Examining Boot Camp 2.1

April 27th, 2008

On the 24th of April Apple released an update to their Boot Camp Windows-on-your-Mac software. The update, which bumps Boot Camp up to version 2.1, weighs in at 215 MiB¹, so naturally I was expecting a slew of driver updates to the aging 2.0 driver package. Here is a quick overview of what’s new, some comments on how Apple chose to distribute the update, and an explanation of the comments on SP3.

What’s New?

No updated drivers, I’m afraid.

It’s possible to open the update, after which you’ll find the following files hidden inside the archive²:

AppleControlPanel.exe
AppleOSSMgr.exe
appletimesrv.exe
BelgiumA.dll
BootCamp.Resources_XX.lproj_BootCampHelp.chm
BootCamp.Resources_XX.lproj_Resources.dll
XX.dll
KbdMgr.exe
KeyAgent.sys
MacHALDriver.sys
BCLocUpdateEnable.exe

From the contents of the update it’s clear that this is simply a compatibility update aimed at resolving problems with current and upcoming Macs. Apple has specified that this Boot Camp update allows for Windows XP SP3 to be installed, but that does not explain why there are updated packages for Windows Vista, and now Windows Vista 64bit.

It is interesting to note that many of the services and executables, such as AppleControlPanel.exe, are smaller in file size than their 2.0 versions. This hints at continued refinement and the possible removal of debug code. Boot Camp is reaching a state of maturity.

Naturally, Apple is being its usual concise self by saying that this Boot Camp update “…addresses issues and improves compatability with Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista running on a Mac computer…”

If you’re looking for updated graphics drivers for your nVidia 8600M GT, look no further than the updated drivers I’ve made available — they’re still the most current drivers available.

They Chose Option C

I speculated about possible future Boot Camp updates a short while ago, and outlined three possible methods by which Apple might push these to end users. The first, most obvious — and by far my favorite method — would have involved making the update available via the Windows version of Apple’s Software Update utility. Software Update is installed by default when installing Boot Camp, so this would have been a no brainer. It also requires no real effort on the user’s part: it checks for updates periodically.

The other methods were by providing an updated Boot Camp Assistant via the OS X side of Software Update; allow users to burn a driver disc and then apply these just as the 2.0 installation. I speculated that a third method would be for Apple to place the update on their website and allow users to download the updated driver package. This is what they did.

I’m disappointed they chose not to use their Software Update utility, as it’s a perfect means of distribution that requires the least amount of effort on the user’s part. Sure it’s spiffy Apple made these updated drivers available at all, but come on, posting them on the Boot Camp support page isn’t exactly obvious nor helpful.

SP3 Confusion

It is also worth noting that while the Apple support page for this update may proclaims that “installation of Boot Camp 2.1 is required before installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)”, installing and running SP3 without this update works just fine. Only when you wish to install the 2.1 update on a system already running SP3 will you run into problems.

Installing SP3 without this update will not damage your Windows / OS X installations.

If you try to install the 2.1 update on a SP3 machine you will receive a message indicating that the file BootCamp[1].msi, located in some arcane IE5 sub-directory cannot be found. Installation then exits. To circumvent this it is entirely possible to manually install the 2.1 update, using the traditional copy and paste method³.