What is currently the best way to install Windows 10 or 11 natively on a MBA2012

[rin67630]

Hi I have currently a MBA running Mojave and Windows10 over BootCamp.
I am a bit pissed of about the wonky hybrid MBR/GPT partitioning and wanted to rebuild a clean system with a new GPT partitioned SSD.
The SSD has (beside the mandatory EFI partition) a first Windows NTFS partition, a Mojave APFS partition and a common data ExFAT partition.
I have freshly installed Mojave and migrated everything from the old to the new disk. Worked like a breeze.

Regarding Windows:
My first idea was to clone the Windows NTFS partition 1:1.
So i have now a verbatim copy of my old Windows, copy which (that was more or less expected) does however not start:
Error code 0xC0000225 winload.efi were missing in c:\windows\system32
(I checked, the file is well there).
Has anyone an idea on how to get it fixed?

The second idea was to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 using Rufus (which patches the T2 requirement and others annoyances)
The installations ran normal through and came (after 3 reboots) close to completion when suddenly the screen got black.
I got the same behaviour, from Win 11, Win 10 and even tiny Win10 to go...
I did not get a screen on a second monitor neither, so i am completely blind.
After the mishap at the end of the installation i get now immediately get stuck with the black screen.
Apparently the install misses an Apple specific driver (albeit the intel graphics 4000 should be widely supported) but how to get that driver installed without a screen?
I tried to get a tutorial in the Net, but found only outdated stuff.
Of course if I could install the new system out of my old working Windows, there I would get the drivers, but Microsoft has not foreseen to upgrade to a new partition.
Has anyone got a clue how to get forward?
Thank you for any help.
Regards
Laszlo

 

[rin67630]

Hi I have currently a MBA running Mojave and Windows10 over BootCamp.
I am a bit pissed of about the wonky hybrid MBR/GPT partitioning and wanted to rebuild a clean system with a new GPT partitioned SSD.
The SSD has (beside the mandatory EFI partition) a first Windows NTFS partition, a Mojave APFS partition and a common data ExFAT partition.
I have freshly installed Mojave and migrated everything from the old to the new disk. Worked like a breeze.

Regarding Windows:
My first idea was to clone the Windows NTFS partition 1:1.
So i have now a verbatim copy of my old Windows, copy which (that was more or less expected) does however not start:
Error code 0xC0000225 winload.efi were missing in c:\windows\system32
(I checked, the file is well there).
Has anyone an idea on how to get it fixed?

The second idea was to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 using Rufus (which patches the T2 requirement and others annoyances)
The installations ran normal through and came (after 3 reboots) close to completion when suddenly the screen got black.
I got the same behaviour, from Win 11, Win 10 and even tiny Win10 to go...
I did not get a screen on a second monitor neither, so i am completely blind.
After the mishap at the end of the installation i get now immediately get stuck with the black screen.
Apparently the install misses an Apple specific driver (albeit the intel graphics 4000 should be widely supported) but how to get that driver installed without a screen?
I tried to get a tutorial in the Net, but found only outdated stuff.
Of course if I could install the new system out of my old working Windows, there I would get the drivers, but Microsoft has not foreseen to upgrade to a new partition.
Has anyone got a clue how to get forward?
Thank you for any help.
Regards
Laszlo

New clue: the same install on a Macbook Pro from 2010 worked like a breeze.
The install ran with the default VESA graphics for about 5 minutes after the installation completed and then switched to the nVidia driver. That was exactly the timing on my Macbook air, to get the black screen.
So I must find a way either to provide the BootCamp driver right from the installation, or to prevent Windows to swap the drivers after going live.
Maybe by not entering the WiFi Parameters, or deleting the not functioning Windows driver from the installation?

