Windows Applications on Mac

[malcolm]

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Sorry if this has been asked already (many times?). Can Windows appllcatopms (not just data files) be run on a Mac (with BootCamp, Parallels, or VMFusion)? I've been told that, even after purchasing a new copy of the Windows OS and installing it on a Mac, all applications are machine-specific (i.e. license/registration) and that separate, Mac-specific software must be purchased to allow them to be run on a Mac.

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[gwelland]

If you are running Boot Camp/Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion with a copy of windows then the applications running within those environments need to be real Windows copies. Whoever told you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about.

 

You'll need Mac versions if you want to run them natively but not if you're running them inside one of the above environments.

 

Now you might find a real Mac version of your apps looks better, runs better and integrates into the OS X environment better but that's another discussion.

[psamson]

Native Windows applications will not run directly on the Mac. You will need Parallels, VMWare, or buy the Mac version of the software.

[ho_co]

Malcolm--

I side with Graham in the matter:

 

If you install Windows on an Intel-based Mac, you are running Windows and need the original Windows version of the application.

 

Boot Camp is built into the latest version of OS X, so you can boot into Windows or into OS X. When in Windows, you can only run Windows applications; when you boot into OS X, you can run only Mac applications.

 

Since so far as I know, only Mac's OS X offers the choice between Windows and OS X, your best bet would be to visit an Apple Store or to raise the question directly with Apple.

 

Since it's a dual-boot system, you boot into one or the other; when you want to switch, you must shut the computer down and reboot into the other OS. That means, of course, that each system is completely available to you, as are all its installed apps; everything runs natively on the Intel processor(s). However, since you need to reboot to switch systems, you can't, say, use the clipboard to copy something directly from a Windows application to a Mac application.

[spylaw4]

However, since you need to reboot to switch systems, you can't, say, use the clipboard to copy something directly from a Windows application to a Mac application.

 

Which you can if using Parallels - drag and drop usually.

[stunsworth]

Hi Macolm, I think their may have been some misunderstanding when you were told that the Windows software need Mac specific versions of the Windows programs.

 

In a way you do, because the larger software companies - Microsoft and Adobe in particular - require you to register software - usually online - when you install thier software. If their system detects that a version has been registered too many times then they refuse to register it and the software is effectively useless.

 

However there are two get out of jail cards. A lot of software - Adobe Photoshop for example - allow you legally to install the software on two systems, effectively install it twice. This may be a solution to your potential problem. The other possibility is that you can remove and deregister the software from the original machine and then install it in the Mac's Windows partition

 

So depending on how you've previously installed the software on other machines, you may indeed need to buy Mac versions of the Windows software, alternatively you may be able to load what you already have.

 

Is there some software in particular you were thinking of installing in the Parallels partition?

[malcolm]

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Hi Macolm, I think their may have been some misunderstanding when you were told that the Windows software need Mac specific versions of the Windows programs.

 

In a way you do, because the larger software companies - Microsoft and Adobe in particular - require you to register software - usually online - when you install thier software. If their system detects that a version has been registered too many times then they refuse to register it and the software is effectively useless.

 

However there are two get out of jail cards. A lot of software - Adobe Photoshop for example - allow you legally to install the software on two systems, effectively install it twice. This may be a solution to your potential problem. The other possibility is that you can remove and deregister the software from the original machine and then install it in the Mac's Windows partition

 

So depending on how you've previously installed the software on other machines, you may indeed need to buy Mac versions of the Windows software, alternatively you may be able to load what you already have.

 

Is there some software in particular you were thinking of installing in the Parallels partition?

 

Steve, et al,

Thanks very much for your replies.

(I think) I've learned about "cross-grading" Photoshop CS3 and Capture One 4 from PC to Mac (i.e., replacing the PC registration/end user license with one for Mac). Both of those applications have been downloaded (true for other software, as well) and I don't have install CDs for them. Realizing (again, I think) that I'd have to buy a new copy of Windows OS to install on the Mac, and run via BootCamp, I'd planned to copy other PC applications and files to an external hard drive and then connect that drive to the Mac and copy the PC stuff to the Windows partition on the Mac hard drive. Does this seem feasible, or am I way off base?

[stunsworth]

Simply copying the program folder from one machine to another won't work.

 

Parallels seems to have a tool to move applications from one machine to another, so that may be worthwhile investigating.

[gwelland]

You might want to take a closer look at Parallels Desktop if you are going to run XP & apps. That will allow you to run your windows and Mac apps alongside each other without having to reboot.

 

If you intend running Vista, VMWare Fusion is faster.