Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Crikey Mikey · Jan 3, 2008, 12:57 AM

Hi ,the first forum I have joined.I bought a macbook just before Christmas with Leopard installed ,meaning also bootcamp is included.I need to run applications in both mac and Windows,some are available only on mac others only available on windows so I need to swicth os's frequently.Went through all the steps to load xp pro,finally got it to work..after many tries.Now it runs on windows ,but will continually switch off and restart,either at start up or randomly during use.I have taken it to be repaired-there is an issue apparently with overheating on this model ,apparently-new heatsink required,isight camera didn't work -fixed.Yet to pick it up,but apple will not take any responsibility for it not running on windows,even though I pointed out this was a vital part of me needing to run it.This is the first mac I have owned since my old 7100.I have been useing windows for a long time.If I cant run windows,I have wasted my money ,and will have to buy a second laptop to run windows reliably.I will know tomorrow when I pick it up.Anyone else had this problem?Is there a solution?It seems nowadays there are more exceptions than inclusions in warranties.I may have to get a windows tech to investigate the problem -at my cost,if I can even get someone willing to look at it,because it runs on a mac-Im caught between 2 worids.Unfortunately my new experience with apple will be my last,if it won't run on windows in a stable manner.Hopefully someone may have a clue about the problem.Thanks

seanc · Jan 3, 2008, 02:33 AM

I'm assuming this is a 1st gen. CoreDuo MacBook, since as far as I know, they were the only ones to suffer from the shutdown issue.
Was your XP disc an SP2 disc?

Cadaver · Jan 3, 2008, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by seanc

I'm assuming this is a 1st gen. CoreDuo MacBook, since as far as I know, they were the only ones to suffer from the shutdown issue.
Was your XP disc an SP2 disc?

(But the original post says he just bought it and that it came with Leopard. Sounds like a new machine.)

Sounds like you got a lemon. Hopefully Apple fixes it. If not, I'd demand they replace it. I would, however, not mention the bit about Windows, since obviously Apple does not warrant their machines to run Windows reliably - just Mac OS X.

If Mac OS X runs reliably, then the hardware is working and you've got a Windows software error. If the Mac OS isn't running reliably either, then you've got a hardware issue (motherboard, RAM, HD... something). Use the system test option on the DVD included with your machine to test it after it comes back from repair.

And as seanc says, make sure you're using Windows XP SP2 (or Vista), and make sure you've installed the Windows drivers included on the Leopard DVD.

You could also try Parallels or Fusion to run Windows in a virtual machine if doing the Boot Camp thing doesn't seem to be going for you.

But do remember - first and foremost you bought a Mac. If Windows is your main priority, you may want to look elsewhere. While Apple's Intel machines can be made to run Windows, their primary design is to run Mac OS X. As far as Apple is concerned, Windows is simply an application. It would be no different than if your machine could run every Mac program on the planet except Photoshop. Apple would warrant the hardware, but makes no guarantees about third-party software.

ghporter · Jan 3, 2008, 06:54 AM

I think there's something defective in the XP installation. Windows will do this sort of thing if some parts of the OS are defective, and that can happen because of a dirty CD, some sort of odd occurrence during installation, or maybe just "because." Since it isn't doing well for you, and you probably haven't done much in Windows, I'd wipe out the partition and start fresh. Use the Boot Camp Utility's "restore startup disk to a single volume" option to get rid of the partition, then try again. Make sure the XP disc is pristine-Mac optical drives seem to be kind of sensitive to gunk on discs and that can cause you all sorts of data problems-plus the Windows installer won't tell you when a file isn't properly copied, so you won't know until it fails.

Oh, and this is pretty much not a MBP issue, so I'm going to move the thread to the Alternative OS forum.

bishopazrael · Jan 6, 2008, 01:16 AM

You know it amazes me how many people out there believe that they can install windows, have it not work right and think they can just blame apple and demand a fix. Why should apple fix something that they've said right from the start... "running this software.. you're on your own."

If this was a dell computer and you were trying to run OS X on it and it didn't work.... would you call dell?

Jesus. Get a grip. If you NEED windows buy a windows laptop. I said it before and I'll say it again....

The Macbooks, the Macbook Pros.. the intel macs... these are the first computers in the history of the world to run both Mac AND Windows. There are GOING to be problems when you run something NOT INTENDED for this machine. Get over it. I'm so sick of people saying they wasted their money, or apple should refund them 4 months later, or whatever.....

Look, let me suggest that seeing as how you aren't a tech, maybe you pay someone in your town to give it a shot installing Windows for you. Anyone can install windows you say? Well appearalntly some people can't, not without giving themselves conniptions. Dont blame apple. You bought an apple because you were fed up with MS's crap software. You think just because you installed it on a Mac it's going to be magically delicious? Use some common sense. It was a crap OS on your sony, dell, hp, compaq, etc... instlling it on the first computer ever to run both Mac and Windows is not without complications. Either have patience to deal with it or go back to your crap pc.

harbinger75 · Jan 9, 2008, 04:44 PM

You know it amazes me how many people out there believe that they can install windows, have it not work right and think they can just blame apple and demand a fix. Why should apple fix something that they've said right from the start... "running this software.. you're on your own."

If this was a dell computer and you were trying to run OS X on it and it didn't work.... would you call dell?

Jesus. Get a grip. If you NEED windows buy a windows laptop. I said it before and I'll say it again....

