Windows 11 (only) on MacBook Pro E2015)

[Killerbob]

I have an old MacBook Pro from 2014 (11,1 - 3GHz i7/16GB/500GB) that I am not using anymore. I am also about to give up on Parallels after they increased their subscription fee again. Hence, I am thinking about installing Windows 11 on the old MacBook Pro. I would use it for MS Projects and Visio, and the occacional gaming (Origin and Stream).

Is that possible, or is it an exercise in futility?

I have Windows 10 in Bootcamp on my 2013 Mac Pro, so if I were to do it, I would want it to be Windows 11.

 

[casperes1996]

You can do it though it’s generally recommended to keep macOS around too as it’s the only way to get firmware updates. Though that may be less relevant for an older machine.

Due to some requirements of windows 11 that need to be circumvented you will need to first install windows 10 and then modify the windows 11 upgrade installer to allow hardware without tpm. The guy behind bootcampdrivers has a guide on that step.

 

[bogdanw]

WinDiskWriter "Windows Bootable USB creator for macOS. 🛠 Patches Windows 11 to bypass TPM and Secure Boot requirements." https://github.com/TechUnRestricted/windiskwriter
Thread for the app: "WinDiskWriter: the ultimate open source tool for creating Windows bootable USB drives on Mac"
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...g-windows-bootable-usb-drives-on-mac.2400850/

 

[Jesse_Bassett]

WinDiskWriter "Windows Bootable USB creator for macOS. 🛠 Patches Windows 11 to bypass TPM and Secure Boot requirements." https://github.com/TechUnRestricted/windiskwriter
Thread for the app: "WinDiskWriter: the ultimate open source tool for creating Windows bootable USB drives on Mac"
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...g-windows-bootable-usb-drives-on-mac.2400850/

I second WinDiskWriter. It has helped me with my 2014 MacMini and such.

 

[rin67630]

I could install windows 11 natively on a macbook pro 2012.
I prepared the room for the Windows partition by formatting that partition ExFAT.

I started with a Windows to-go USB disk:

1. reformatted the partition as NTFS
2. installed there Windows11 from a Rufus-createed drive.
3. made a BootCamp folder from Brigadier
4. booted windows 11 without network
5. installed the 64 bit drivers from the BootCamp Drivers folder
6. So far every device working...👍
7. Only unsolved problem: BootCamp.exe refused to install, asking for Windows 7.
   Kept asking for Windows 7 even in compatibilty mode.
   In consquence I have no BootCamp.exe app and cannot control the brightness of the display from the keyboard.
   (halas also not from the display settings).
   I would higly appreciate any clue on how to force install BootCamp.exe)
   
   P.S. Apple Software Update broke with invalid signatures and could not be updated.

 

[Snowlover]

"In consquence I have no BootCamp.exe app and cannot control the brightness of the display from the keyboard.
(halas also not from the display settings)."

You could try "Monitorian" app to control monitor brightness.
I needed an app for brightness control on my 2014 mini win 11.
I am using a monitor whose controls are messed up, with no control from display settings or bootcamp control panel (display not supported). This works great for me.

GitHub - emoacht/Monitorian: A Windows desktop tool to adjust the brightness of multiple monitors with ease

A Windows desktop tool to adjust the brightness of multiple monitors with ease - emoacht/Monitorian

github.com

 

[rin67630]

It runs now like it should: I had to refrain using the Internal Graphics (OCLP, extra settings, no selecting Win GMUX).Brightness control works normally.