ANSYS Installation Guide for Mac OSX

As with many engineering softwares, ANSYS is not available for the Mac OSX platform. However, it is still possible to install ANSYS and your other engineering softwares on an Apple computer by first installing Windows on your Mac. Please follow this guide to learn how to install Windows and ANSYS on your Mac.

1. Buy and install  (~$80).

Make sure to check the . We highly recommend that your computer has at least 4GB of RAM and 20GB of free hard disk space.

While your Apple computer already has a software called BootCamp to install Windows on your Mac, it requires the user to reboot each time he or she wants to switch operating systems. The user also has to play with disk partitioning which makes the setup more complicated. We highly recommend using Parallels Desktop for its ease of use and flexibility. This software allows the user to run Mac OSX and Windows side by side and it does not require hard drive partitioning. Windows simply acts as an application that you can run or close as you wish. All the Windows files are contained in one master file (a .pvm file) that you can move wherever you want, even on an external hard rive.

2. Get yourself a copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8 (installation CD or ISO file).

Windows 8.1 Pro for Students is

and is the best deal available to students and teachers at only $70. It is accessible as an ISO file to download. Select the 64 bit version (X64) when prompted.

3. Run Parallels Desktop 9 and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.

 If you downloaded Windows as an ISO file, you will simply be asked to drag and drop the ISO file in the box to proceed with the installation process. If you have the Windows installation CD, then simply insert it in the drive when prompted. We suggest that you choose to use Windows "like a PC". Feel free to follow this

if you need.

4. Buy and install the ANSYS Student Version.

ANSYS offers a student version of their software for only $25/year. It is available on the ANSYS Student Portal. The functionalities are the same as in the full version except that it is node restricted to 32,000 (more than enough for what a typical student will need). Please ask Sebastien at sfl32@cornell.edu for information on how to get the ANSYS Student Version.

Note: This is release 15.0 which is a newer release than the ones installed in the Cornell computer labs (14.5). Just be aware that a project created in 15.0 will not open in 14.5 while a project created in 14.5 can be opened in 15.0.

Please contact Sebastien at sfl32@cornell.edu if you have any questions regarding this installation guide.