Boot Camp and Windows on a Mac

[ipolarbear6]

I am attempting to install a Vista update on an XP full set using Boot Camp on my Mac.

So far, with much too-ing and fro-ing between the partitions I have managed to install XP, install .net FRAMEWORK v2 and install nLite but I still can't install Service Pack 2. Without nLite it goes through all the set up using i386 until it loads the wizard then it scans for space and says that it needs 4 MB more but there are 28GB free (I partitioned to 32gb)

With nLite, I have copied SP2 to the desktop of shared documents in Documents and Settings. I have also tried installing it from a copy on the USB flash and also from a copy on a CD. I get the same result. It says 'Make sure the selected folder or drive contains the i386 or AMD64 directory and proper windows installation files".

I formatted to NTFS because I want to update to Vista and the first time I loaded XP I did FAT32 and the Vista disc said that it needed to be NTFS. (I scrapped the partition and started again) I see from other forums that this problem occurred a lot in 2008 and I assume that by now, someone has found a solution.

I cannot load the drivers or upgrade to Vista without SP2 so I am stuck. Any one got any advice? I can't use SP3 without SP1 and SP1 won't load either!

My Mac is an iMac 3GB memory and with 750 GB hard drive.

I have also download Insane Clowns reference manual from the nLite site which I have followed but just can't get passed the i386/AMD64 issue.

We have other legal copies of Vista but they are buried on Toshiba and Dell installation discs (and are still in use).

HELP!!!!

[Ponch]

With nLite, I have copied SP2 to the desktop of shared documents in Documents and Settings.

I don't get it. What you use nLite for exactly ?

You use nLite before installing XP, right ? So you can integrate SP2 or SP3 before install, right ?

But you ...try to upgrade a "full XP" to Vista....so I don't know exactly what you are doing with nLite. Integrate an SP to a running XP ??? I must be getting it wrong.

Anyway, using Desktop as directory for things to use in nLite is not advised (there's a bug somewhere). Put your files in directory like C:\temp\ or something like that.

[ipolarbear6]

When I first had this problem I looked at several forums to see what solution was recommended and several said that if I installed nLite, that it would solve the 4MB needed problem which has clearly been a fairly common thing.

I did not use it to install XP because I had already installed it successfully and I'm afraid I'm a Mac girl and am not familiar with all this slipstreaming that everyone keeps talking about.

I put the SP2 update on the desktop in Documents and Settings following Insane Clown's manual as he seemed to think that was a good place and he seems to be somewhat of an nLite expert on your forum.

But I think you're right in that it is not in the right place but I have also tried putting it in the Windows folder, originally had it on USB and have tried from a CD. They all said the same ie " Make sure the selected folder or drive contains the i386 or AMD64 directory and proper windows installation files"

I assumed that you run the Service Packs after you have installed because that's how they would have been issued ie its an update. Vista is irrelevant at this point because all I am trying to do is put on SP2 so that I can load my Boot Camp drivers. Also, you can't upgrade to Vista without SP2. This was a common problem - it must have been solved by someone.

[Ponch]

I believe there is a major confusion here between

-"installing SP2" on a running XP and having an error ~"missing 4Megabytes"

and

-"installing XP SP2" and having an error ~"partition smaller than 4Gigabytes"

I'm in the impression that you want to include SP2 to a running XP ...with nLite.

This is not at all what nLite is designed for. nLite's purpose could be to include SP2 in an installation CD that you could use later to install XP. This is not AT ALL what you are trying to do (or is it ?.

nLite will solve the 4GB problem if you try to INSTALL XP on a partition that Microsoft judges too small, it will not solve any problem installing SP2 on a running XP.

- What size is your SP2 file ? Is it the version that connects to the Internet or the complete version ? I can't remember the exact figures but one is smaller than 10Meg, the other is bigger than 200Meg. Where did you put it and how did you launch it ? (Maybe it tried to expand on your USB stick and needed 4Meg more ?)

Please explain (list) exactly what you do and what the problem really is and at what point, not what you think it is or what forums say it is.

Edited February 16, 2011 by Ponch

[ipolarbear6]

Thanks for your help. Probably best if I start from the beginning. I have an iMac of a fairly high spec and large screen. My husband wants to use it for his Vodahost software which will only run on a PC.

Snow Leopard (OSX v6) contains Boot Camp which allows you to partition the Mac hard drive and install a Windows programme. Ultimately I want to run Vista which is what my husband has been using but it's an upgrade so first of all I need to put the XP on so that I can do this. I was able to partition (to 32GB) and load XP. Next I need to install the Boot Camp drivers which will allow the Windows partition to recognize some of the iMac facilities ie Airport, isight etc. Until I have done this, I cannot connect to the internet when booted up on the Windows partition as I use my iPhone and XP doesn't have the right facilities. To load the drivers, I need to install SP2.

I downloaded the Service Pack 2 from the Microsoft site on the internet and I have tried to instal it from a flash drive in the USB, from a CD which I burned a copy onto and from a copy on the the c:Local Drive. I seem to remember that years ago, you inserted the cd and ran it and so that is what I was expecting. From each of the 3 locations I get the same result. This is a full copy of 272.2MB. I cannot run from the internet in XP because I can't connect until I have loaded the Boot Camp drivers for which I need SP2 installed.

When I click on the file it says extracting archives and runs a whole load of files all of which begin i386/......

The the installation wizard comes up and I say continue and then it gives me the terms and conditions which I accept and then it checks for the space necessary for the deinstallation files.

At this point, when the blue bar is about half way across the slot, it says the following (all our Windows programmes are in Spanish so this is a complete translation - it won't be quite the identical wording that you are used to but it will be recognizable)

"There is not sufficient space on C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$ to install Service Pack 2. The installation programme needs at least 4 additional megabytes of space or, also for saving uninstall files, the installation programme needs 4 additional megabytes of free space. Free up space on your hard drive and try again."

The only reason I went the nLite route after this was that I found a forum entry which was exactly the same (but 3 years ago!) and it said use nLite etc.

Any suggestions? I clearly don't have a hard drive space problem as there is still 28GB free but until I can load service pack 2 I can't progress. Any help is gratefully received.

[Ponch]

From a short search, it seems you'd need BootCamp version 2.1. Is it the case ?

[gtidriver]

You don't need to have XP in place to install Vista using the upgrade version, which seems to be your ultimate goal - provided (important this) that you don't mind losing your data on the Windows partition. If you don't mind this, you can install Vista as a "clean" install without inputting the product key (important - the product key tells the installer if it's a retail or upgrade version - without inputting the key, it gives you full functionality for about 30 days), then install the upgrade over that (this time input the product key). Then reinstall your programs, user data etc. It works just fine - I've done it many times with Vista Ultimate, including on my late-2009 iMac. Much easier than trying to get service packs up and running in XP when you don't intend to use it anyway, although it does take extra time since you effectively install it twice. Once Vista is up and running, install Boot Camp drivers from the OSX disc under Vista (OSX 10.6 should include Boot Camp 3.1) and then you can update that to v3.2 if you wish. nLite shouldn't be required at all. Only do this if you have the correct licences - i.e. XP and Vista upgrade. The above advice is only to make life easier, not illegal...

Edited February 22, 2011 by gtidriver