 

[StoneJack]

reinstall Windows on new bootcamp partition

 

[rin67630]

reinstall Windows on new bootcamp partition

No, I want to get rid of BootCamp and its horrible hybrid MBR. (https://www.rodsbooks.com › gdisk › hybrid.html)

I just installed Windows11 natively (GPT) on a Macbook Pro and it worked like a charm.
The install keeps with the VESA monitor as long as one does not enable internet, after enabling internet, it switched to the nVidia graphic card, which works fine for the MacBook Pro.
The HD 4000 of the Macbook Air seems to require a more tricky proceeding.
Tomorrow I will retry the install, avoiding to enable Internet as long as i haven't retrofitted Apple's graphic drivers.
I am very confident now...

 

[StoneJack]

No, I want to get rid of BootCamp and its horrible hybrid MBR. (https://www.rodsbooks.com › gdisk › hybrid.html)

I just installed Windows11 natively (GPT) on a Macbook Pro and it worked like a charm.
The install keeps with the VESA monitor as long as one does not enable internet, after enabling internet, it switched to the nVidia graphic card, which works fine for the MacBook Pro.
The HD 4000 of the Macbook Air seems to require a more tricky proceeding.
Tomorrow I will retry the install, avoiding to enable Internet as long as i haven't retrofitted Apple's graphic drivers.
I am very confident now...

then why ask?

 

[rin67630]

then why ask?

The usual way for pioneers: one asks, does not get an answer, searches further and finally gets the answer oneself.
If I am successful, i will describe the solution.

 

[StoneJack]

there is nothing special in installing Windows, its an Intel machine after all

 

[rin67630]

there is nothing special in installing Windows, its an Intel machine after all

...Unless you run into the trouble I have described !

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Try booting Windows into safe mode and repair installation? Put your boot camp drivers onto a USB stick in case you need them.

Windows startup settings - Microsoft Support

Learn how to change Windows startup settings, including enabling Safe Mode.

support.microsoft.com

 

[rin67630]

Try booting Windows into safe mode and repair installation? Put your boot camp drivers onto a USB stick in case you need them.

Windows startup settings - Microsoft Support

Learn how to change Windows startup settings, including enabling Safe Mode.

support.microsoft.com

I can confirm: it's enough to start the newly installed Windows without network.
Windows would want to install its own driver for the HD4000 (which is the wrong one).
Since no internet is available, it will not succeed and you can work further with the VESA default.
Then load Apples HD4000 driver from the BootCamp drivers.
After that you can continue with Internet and proceed the normal way...

 

[rin67630]

I can confirm: it's enough to start the newly installed Windows without network.
Windows would want to install its own driver for the HD4000 (which is the wrong one).
Since no internet is available, it will not succeed and you can work further with the VESA default.
Then load Apples HD4000 driver from the BootCamp drivers.
After that you can continue with Internet and proceed the normal way...

Errr.. not.
It worked only until the next reboot.
Standard drivers do not work and Apple's drivers do not work either in a UEFI environment.
Even for a bread-and-butter graphic chip like the HD4000.

 

[rin67630]

reinstall Windows on new bootcamp partition

After all, I must agree with you: unfortunately the sole solution is that horrible BootCamp.
Apples EFIs are so non compliant that no driver will work excepted on a hybid MBR.
... and even on the 2010 MBP you have to provide DVD discs sinceBootCamp will not accept thumb drives.

A journey back to the middle-age.

 

[StoneJack]

After all, I must agree with you: unfortunately the sole solution is that horrible BootCamp.
Apples EFIs are so non compliant that no driver will work excepted on a hybid MBR.
... and even on the 2010 MBP you have to provide DVD discs sinceBootCamp will not accept thumb drives.

A journey back to the middle-age.

well, it is what it is ..

 

[avz]

I never understood why people don't like Bootcamp. Recently I installed Windows 11 on a 13 inch Mid 2012 MacBook Pro with a Bootcamp assistant which included creating an installation USB with Win11 ISO download and downloading the latest drivers. I had to jump through some hoops and as I am inexperienced and did not have Ethernet cable the hardest part for me was adding the WiFi driver in command prompt during the installation.