What exactly is Boot Camp?

Apple Boot Camp is free beta software available for download from Apple's website. As described in the press release, Boot Camp "allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either MacOS X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in 'Leopard,' Apple's next major release of MacOS X."

Boot Camp provides similar functionality to the third-party "XOM hack" that was released earlier, but provides "a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD."

Effectively, Boot Camp makes the process of installing Windows XP Home SP2 or Windows XP Pro SP2 on an Intel-based Mac -- the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro models as well as Intel powered systems from the iMac and Mac mini lines -- simple and relatively painless. It also includes video drivers, which the earlier solutions were sorely lacking.

What versions of Windows are supported?

Officially, Apple Boot Camp was designed to install Windows XP Home SP2 or Windows XP Pro SP2. However, visitors have reported installing Windows Vista, Windows 98SE, and Linux, as well as Windows XP. Bloggers also have installed Windows 2003, Windows Media Center Edition, Windows Tablet Edition, and Sun Solaris.

Does Boot Camp install Windows drivers?

Yes. Boot Camp installs Windows drivers automatically, including video drivers, which were sorely lacking in the "XOM hack" solution.

However, Apple notes that that the "Apple Remote Control (IR), Apple Wireless (Bluetooth) keyboard or mouse, MacBook Pro's sudden motion sensor and ambient light sensor will not function correctly" while running Windows XP. The Apple USB Modem, integrated microphone, and integrated iSight camera are supported starting with the Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta.

How do I change the size of the Windows partition after installation?

You cannot currently increase or decrease the size of the Windows partition after it is created with Boot Camp. However, you can remove the Windows partition, which will delete everything related to Windows, create a new partition, and reinstall Windows.

How can I uninstall Windows using Boot Camp?

Page 15 of the "Boot Camp Beta Setup and Installation Guide" explains how to remove Windows and the Windows partition from your Mac. First, backup everything you want to keep from the Windows partition, because this process will erase everything related to Windows.

Apple's instructions are provided in four easy steps:

1. Start up in Mac OS X.

2. Quit all open applications and log out any other users on your computer.

3. Open Boot Camp Assistant.

4. Select "Restore the startup disk to a single volume" and click Continue.