Running XP on Mac Mini: Most reliable solution?

ironman

ironman

ironman

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The Mac Mini I have arriving in a few days will be used for Windows XP only, so I don't need to worry about having OS X on it as it will not be used, what is the best solution of getting XP on it? Do I need to use Bootcamp or are there other options of installing XP? Is it reliable because on the website it says the beta should not be relied on for important computer use?

Thanks
 
You need to keep OSX on the Mini because XP won't run natively without using the Apple boot loader. However, you can wipe the Mini using the Disk Utility function ofthe Mac OS X restore DVD and do an absolute minimum install. Then, using Boot Camp, set the maximum partition size for Win XP and set the Start Up disk to always boot from it. You will never know that OS X is there.

Boot Camp is by far the most compatible and most reliable solution if you have no need for OS X.
 
Is that spot on? I would have thought an initial load of Boot Camp (to install the BIOS bit to the EFI) and then you can delete all partitions from the XP setup and install it to the whole drive?

Having never tried it, I don't know if my theory is correct though.
 
AJUK said:
You need to keep OSX on the Mini because XP won't run natively without using the Apple boot loader. However, you can wipe the Mini using the Disk Utility function ofthe Mac OS X restore DVD and do an absolute minimum install. Then, using Boot Camp, set the maximum partition size for Win XP and set the Start Up disk to always boot from it. You will never know that OS X is there.

Boot Camp is by far the most compatible and most reliable solution if you have no need for OS X.
Click to expand...

Thanks! It has the 60gb hard disk which is more than enough for what the computer will be used for, so there is no need to do a minimal install of OS X. I reckon the computer will never see past 6gb of usage!

Seems like a simple way of doing it though, cheers.
 
Seems like a horrible waste of money and resources - to make new mac mini do something a £150 worth of celeron box can do?
 
v0n said:
Seems like a horrible waste of money and resources - to make new mac mini do something a £150 worth of celeron box can do?
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Size is an important issue, there literally isn't anymore space in the office for another tower. Also a new box will be required everytime a security system is put in place, which will be in another months time so i'll need another Mac mini. Two of them take up less space than a shuttle which is also in the office at the moment aswell as a tower.

Plus the minis are cheap, about £290 it works out.
 
Makes good sense to me. Minis are cheap and are smaller, faster and more reliable than a dodgy Celeron anyday plus you can run OS X afterwards if you want. :)
 
I'm interested to know if the "boot camp only" option works (ie no space used for OSX) as I am also considering a Mac Mini as a PC.

Now if there was a cheap PC that was the same size....

and GURDAS where can you buy Mac Mini's for £290 (cos they are £399 everywhere I look!!!) >??? :(
 
AJUK said:
Makes good sense to me. Minis are cheap and are smaller, faster and more reliable than a dodgy Celeron anyday plus you can run OS X afterwards if you want. :)
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Aye, I wasn't even thinking of a Mac Mini to begin with. I had built a shuttle as the last build and started speccing up another one and I think it was beepcake that made me aware that the Mac Mini isn't that much more. Already built, proven reliability, apple support, small form factor and it has decent performance should the system need to be used for something else in the future!

dirtydog said:
Whatever Minis are, they ain't cheap...
Click to expand...

If a Mac Mini isn't cheap...what is? Build me a computer that is as reliable and the same size...

Methanoid said:
I'm interested to know if the "boot camp only" option works (ie no space used for OSX) as I am also considering a Mac Mini as a PC.

Now if there was a cheap PC that was the same size....

and GURDAS where can you buy Mac Mini's for £290 (cos they are £399 everywhere I look!!!) >??? :(
Click to expand...

I'm not including VAT here mate sorry.
 
gurdas said:
If a Mac Mini isn't cheap...what is? Build me a computer that is as reliable and the same size...
Click to expand...
You can get similar performance PCs for half the price of a Mini, which also come with an LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse (even though you probably don't need those in your case.) If you absolutely need a computer that small then it may be that only the Mini will do; I was just replying to AJUK who said that Minis are cheap.

I'm not including VAT here mate sorry.
Click to expand...
£290 + VAT = £340, which is still £59 less than any shop I know of...
 
dirtydog said:
£290 + VAT = £340, which is still £59 less than any shop I know of...
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Yes, I noticed too ;)

Oh and found the PC Mac Mini clone ther Aopen 945 box.. for £482 INC vat (compare to £399) I priced one with 1Gb Ram rather than 512Mb and with a C2D-M rather than CD-M chip (same speeds). So basically the Mac Mini is a good deal.
 
If size isn't important though, you can get desktop PCs cheaper can't you :) I don't know why Apple don't release a standalone desktop Mac (tower), which could be a lot cheaper.
 
dirtydog said:
You can get similar performance PCs for half the price of a Mini, which also come with an LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse (even though you probably don't need those in your case.) If you absolutely need a computer that small then it may be that only the Mini will do; I was just replying to AJUK who said that Minis are cheap.
Click to expand...

I need a small computer.

dirtydog said:
£290 + VAT = £340, which is still £59 less than any shop I know of...
Click to expand...

HE discount.
 
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