How to play Darkspore on MAC.

[Davyjonesx]

Using Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp
Using windows on Mac so you can play the best game EVER.

Summary
Mac OS X v10.5 and later includes Boot Camp that lets you run Microsoft Windows. If there’s a PC application you need to use, get a copy of Windows and start up Boot Camp.

Products Affected
Windows XP, Boot Camp, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X v10.5, Mac OS X v10.6
Run Windows at native speed
You can run the Windows operating system on your Mac at native speed--without the performance penalty that comes with software emulation or "virtual machines." Windows applications have full access to multiple processors and multiple cores, accelerated 3D graphics, and high-speed ports and networking such as USB, FireWire, Wi-Fi, AirPort, and Gigabit Ethernet. Boot Camp drivers for Windows that let you use these features are on the Mac OS X installation DVD, as well as drivers for audio and Bluetooth. The drivers are automatically installed when you insert the disc into your Mac after installing Windows.

Boot Camp supports Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (requires Mac OS X v10.6 or later and Boot Camp 3.1 or later). For more details, see Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows. For information about using 64-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7, see Boot Camp: Macs that work with 64-bit editions of Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Boot Camp Assistant creates a partition just for Windows without erasing your existing Mac OS X volume.

After running Boot Camp and installing Windows, you can switch between Windows and Mac OS X by holding the Option (Alt) key at start up. Or, use the Startup Disk control panel in Windows (installed with Boot Camp drivers from the Mac OS X installation disc) or Mac OS X Startup Disk preferences to set the default operating system to use each time the computer starts up.

Requirements
To use Boot Camp, you need:

An Intel-based Macintosh computer with a built-in or USB keyboard and a built-in trackpad or USB mouse.
Mac OS X v10.5 or later.
The latest firmware updates available for your Intel-based Mac.
At least 10 GB of free space on your startup disk (single partition).
A full, single-disc version of Windows 7 (Mac OS X v10.6 or later only), Windows Vista, Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later. Boot Camp does not include Windows. You must provide your own properly licensed installation disc. Important: A Windows XP installation disc must include Service Pack 2 (SP2). You cannot install an earlier version of Windows and upgrade to Windows XP, nor install an earlier version of Windows XP and update it to SP2. Media Center, OEM, and upgrade versions of Windows XP are not recommended.
Boot Camp Assistant (find it installed in /Applications/Utilities/).
For more details, see Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows.

Before installing Boot Camp
Before you install, follow these steps:

1.Always back up important data before any software installation.
2.Print the "Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide" (Mac OS X v10.6 version or Mac OS X v10.5 version) PDF document.
3.Update your Intel-based Mac to the latest version of Mac OS X. Use Software Update, in the Apple menu to check for the latest software.
4.Download and install the latest firmware updates available for your Mac. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the firmware installation. See Firmware updates for Intel-based Macs for more information.

Installing Boot Camp
For specific installation steps, refer to the "Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide" PDF document that you printed, starting with Step 2 in the PDF, "Open Boot Camp Assistant". For Windows 7, you may wish to also read the Windows 7 installation frequently asked questions.

Additional Information
See also: Boot Camp 3.0, Mac OS X 10.6: Frequently asked questions.
Important: Apple Support is available for using Boot Camp Setup Assistant, as well as installing or restoring Boot Camp software while booted into Windows. Support articles and discussions may also be available on Apple's support website.

If you have no W7/Vista/XP, you should buy it *Chough Cough downlaod it Cough Cough*

[Rebecca1208]

Really fantastic thread, thanks for posting this, it should help a lot of people!

-Moving to General Discussion.

[Konsybob]

Thanks for moving this over

[Rebecca1208]

Sorry to keep moving this thread about, I think it'll be more suitable in the new public Technical Issues sub-forum. Hopefully we can also get a sticky for this, too, since it's a top concern for Mac users

[Davyjonesx]

Tnx for moving!
So this is a new Sub-Forum right?
Ore is this the Sub-forum from Beta-Only, f yes where did all the topics go lol xD

[Rebecca1208]

It's a new sub-forum which everyone can see

[Evex_Wolfwing]

Well... I'm thinking about using Boot Camp for Darkspore. But there are a few things I need to go over first...

For one thing, I'm not very fond of the Idea of having to pay for Windows as well as Darkspore. And I am afraid of opening this computer up to viruses from having Windows. I won't have the internet for any reason other than playing Darkspore, which seems like a waste of money. And I'm fully expecting that as soon as I buy the Windows, Maxis will decide to announce Darkspore for the Mac.

So...

Will having Windows on Boot Camp open my Mac up to viruses?

