Much of the software used in the College of Engineering is only for Windows. However, you can still use a Mac to get your work done.
Only Need Windows Occasionally?
If you are only going to need to use Windows occasionally, you have some options available to you.
One option for engineering students is to use one of the many Eos labs. Of course, engineering students can log in to Unity labs as well. Eos lab computers are basically Unity lab computers with additional engineering software.
Another option is to use the WVD, a virtual lab environment that is replacing the VCL.
Installing Windows on Your Mac
If you will frequently be using Windows, installing Windows on your Mac is a convenient option. It’s not too hard to get set up. It might look daunting at first, but once it’s set up, you’ll have both a Mac and a PC on one computer.
Important note: Since 2020, Apple has been using its own silicon processors. This means that BootCamp is not going to work on these machines. Macs with Intel CPUs will continue to be able to use boot camp.
If you go to About This Mac (choose Apple menu > About This Mac) and see that the “Processor” or “Chip” is listed as an Intel processor, Boot Camp will work.
If you see an M1 processor listed instead, you will have to purchase software like Parallels.
To install Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp, follow the steps below. We are happy to help with this process at our ITECS Service desks.
- Get a copy of Windows. All NCSU students are able to download Windows 10.
- Decide how you want to run Windows. We recommend using Boot Camp, as it is officially supported by Apple. It allows you to choose whether you want to run Windows or OS X when the computer starts. To switch operating systems, you simply reboot.
- Prepare. Make sure that you have backed up any important data, just in case something goes wrong. It is very rare that installing Boot Camp causes any data loss.
- Install Windows. Once Windows is installed, you treat it like any other Windows computer. That means keeping the OS and programs updated and installing an antivirus client.
- Use Windows when you need it. Install and use Windows software just as you would on a PC.