confusing) and just use the GUI installer for XP to partition the disk (55/30/15) and make the first partition NTFS like your scheme says. After that install Tiger on the second partition and use it to format the last 15 Gb into FAT32 (Tiger calls it MS-DOS) using the much friendlier Disk Utility.

 

The Darwin bootloader is the one built into windows right? Just so im clear, same as if i was going to dual boot both PRO and HOME, i can pick which one I want to run right?

 

Negative. Darwin is the Unix-like underpinnings of Mac OS X and uses its own boot loader for OS X, and can also theoretically boot Windows. I don't know much about it, so I can't really help you much after this.

 

Lastly, is there any way to make sure my MacOS instal DVD is good before i do this? I dont want to not be able to boot at all if i did something wrong.

 

Once you begin the installation process for Tiger, the first thing it does is check the installation media (the install DVD), so you're good there.

[declan]

When you install os x, select disk utility from the tools menu, and select the new partition, erase it, quit disk utility, then you can select it to install on.

 

Just one note, the check it does won't always tell you if its a good dvd or not, since its not exactly checking a real install dvd. Most problem dvd's foobar before this bit anyway.

[laszen03]

Okay, here is what ive got so far...

 

1) Insert Windows Boot CD and restart computer

2) Delete all partitions in the Windows install menu

3) Create a partition that is 55gb in size

4) Create a partition that is 30gb in size

5) Create a partition that is the rest, ~15gb (100gb total on hard drive)

6) Select the 55gb partition and format using NTFS and then install windows there

7) Complete windows install, then pop in Tiger OSx install image(myzar) and reboot

 

Now im a bit fuzzy...

 

8) Go into disk utility delete both the 30gb and 15 gb partitions?

I want to be able to install the OS on the 30gb partition.

Im confused, When do i set up the 15gb partition? After or at the same time?

9) Assuming that tiger installet on the 30gb partition, then whats next?

 

I need to get the 15gb FAT32 partition formatted so both windows and OSx will read/write to it. I also still need to figure out the bootloader issue. Once thats setup, am i good to go?

 

Then i just have to figure out drivers, etc. id imagine.

[laszen03]

IM STUCK...i basically did all this above, it installed, and i ran OSX fine the first time, i restarted the computer and it boots to say, media test failure, it looks like its skipping all the drives, trying the network boot as a last resort, then failing, it just keeps doing this. I think i have a problem witht he bootloader! What should i do? I am trying to boot of the windows CD and in recovery console but i dont know what command to use?

 

 

Any help?

 

Please, i almost got it!