How To find version of your Operating System ?

Whenever you install any software or application on your Mac, it is very important to know which version of Operating System you are using. It is quite simple to find

This is how your desktop looks

 

If you concentrate on top left corner of the screen there is an apple button there click that following drop down menu will appear

Click on "About This Mac" option

A window will appear giving you details of your Mac e.g here the operating system is Mac OS X verion 10.5.6

If you press the "More info button" another window will appear which will give you extremely detailed info 

Once you have details of your operating system version, you can easily choose softwares and applications compatible with you Mac.... enjoy ! 

Windows XP on Mac

You have been married to Windows Operating System for years and know every screw and bolt of it. But you lately started dating this gorgeously sexy "Mac book Air". 

What will you do ? How will you manage both ? 

Seems like a tough task ?

Good News is - It is as easy as ordering a pizza over phone.

 

Let's do it step by step :

Gyan- If you have Mac OS X v10.5 or higher, you will have this utility called "Boot Camp". It will assist you in installing  Microsoft Windows XP or Vista

Action - Go to Application -> Utilities -> Boot Camp Assistant. Once you click you will get this screen 

Take the print out of Installation & Setup Guide , you will feel better.

Once you press the continue button , your Mac will ask you to create a new partition for Windows. 

You have to give at least 5 GB for Windows Operating System. Have a look

Gyan- Your Mac is ready for Windows now. Choose Windows XP Home or Professional or you may go for Windows Vista Home, Basic, Premium , Business or Ultimate . But you need a single full-install Windows Installation disc(service pack 2 or later is required for Windows XP)

Action - Let's Install Windows now. I hope you havn't shut the boot camp assistant. If yes open again and select "Stat the windows installer" and press continue

Now insert your Windows Installation disc. The screen should look like this 

Click "start installation" and the next screen you see will be very familiar.

Now just follow the instructions.

You have to choose between "FAT" and "NTFS" format. I suggest choose "FAT"( even if it is not your type :-) ) because it will allow you to read and write files from Mac operating system. Though NTFS is more reliable and secure 

Sit back and relax , in couple of minutes your Mac will install windows and restart itself. Take out the Windows Installation CD from the drive.

Gyan- Your Mac OS CD is important to complete the installation. It holds the drivers of Mac and will be required for installation on Windows.

Action - You Mac has Windows now, So next progressive step is to install various drivers. Use your Mac OS CD to install drivers that support Mac Components like Networking, Graphics, Audio, Wireless, Apple Remote, Built-in display drivers, bluetooth etc. 

Mac OS X disc also installs the Boot Camp control panel for Windows and the Apple Boto Camp system tray item. 

Your Mac is ready to use now

One last thing, right now the control is with Mac if you want Mac to start with Windows at the startup . You have to go to System Preference ->Startup Disk and Choose Windows

We are done, you can enjoy best of both worlds now -Your favourite machine and your favourite operating system