Windows @ MacBook Air

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/install-windows-macbook-air-68536.html

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Using virtualization software to run Microsoft Windows from within your MacBook Air's native OS X operating system may be convenient when your work requires using files or software that requires Windows, but a virtualized Windows environment will be slow and could freeze up under heavy loads. Installing Windows on another partition of your MacBook Air's hard drive will let Windows perform at full strength with full access to your laptop's hardware. Apple's Boot Camp utility simplifies the process so anyone with a Windows installation disk can dual-boot both Windows and OS X on a MacBook Air.

1.

Plug your CD/DVD drive into your MacBook Air, then insert the blank DVD into the optical drive.

2.

Click on the Finder icon on the leftmost side of your Dock, and then click on the "Applications" folder in the left sidebar of the window the Finder window that appears.

3.

Open the "Utilities" folder in your Applications folder. The Utilities folder will be near the bottom of your Applications folder.

4.

Double click on "Boot Camp Assistant" to launch the application that will help you install Windows.

5.

Click the "Continue" button on the first Boot Camp Assistant window, and then select the radio button next to "Download the Windows support software for this Mac."

6.

Click the "Continue" button at the bottom of your screen, and then enter your username and password to let your MacBook Air download the drivers that will help Windows run smoothly on your laptop.

7.

Wait until Boot Camp Assistant finishes downloading the drivers, then select the radio button next to "Burn a Copy to CD or DVD."

8.

Click "Continue" to burn the drivers to your blank disc. Click the "Continue" button again when the burning process is complete.

9.

Eject the disc to which you burned the drivers and set it aside for later, then insert your Windows installation disc.

10.

Click on the graphic showing the division of your hard drive space between OS X and Windows, then drag to the left or right to increase or decrease the size of your desired Windows partition. You can also click the "Divide Equally" button to give exactly half your hard drive space to OS X and the other half to Windows. Click the "Partition" button.

11.

Click the "Start Installation" button after Boot Camp Assistant finishes partitioning your hard drive. Your MacBook Air restarts and boots from the Windows installation disc.

12.

Follow the onscreen instructions to finish your Windows installation, selecting the partition labeled "BOOTCAMP" when asked "Where do you want to install Windows?"

13.

Put the disc onto which you burned the drivers into your optical drive, and then run "Setup.exe" from the disc.

14.

Follow the onscreen instructions to install Apple's hardware drivers on your new Windows installation.

Things Needed

• USB CD/DVD drive
• Blank DVD
• Windows installation disc

Tip

• After you finish installing Windows, your MacBook Air will automatically boot to Windows. You can pick a different default operating system through Apple's Windows utilities or System Preferences in OS X, or you can press the "Option" key as your MacBook Air is starting up to select which system you want to boot.

Warning

• Do not install windows to a partition other than the one labeled "BOOTCAMP," and do not tamper with any partition from within the Windows installer other than BOOTCAMP.