The Macbooks, the Macbook Pros.. the intel macs... these are the first computers in the history of the world to run both Mac AND Windows. There are GOING to be problems when you run something NOT INTENDED for this machine. Get over it. I'm so sick of people saying they wasted their money, or apple should refund them 4 months later, or whatever.....

Look, let me suggest that seeing as how you aren't a tech, maybe you pay someone in your town to give it a shot installing Windows for you. Anyone can install windows you say? Well appearalntly some people can't, not without giving themselves conniptions. Dont blame apple. You bought an apple because you were fed up with MS's crap software. You think just because you installed it on a Mac it's going to be magically delicious? Use some common sense. It was a crap OS on your sony, dell, hp, compaq, etc... instlling it on the first computer ever to run both Mac and Windows is not without complications. Either have patience to deal with it or go back to your crap pc.

Wow, the guy was just asking for help. You seem to be a little bit irritable on this subject.

Oh, and Apple DOES intend on some people running Windows on their machines...would they have created Boot Camp otherwise?

ghporter · Jan 9, 2008, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by harbinger75

Wow, the guy was just asking for help. You seem to be a little bit irritable on this subject.

Oh, and Apple DOES intend on some people running Windows on their machines...would they have created Boot Camp otherwise?

It may have been a bit harsh, but it's accurate. Boot Camp is there to make it easier to run Windows on your Mac-not because Windows is PART OF a Mac the way OS X is. And the idea that if it doesn't work immediately and painlessly, it must be somebody's fault (not the person asking the question!) is irritating to me as well.

Unfortunately, Mikey never came back and let us know if our suggestions helped, and until he does we won't know if HE was overreacting to having spent a lot of time getting nowhere or not. But that's my read on his post.

Crikey Mikey · Jan 9, 2008, 05:43 PM

Thank you for all your replies (good and bad)The mac book came back from first repair ,got it home -same thing happened.The problem seems to be no faults come up under diagnostic tests.In answer to some questions:yes it is an official copy of xp pro-bought from the apple store.Now in for its second repair.Yes I am buying a windows laptop today,so I can do some work ,(my income relies on having access to a computer,the whole idea was not to be so deskbound)so if the Macbook ever works properly I will have to carry 2 laptops everywhere with me.I have spoken to customer relations,they will do nothing until a second repair is undertaken,and fails.We'll see what happens when I get it back from repair today.If it doesn't work ,since it has passed all diagnostic tests ,I have no way of proving there is a fault ,unless i reload everything,and do a live demonstration.Part of the problem i think is the owner onus,I have spent so much time on this ,instead of working:ie. clean installs ,repartitioning ,running in fat32 and ntfs,hours on the phone.All I did was walk in and buy a computer ,that should work -it doesn't .
-so far.

Crikey Mikey · 06:02 PM

Hi,back again.Yes the windows disc is official xp pro bought from th apple shop at the time of purchasing the computer,yes sp2 edition.

harbinger75 · Jan 9, 2008, 06:44 PM

It may have been a bit harsh, but it's accurate. Boot Camp is there to make it easier to run Windows on your Mac-not because Windows is PART OF a Mac the way OS X is. And the idea that if it doesn't work immediately and painlessly, it must be somebody's fault (not the person asking the question!) is irritating to me as well.

Unfortunately, Mikey never came back and let us know if our suggestions helped, and until he does we won't know if HE was overreacting to having spent a lot of time getting nowhere or not. But that's my read on his post.

True, I guess I just saw that post as a bit of an unwarranted attack. Sure, the O.P. shouldn't "blame" Apple for anything that occurs as the result of Boot Camp or installations of Windows, but I can certainly identify with his frustrations. If Apple is going to include a specialized application meant specifically to run a Windows installation, then I believe they do shoulder some of the responsibility for helping this lad out.

But all in all, you're right...it IS a Mac, not a Windows machine, so things probably aren't going to run smoothly at all times.

ghporter · Jan 9, 2008, 10:26 PM

Mikey, is your disc really, really clean? I mean not even a smudge? As I said earlier, that can be a problem with the high-speed drives like are in Intel Macs. You may also want to test that disc on a PC to see if it works, but that's a stretch-I think something isn't getting copied right during the XP install, and that doesn't show up until you have finished the install process.

What sort of messages-if any-do you get when the computer does its weirdness? That might point to something.

Crikey Mikey · Jan 11, 2008, 04:17 AM

Hi ,reporting back.After picking up the mac book from its second repair (they reloaded leopard -clean install)I re partitioned and reloaded windows xp profesional(same disc as I originally loaded)and the macbook now runs perfectly on leopard and windows.(so far) Even though it passed all diagnostic tests,ther were" kernel panic"reports on the computer that showed something was wrong.The tech instinctively thought it was a logic board problem(which includes the processor)and replaced it.So the processor ;or something on the logic board , was causing the problem in osx and windows.Hopefully it will keep running,it does seem to run windows as fast as it would if it were a pc,and no software issues so far,fingers crossed.

ghporter · Jan 11, 2008, 07:46 AM

While I'm glad you have things working for you now, I'm sorry that you had to go through all this to get there. But if you can't trust the diagnostics to be definitive, I guess there's still some amount of magic out there somewhere, eh? Computer magic is the most inscrutable of all kinds...

Glad you're running!