Introduction

For M1 Processors Apple Mac Computers

It is currently not possible to use Boot Camp or a virtual Windows environment on an M1 Mac. If you need to run Windows only software, please contact your department to determine what labs are available for use. If no labs are available with the software you need, please contact 4Help by clicking Get Help on the 4Help portal and ask for the IT Procurement and Licensing Solutions (ITPALS) team to work with you to find other options.

For Intel-based Apple Mac Computers

• Virtualization (Recommended): 4Help strongly encourages the use of virtualization for running Windows on your Intel based Mac. Key advantages are an easy setup process, lower hard drive space requirements, and the convenience of starting Windows as if it were any other program on your Mac.  
  NOTE: The student Windows license does NOT include virtualization rights. In order to use virtualization, you will need to purchase the Windows Virtualization Add-on license through the Software Service Center. You can find information at Windows Virtualization Add-On.
  
  • VirtualBox is a free virtualization platform which allows you to run Windows and macOS simultaneously. Once you have purchased the Windows Virtualization Add-on license through the Software Service Center, you will have download access to a pre-built image for VirtualBox.
  • Parallels Desktop for Mac is another virtualization platform which allows you to run Windows and macOS simultaneously, however it is not free. In order to use Parallels, you will need to purchase a Parallels license (available at the University Bookstore) in addition to the Windows Virtualization Add-on license. A pre-built image for Parallels is provided to students who purchase the Windows Virtualization Add-on license.
• Apple Boot Camp is a built-in utility included with macOS which allows you to boot to either macOS or Windows. Boot Camp Assistant is located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. It helps you set up a Windows partition on your computer's hard disk and then start the installation of your Windows software. To complete the Boot Camp installation, you install Boot Camp drivers to enable Windows on your Mac. After installing Windows and the Boot Camp drivers, you can start up your Mac in either Windows or macOS. When booted into Windows, the operating system has full use of your resources so performance is optimal. The advantages of Boot Camp are full access to the computer hardware, runs Windows just like a PC, can run memory or processor intensive programs, and it is available at no charge because it is built-in to macOS. The disadvantage is that installation is time consuming, and you must restart your computer to switch between Windows and Mac OS. For further information about Boot Camp, see Apple Boot Camp Support.

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Contents

• Related Links
• Instructions
  
  • To Configure and Use Virtual Options such as Virtual Box or Parallels
  • To Configure and Use Boot Camp (No Cost)
    
    • Video of Instructions for Boot Camp

Related Links

• Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide
• Apple Boot Camp Support
• VirtualBox Pre-built Virtual Machine - Installation Instructions
• Parallels Pre-built Virtual Machine - Installation Instructions

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Instructions

To Configure and Use Virtual Options such as Virtual Box or Parallels

Follow the instructions at either:

• VirtualBox Pre-built Virtual Machine - Installation Instructions or
• Parallels Pre-built Virtual Machine - Installation Instructions

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To Configure and Use Boot Camp

1. Download a copy of Windows.
   
   1. Go to the OneCampus Web page.
   2. If the page appears dark with text overlaid, click the page to dismiss the overlaid text.
   3. If any OneCampus announcements pop-up, after reading the text, click the appropriate button to dismiss the pop-up.
   4. To the right of the OneCampus logo, in the What would you like to do? search box, type: software.
   5. On the keyboard, press Enter or Return.
   6. Click Network Software.
   7. If prompted to login, enter your VT Username (PID), your passphrase, and complete authentication with your second factor.
   8. Click Microsoft Windows Software to expand the category. If you do not see Microsoft Windows, then you need to buy Microsoft Windows from ITPALS.
   9. Click Microsoft Windows 10 Education (21H1) 64-bit ISO.
   10. After reading the license agreement, place a check in each of the check boxes.
   11. Click Accept Agreement.
   12. **Print or record the license key for your records. You will need this key later to complete activation.**
   13. Click Continue.
   14. If prompted, choose to save the file to your computer.
2. Burn the ISO file to a DVD. (If you purchased a DVD of Windows, skip this step, because you already have Windows on a DVD.)
   
   1. Insert a blank DVD into your computer.
   2. In Finder, from the Go drop-down, click Utilities.
   3. Double-click Disk Utility.
   4. In the left pane, click the ISO file.
   5. Near the top of the window, click Burn.
   6. When prompted to confirm, click Burn.
3. Run Boot Camp Assistant and install Windows by following all of the instructions in the following PDF from Apple: Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide.
4. Active Windows with Microsoft.
   
   1. Start Windows.
   2. Connect to the internet.
   3. Click Start.
   4. Type: slui 3.
   5. As you type, results will appear and change. Click slui 3.
   6. In the Product key text box, type the license key that you obtained earlier either from Network Software or on the documentation that came with your DVD.
   7. After you type the last character of the license key, Windows will automatically send the activation key.
   8. Follow the on-screen instructions and prompts to complete the activation.

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Video of Instructions for Boot Camp

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