#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE INSTALL#
#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE UPGRADE#
#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE PRO#
#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE SOFTWARE#

#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE INSTALL#

YouвЂ™ll come to an introduction screen that provides information and suggests a backup of important information before you install Windows (always a good idea).

Open Boot Camp through a Finder search for вЂњboot campвЂќ or by opening Launchpad and then the Other folder. ISO manually, instead of from the drop-down list of Linux distros. Though primarily used for Linux, Unetbootin supports creation of bootable Windows drivers. If you donвЂ™t want to use Windows 7 USB/DVD tool, or you have trouble with it, Unetbootin works as well. After a few minutes, youвЂ™ll have a bootable installation drive. Install the utility, open it, and select вЂњUSB DeviceвЂќ at the second step.В Connect a USB flash drive, select it in the utility, and then continue with the wizard. Despite the name, it works with Windows 8 as well. To do this, download the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool from MicrosoftвЂ™s website. ISO file, you need to put that file on a USB drive. ISO file from the Windows 8 install disc. Select вЂњCreate Image from Disc,вЂќ select the optical drive (if not already chosen), set a destination, and then click the icon at the bottom. To skip the use of an optical drive entirely, youвЂ™ll need a USB drive with at least 4GB of space and access to a Windows PC that does have an optical drive.Дownload and install Imgburn to that computer, insert your Windows 8 install disk (but donвЂ™t run the installer), and then run ImgBurn. If you decide to purchase an external optical drive, skip to the next step. Expect to pay $25 to $50 if you buy from an online retailer, or $79 if you buy AppleвЂ™s own version. These are not hard to find, but theyвЂ™re also not free. The easiest solution is to use an external optical drive that connects to your Mac via USB. YouвЂ™ll need to use an alternative method of installation. To make matters worse, Microsoft doesnвЂ™t offer an online install of Windows 8 OEM. Owning a Windows 8 disk isnвЂ™t helpful if your Mac doesnвЂ™t have an optical drive. Create a bootable USB drive (for Macs with no optical drive)

#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE SOFTWARE#

That partition will also be used to store any software you install while using Windows 8. Free space is needed because Windows 8 will be installed on a partition of your MacвЂ™s hard drive reserved specifically for it. YouвЂ™ll also need to make sure your Mac has OS X Mountain Lion (so you have the latest version of Boot Camp) and at least 20GB of empty hard disk space.

#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE PRO#

A regular copy of Windows 8 OEM is $99 and Windows 8 Pro OEM is $139. You can also find it at online stores like Amazon and Newegg. This isnвЂ™t carried by most brick-and-mortar retailers, but speciality computer retailers might have it. Since the retail version is gone, youвЂ™ll instead have to buy an OEM copy. Owners who have Windows 7 can follow the steps in this guide, install that version of Windows, and then install Windows 8 Upgrade.

#WINDOWS 8.1 FOR MAC FREE UPGRADE#

The upgrade version will work if youвЂ™ve already installed Windows on your Mac with a valid key. YouвЂ™ll only be able to purchase upgrade versions, and, since those require you have a previous Windows installation, they wonвЂ™t work with Boot Camp. Want to walk down to the local electronics store and buy a fresh install? Too bad! YouвЂ™ll find none on their shelves. Windows 8 is the first version of MicrosoftвЂ™s operating system to lack a retail copy.

But donвЂ™t worry the steps are still doable for even the newest Mac owner. Changes to the way Microsoft sells its new operating system, along with a lack of support from the current version of Boot Camp, makes installation slightly more harrowing. Unfortunately, itвЂ™s also a bit harder to install that than Windows 7. If you own a Mac, and you want to use Windows, purchasing Windows 8 is likely the best option. Though Windows 8 has received mixed reviews, it remains MicrosoftвЂ™s latest operating system.

Windows 8.1 for mac free