As of the BigSur update for MacOS, Windows can only be run using a Virtual Machine. The Boot Camp option cannot be used for these machines.

1. Download Windows

For this step, it doesn't matter what version of Windows you choose. The steps are all the same. You can even download three different versions and run three separate VMs in Fusion. 

Windows is available through the Microsoft program. You can access this software on our software download page.

  • Select the Microsoft Azure Dev Tools
  • Under "Access to Portal and Software," click the link and login to the webpage. 
    • Use your <username>@oregonstate.edu format, followed by your ONID password
  • Under 'Learning Resources" on the left column, select Software
  • From there, find the version of Windows you'd like to use.
  • Once you've made your selection, click "Generate Key" and copy and paste that link into a new tab to start your download
  • Back on Azure, select "View Key"
    • If you decide to use VMWare, you can simply copy and paste this key in. If you use Boot Camp, you'll have to manually put the key in. This means you'll need to write down the key in order to put it in a prompt in a later step.

From here, you'll select to either create a VM or create a Windows partition. The steps for these can be found below.

2. VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is available through the VMware Academic Program (VMAP). You can access this software on our software download page.

  • Look for the VMware section and click the link.
  • Under the Product Search bar, select either Students or Faculty/Staff, whichever pertains to your situation
  • Select the VMWare tab, then Software tab
  • Select "VMWare 12.x Pro
  • Click "Add to Cart", then "Check Out"
  • Read and accept the license agreement, select "Download", then the next download button will start your download. Keep this page open as it has the serial number you'll need later
    • The product serial number can be found by viewing order details under "Orders & Downloads" in your account profile on the VMware Academic Site if you close the site.
    • If your machine ever asks for permissions for the application, be sure to select "Allow"
  • Open the .dmg file, and start the installer
    • At this point, a Security / Preferences pop up may occur. Be sure to select "Allow", or you'll need to reinstall the software
  • Accept the terms, then copy and paste the serial number
  • Once the installation is complete, follow the instructions to download your Windows installation file

3. Oracle VM VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a free open source virtual machine manager. VirtualBox can be downloaded from their website.

  • Download and install VirtualBox
  • Define a virtual machine and start your OS install using the appropriate image media (Windows or Linux ISO).