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This was a lot easier than I thought. Background – Bootcamp is the name for the part of Mac OS that enables modern Macs to have Windows installed alongside Mac OS. On start-up a user can choose whether to run Windows or Mac. Normally, Bootcamp setup only allows a user to split a hard drive into two parts.

I read the guide here first which looked scary. But things seemed to have changed since:

• Disk utility can split a hard drive into three, without deleting data. This avoids the need to back up that way or restore a disk image afterwards.
• Time machine, part of the most recent Leopard version of Mac OS, enables easier backups.

The process worked like this:

1. Back up Mac with Time Machine. As this was a new Mac it was quick.
2. Boot from the Mac OS install CD by holding ‘c’ while the Mac powers up.
3. Exit the Mac OS installer app and run Disk Utility, which is listed on the menu.
4. I chose to set up three partitions as follows: 32Gb FAT32 last; 20Gb unformatted middle; remainder Mac OS. I understand it’s important that Windows is on the last partition.
5. Boot from the Windows CD, follow the install prompts to install into the last 32Gb partition.
6. Don’t alter the partitions using Windows installer.
7. I chose to do a “quick format” of the drive, although I’d already formatted it in Disk Utility.
8. When Windows installer asks to reboot hold the ‘c’ key to boot from the CD.
9. Boot into Windows. Install the Bootcamp drivers from the Mac OS CD.

Tip: the above was on a brand new Mac. Previously, I’ve set up Bootcamp on an older Mac and had problems. I was using the Bootcamp application itself to split the drive into two parts. Bootcamp refused, despite there being ample free drive space. The problem seemed to be that the drive was fragmented and the Bootcamp installer wouldn’t re-arrange files. After defragging, the install all went smoothly.

Update – Fixing 3 Partitions and Boot Camp Problems, published August 10, 2009.