How to run Windows 7 on Mac for free

Difficulty Level: Moderately Challenging

Things Required :

• Mac Book, supporting Mac OSX 10.61 (Snow Leopard)
• A licensed version of Windows 7 Ultimate
• VirtualBox 3.08, compatible with Mac OS X
• 60 GB hard drive space

The new versions of Intel based Macs have made the installation of Windows 7 on Mac OS more convenient than ever. Here are step by step procedures on how to run Windows on Mac for free.

1.Check for the availability of space :

Before you start downloading Windows 7, you must know that the software will require minimum of 15 to 25 gigabytes of space. Thus, your hard disk must have enough space for running both Windows 7 as well as keeping enough space for Mac, a total of which is estimated at 40 to 50 gigabytes roughly.

2. Sign up and download:

Begin the process of downloading and installation by first visiting the home page of Microsoft. Then sign up for the customer review program of Windows 7. You will receive an activation code, which you are supposed to note down somewhere. Now, click on the ‘download’ option that you will see as the screen shot. It will direct you to a window where you need to click on the ‘run’ button in the dialogue box. Now, wait till the download of the 3.2 bytes of the operating system gets completed. In the process, it will ask you for the destination you want to save it in. Direct it by choosing your option. Once the download gets completed, burn the whole software in a DVD as ‘.iso’ extension.

3. Create partition and run subsequent programs:

Create two partitions in your computer by means of the ‘Boot Camp Utility’ option. When the partitions are created, install the DVD with the Windows 7 program and allow the machine to boot a number of times. Finally, when Windows 7 is installed in the respective partition, it will ask for the activation code. Put in the code which you have already saved and click ‘OK’. Your software will get installed and you will see the respective icon on the desktop. In the same drive, install the Mac along with the drivers so that the sound and iSight camera also is enabled along with other useful hardware.

4. Keep the other partition intact and switch over:

In the other partition, keep OS X intact, so that you can switch over to different applications and softwares as and when required. In order to do this, go to the ‘Control Panel’ at the ‘Start’ and then go to ‘Boot Camp’ and direct it accordingly. You will be directed to the operating system you opted for, after the machine restarts. In case if you donot like Windows 7, you can even remove it and delete the partition you have created earlier t6 regain back your hard drive space.

Quick tips:

• Running two applications in the same system might make your computer slow. So, download and install VirtualBox software with ‘.dmg’ extension in your computer to overcome this problem.
• Your system must have enough of free virtual hard drive space and RAM capacity to run all the applications successfully.

• Always insist for the latest version of Mac for better performance and never use an older one.
• Reports say that Windows 7 is not expected to perform well under Parallels 3.0