Bootcamp Procedure

[cee-eff]

Can someone point me to a step-by-step procedure that explains how to add Windows to a 2011 Macbook Pro running El Capitan, 8GB memory, 480GB SSD? I'd like to know, for example, do I have to have Windows software available before doing the bootcamp thing? My research has led me to believe I can't load Windows 10 directly, so I guess I'll have to start with Windows 7 or 8 and upgrade from there. Can I download Windows 7 or 8 and install it or do I have to have a "real" Windows installation disk and key? Which version of bootcamp do I need - 5 then 6? Or does 6 have everything I need?

My objective is to run some apps that are only available for Windows.

Thanks,
CF

 

[Mike Boreham]

I googled "boot camp 2011 macbook pro" and used "past year" in search tools to get some useful looking hits which from a quick look suggests Windows 10 on a 2011 MBP probably is do-able, but not straightforward. Windows 10 on a 2011 doesn't appear to be supported. Depends how much effort you are willing to put in!
Have you considered Parallels? or Virtualbox?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7171259?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7172590?tstart=0
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204048
https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/3fjyn2/install_windows_10_with_boot_camp_drivers_on_old/

Parallels gets round all such issues. No experience of Virtualbox.

 

[cee-eff]

@Mike Boreham Thanks for the response. I saw all those links except the reddit one. None of them have what I'm looking for, which is a "step-by-step procedure". Can't run VM because they don't support games well.