Windows on a Mac
Obtain Windows:
In order to run Windows on a Mac, you first need a valid copy of the operating system.
New installations
Windows is available for purchase directly from Microsoft: Get Windows 10
Upgrade an existing Windows install
Windows upgrades are available to students for free through the VCU On the Hub portal. Note that upon download, you are only authorized one licensed installation regardless of which version you choose.
This special download site is for personal use only. For support with VCU-owned computers, visit https://itsupport.vcu.edu. Other items to note when using the On the Hub portal:
- After you check out, the product and key are only visible for 30 days, after which the download access expires. If you want more access time beyond 30 days, you can purchase this upfront for $5.95, which provides two full years additional access or reinstate it for 60 days for an $11.95 fee if you do not opt for extended two-year access initially.
- Be sure to save your downloads and keys for future needs such as transferring to a new computer or if your operating system and applications need to be reloaded.
Run Windows on a Mac:
To run a copy of Microsoft Windows on your Mac, you have a couple of options:
- Install Windows via Bootcamp on your Mac. Bootcamp is a utility built by Apple to allow you to install Windows and run it natively on your computer as if it were a regular PC. In this setup, you cannot have the Mac operating system running at the same time as Windows.
For support visit: apple.com/support/bootcamp
Some resource-intensive applications like video editing and CAD software will perform better if run under Bootcamp instead of a virtual machine such as VMware.
- Use a third-party program to install Windows as a virtual machine on your Mac. Doing this allows you to run Windows while using Mac OS at the same time. There are many utilities available. Some examples include:
VMware Fusion - Free for personal use at: https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion.html
Parallels Desktop - Student discount available at: https://www.parallels.com/landingpage/pd/education/
Virtual Box - Another free option, but it comes with no support from the manufacturer and may require advanced IT knowledge for installation. Available at: https://www.virtualbox.org/