Installing XP on Macbook Air?

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Run into a bit of a problem trying this...

Set partition size using BootCamp to 32GB for Windows but then on restart, the machine won't boot from external CD drive - it just sits and flashes apple logo -> question mark folder -> apple logo etc.

The CD drive is just a regular LG USB one.

I also tried using rEFIt as an alternative boot manager, it detects the windows cd in the drive on the boot menu but when you select it to boot, it comes up with an error message about the firmware saying that booting from external hard drives is not well supported...

Have done a bit of reading around and it seems that this will only work when booting from an air superdrive???

Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks :)
 
Suspect it will only work using the official Apple drive.

Try holding down the C key while booting up, that may work.

Tried the C key.

£70 for a drive which will only work on the Air is a bit much...

Bit extreme but taking the drive out and installing it in another mac, then installing XP, then putting it back in the Air and fudging the install was an idea I had... :D
 
I think he means its software that enables the air to use another optical drive over a network interface...

and yes, you can boot from it.
 
As far as I recall..

You cannot use the Air-specific Superdrive on another Mac, or a generic USB drive on the Air.
 
As far as I recall..

You cannot use the Air-specific Superdrive on another Mac, or a generic USB drive on the Air.

I thought the external Superdrive used a normal USB connection. Are Apple playing hard and fast with the USB specs and cranking up the amperage?

Can't see the need - I've got a scanner that's self powered off USB.
 
I thought the external Superdrive used a normal USB connection. Are Apple playing hard and fast with the USB specs and cranking up the amperage?

Can't see the need - I've got a scanner that's self powered off USB.

Agree, a CD drive can't use that much power.

What are your thoughts on the Air? I'm really tempted to shift the MBP and get an Air and drive for it.
 
Nice machine but a very niche market. Unless I spent a lot of time in economy airline seats and had a Mac Pro at home it's too limiting. I'd take a standard MacBook instead.

1 USB and no firewire = almost useless.
 
I thought the external Superdrive used a normal USB connection. Are Apple playing hard and fast with the USB specs and cranking up the amperage?

Can't see the need - I've got a scanner that's self powered off USB.

Yeap, the drive for the MBA needs a higher current than the 500mA normally available.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/confirmed-macbook-air-superdrive-does-not-work-with-other-machi/


http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/macbook-air-plenty-more-details/

The MacBook Air superdrive needs special hardware in the MBA to work -- Apple wouldn't tell us if any other devices will be able to use the thing, but we imagine the ~500mA USB outputs won't be enough.
 
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