Now before people start commenting on why would i want to install Windows XP on a Mac and why i wouldn’t want to install bootcamp, it’s very simple. It’s what the customer wants. The reason why i wanted to post this is because i can’t find a really decent site that actually teaches a step by step on how to install Windows XP on a Mac without bootcamp.

All i can find in forums are people re-posting “use bootcamp“. Yeah i know how to use bootcamp but the question is how do you do it without! Some people just don’t get it. The reason i searched is from what i read, installing XP on a Mac without bootcamp will cause some drivers to not function. But it’s not true.

Enough said, lets go in with the tutorial. The steps are so easy and so basic but people make it sound like it’s so complicated. To get this done, you must at least have some basic knowledge on re-formatting and installing of Operating System.

1. Firstly, make sure that you have a Mac OSX or whatever OS that your Mac comes with. If your Mac doesn’t have any OS, install using the install DVD that Mac gave you when you purchased your Mac. As for my case, the OS is Mac OSX. If you don’t have any, find one.

2. Once Mac OSX is fully setup and functioning, insert your genuine Windows XP Professional CD and restart. As soon as you restart, start holding down the button “C” on your Mac keyboard. By holding down “C”, you’re actually telling it to boot from CD.

3. Next, you will see the normal Windows XP setup. So just continue as per normal Windows reformat. You might want to partition your hard disk it’s all up to you. In case you want to force eject a CD at any time on a Mac, just click and hold on the mouse and restart.

4. If all goes well, you will see Windows XP on your Mac. The OS is done but if you notice all the drivers are not there. You cannot hear any sound, the graphic is ugly and you can’t connect to the internet. Don’t worry, all you have to do is to install the drivers. For my case, i was given 2 DVD’s. Mac OSX install DVD & Mac OSX Applications DVD.

5. Insert the “Mac OSX Install DVD” and if it prompts you for anything after you insert your DVD, cancel it. Go to my computer and right click on your CD/DVD drive which for my case is D:/. Next click on “Explore”. Now you will see a folder named “Drivers” and in there are all the necessary drivers for you to install. Please make sure you install the right ones for your Operating System. For my case, i’m using XP so i look for drivers inside that folder that has the word XP in it. Done!

The only problem that i came across using this method is the camera/webcam drivers. The driver say’s it’s installed successfully but when i check on my device manager, it still shows me that exclamation mark. But if you test out the camera it works. Please do let me know if you have anything to comment on or share some tips. Thanks!

- Windows key + D – shows the desktop
- Windows key + M – minimizes all open windows
- Windows key + Shift + M – maximizes all open windows
- Windows key + E – Runs Windows Explorer
- Windows key + R – shows the RUN dialog
- Windows key + F – shows Search window
- Windows key + Break – shows System Properties box
- Windows key + TAB – Go through taskbar applications
- Windows key + PAUSE Display the System Properties dialog box
- Windows key + U Open Utility Manager
- ALT + TAB – Cycle through opened applications
- Hold down CTRL while dragging an item to Copy it
- CTRL + ESC Display the Start menu
- ALT + ENTER View the properties for the selected item
- F4 key Display the Address bar list in My Computer or
- NUM LOCK + Asterisk (*) Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder

I’ve already made up my mind that i’m not getting married. I’m sorry to disappoint anyone but i guess mom will understand. It’s better not to get married, tying the knot and ending up with a divorce.  Talking about marriage, i was reminded that one of my colleague is getting married next week. I was like what?! Next week?! Yeah i have a short term memory especially when it comes to dates. That is why relationships just won’t work out for me. Girls are really particular about dates. Not all but most of them. Yeah so i’m just counting down to how many single friends i have left.

This windows prompt is really bugging me! You know the one that prompts you to “restart now” or “restart later”. The usual thing that happens right after you update Windows. Seriously, Windows really think that we’re really dumb. Even after i clicked restart later, after a few minutes, it will prompt me again and again until i freaking restart! I mean if that’s the case, why bother ask? Windows, can you just restart without asking me next time just like how you always do when i haven’t save my work! Grrr..

I’m not sure if you guys find it irritating but it really does for me. It’s like Windows think that we’re really dumb and we don’t quite know what we are doing.  After some Googling, i found a solution on how to disable this confirmation prompt without editing any registry or any hassle. It is so easy that even a kid can do it. But the thing is, i didn’t know about this till yesterday.

Well the steps are as follows:-

1) Right Click on the Recycle Bin

2) Click on Properties

3) Untick the Delete Confirmation Dialog and click OK!

Yes that’s it! You’re done. From now on, when u press the “delete” key on your keyboard, there will be no more annoying prompt and it will be deleted straight to the Recycle Bin. Isin’t that great! Now just be careful when u press the delete key

As for me, my new OS for this year will be Linux Mint 8! Yeah for the past weeks, i’ve not been using Windows XP at home anymore. Yes it is Linux with a very nice GUI (Graphical User Interface). For those of you who bored of Windows XP, you can give this a try. To me, this is one of the best Linux Distro’s out there. Some might say that Ubuntu is the best, but for those who tried Ubuntu, well Linux MInt is much more easier to use. By the way, i am also currently up-grading my blog with a fresh new look to celebrate 2010! Please be patient with me for these few weeks until i get the template done.

Okay for now. I can’t write much as i need to work on the new template. I hope everything will be completed by the end of this month. Last but not least, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and let us all burn those bad memories in 2009 and let’s together start a brand new hope for 2010!