Classic British Flight Sim

Well, I recently "traded" computers with another person, so I could run Windows 98 (DON'T ASK WHY!). That PC isn't really up to spec for FS9, or any FS for that matter. The PC I had was a bit flaky, so it was off my mind.

Now, I have a Late 2011 Macbook Pro (13", Core i5, Intel HD3000 Graphics) and I wanted to run FS9 on a Virtual Machine of XP Service Pack 3 in VirtualBox. Well, lets just say that was a complete failure. I Crash to desktop when I hit 'Fly Now!' and the aircraft doesn't preview. BUT - if I disable the "lovely" 2D/3D acceleration provided by the VirtualBox Graphics Adapter (I have VM additions installed), then FS9 RUNS in "Software Acceleration" mode. I get around 12FPS at Sea-Tac in this mode with mid graphics settings.

My other gripe: Windows XP is being VERY ignorant, and choosing to say my Logitech Attack 3 (which worked on my old PC) is "not recognisable." (And Yes, it still works). I have tried installing my own drivers/updating the drivers for the "unknown' device to no avail. No thanks to XP's backwards "This device is already working, and does not need new drivers."

If anyone could help, I would really appreciate it. You will be remembered for a LOOOONG time!

FS isn't really designed to run in a VM, why don't you just dual boot the Mac and install XP directly on one of the partitions?

TSR2 wrote:FS isn't really designed to run in a VM, why don't you just dual boot the Mac and install XP directly on one of the partitions?

Sadly, its not as simple as that

OS X Lion no longer supports Dual-Booting to XP or Vista. XP, because the technologies used within are too new for the OS, and Vista, well (even being a lover), most will know the reason(s). I don't have access to a copy of Windows 7 either.

I have seen videos of people using a VM on an iMac to run FSX (not as good performance, but still good), so it SHOULDN'T be an issue. Although, the HD Graphics might really be the issue.

Hi mate,

I'm not sure I follow. OSX doesn't need to support dual booting as such and I can't think of any hardware technology in an Apple that hasn't been around in a PC for years, Apple aren't as "cutting edge" with their computers as they would have folk believe. One of my mates (I use the term loosely as he's an Apple fan boy ) dual boots his latest and greatest MacBook with XP, so I'll ask him how he does it

TSR2 wrote:Hi mate,

I'm not sure I follow. OSX doesn't need to support dual booting as such and I can't think of any hardware technology in an Apple that hasn't been around in a PC for years, Apple aren't as "cutting edge" with their computers as they would have folk believe. One of my mates (I use the term loosely as he's an Apple fan boy ) dual boots his latest and greatest MacBook with XP, so I'll ask him how he does it

Whilst I do disagree with you on the hardware front, I won't deviate from the discussion at hand.

Basically, OS X Lion (and newer) DO NOT support Windows XP or Vista in a Dual-Boot. Now, what I said above was mentioned on another aviation forum I came across while trying to figure out the issue myself. Basically, I think during the bootcamp process, you have to insert a "valid" Windows 7 disk or else its a no go. That, or you make a partition and install XP BUT you MUST HAVE a Snow Leopard Disk handy, since that will contain all the drivers. Sadly, since Macbook's older than 2011 used discrete Nvidia graphics (Then went to ATi/Intel then back to Nvidia), this might not really work... Although I'm sure I could get drivers from the Intel website.

What I might do is open a topic on the Apple Support Communities forum about dual booting Lion and XP, although I'm pretty sure its more or less impossible, unless you want a ton of hoops to jump through (Grrr!)

Amazing how Bill Gates gets so much Flak for the overbearing Windows software, but Steve Jobs was treated like a God when he was venomous about allowing anything but Apple on his hardware Its a crazy world

tonymadge wrote:Amazing how Bill Gates gets so much Flak for the overbearing Windows software, but Steve Jobs was treated like a God when he was venomous about allowing anything but Apple on his hardware Its a crazy world

Especially when you consider that the sole purpose of the Windows GUI was to make a DOS (IBM) PC as easy to drive as an Apple.

ATB
MikeW

The thing I find hilarious is that from a computer perspective, an Apple is just an over priced (or under spec) Intel PC. The days where Apple actually used superior components in terms of CPU / SCSI disk etc died years ago.

Anyway, I've spoke briefly to my mate and he doesn't use the Apple bootcamp, its some other boot loader that gives you the option to load your Apple partition or XP partition, he'll send me more details when he gets back from the US.