Today I wanted to install Windows XP SP2 onto Boot Camp, so I printed the “Installation & Setup Guide” Apple provides in the “Boot Camp Assistant”. My ultimate goal is to allow Windows XP to boot off off Boot Camp (on it’s own) and by using VMWare Fusion, for the times I don’t want to reboot (which are more frequent).

So in my case I already have a working version of VMWare and Windows XP. Next is to install Windows XP, so first I needed to Partition my drive. In my case I chose a 32 GB Windows partition, as I intend to (also) play some games on it.

Then I needed a Windows XP SP2 install CD, but sadly I only had a Windows XP SP1 bootable CD (well I once made a .cdr file from that CD and used that instead). This can be fixed using the Slipstreaming Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Create Bootable CD guide. Then I used the .EXE mambo-jambo from the Guide. I ended up with a “patched” version of Windows XP SP2. Now then, how to burn a bootable CD, without “Nero”, well I just downloaded the Trial version (which expires after 15 days, but that’s fine).

Once that’s all done … the rest is trivial … except for Windows XP activation, what a nightmare! This article describes what you need to do.