And how long would it make sense to wait and see if Maxis decides to release Darkspore for the Mac? One-two months after release? Longer?

~Evex

[kurliew]

i think it would depend on the demand

[silverswingmari]

Wow... Thanks for posting this it helped me out, but I have a few questions.

1. Will this cause viruses?

2. Will this download harm my computer in any way?

[Davyjonesx]

Wow... Thanks for posting this it helped me out, but I have a few questions.

1. Will this cause viruses?

2. Will this download harm my computer in any way?

No to both.

[dachande84]

You are not going to have virus on your mac (I'm using a macbook pro 13") because of boot camp.

The reason is simple:
Even if the virus' code could affect both OS, you cannot write anything under OSX to a NTFS formatted drive, and vice versa. The biggest thing I could imagine is that a malware attacks a FAT formatted flash drive, but again under OSX that malware cannot do anything just sit there in the oblivion.

The worst case ever that can happen is that the virus screws up your windows install and you have to do a windows partition wipe / windows reinstall combo.

But if you use windows only for playing games, and absolutely not using a browser for example, the generic windows updates will keep you away from any kind of malware.
If you don't want to pay for windows, but studying at a university, in almost any country you can get a "free" copy of windows trough MSDNAA / ELMS program. Contact your system administrator at the uni for further information.

EDIT: also, if you have anything under the performance of a Unibody Macbook Pro 15", do not expect Darkspore to run fluently on medium or high details on mac side, as

1: they will port it and not write native code (consider it like an emulation; bad, bad behavior )
2: in general, even the native games are slower (a LOT slower) then under windows, because of the sub-par driver support, and well, DirectX is still better then OpenGL :/

[Beiufin]

Wow... Thanks for posting this it helped me out, but I have a few questions.

1. Will this cause viruses?


2. Will this download harm my computer in any way?

1. No, Installing Windows will not directly give you viruses but you can still get viruses via surfing the web on windows.
Boot Camp will allow you to boot into windows, running it as it would run on any other computer thus, you should treat it like you would treat a Dell or Hp laptop running windows, get virus protection software! I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials.

2. No, Boot camp is a feature provided by Apple and is perfectly safe. The only downside is you will have to partition your drive (partitioning a drive means dividing it into two different sections). This obviously will result in a loss of space on your mac side. For instance if you have a 500GB hard drive when you partition your drive you will be asked how much to allow the windows side, lets say 200GB, this will mean you only have 300GB (minus around 60 GB for the OS means 240GB of storage) on your mac side and 200GB (minus around 70GB for the OS means 130GB of storage) on your windows side.

I have both a Macbook Pro and a custom built hackintosh. Both running Windows and Mac OS X. I highly recommend Boot Camp.

[Beiufin]

Even if the virus' code could affect both OS, you cannot write anything under OSX to a NTFS formatted drive, and vice versa. The biggest thing I could imagine is that a malware attacks a FAT formatted flash drive, but again under OSX that malware cannot do anything just sit there in the oblivion.

The worst case ever that can happen is that the virus screws up your windows install and you have to do a windows partition wipe / windows reinstall combo.

Wrong, there are viruses that can kill an entire drive regardless of formatting, meaning your entire hard drive including the Mac side can be destroyed. Backups are important!

[dachande84]

Wrong, there are viruses that can kill an entire drive regardless of formatting, meaning your entire hard drive including the Mac side can be destroyed. Backups are important!

True that, forgot about that. Backups and sober use of the internet is highly encouraged.

[MaxisKiwiboat]

Removed the [CLICK NOW] from the subject. Awesome post though!

[softbutt]

HOLD UR HORSEHZ!!!
i hav boot kamp and it iz workin fine, buttt..... when i download teh beta in firefox or safari It sayz!!!
WindowsCodecs.dll is missin!! so i cannut play. I wundur if is is happinin to oder people.



If joo needz me to hav butter grammur to answer mah question


JUS SAY SOOO!!!!!!

[Davyjonesx]

Removed the [CLICK NOW] from the subject. Awesome post though!

Haha Ty =p


@softbutt

Try this: http://www.search-dll.com/dll-files/dow ... s.dll.html

[softbutt]

Uhhh,,, @davyjonesx i downloaded it but and then re-installed the game but it did not work. Should the windowscodecs be double clicked?

I'm am a mac so i am not good with windows.

[Beiufin]

Uhhh,,, @davyjonesx i downloaded it but and then re-installed the game but it did not work. Should the windowscodecs be double clicked?

I'm am a mac so i am not good with windows.

Place it in Windows/System32/

[softbutt]

HOW? soooo srrryy i am really buggin u guys . i am not good at windows. how do you place it in windows/system32?