How to dual boot Windows 10 and Mac OSX


  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 10, Windows 7
       #1

    How to dual boot Windows 10 and Mac OSX


    I want to dual boot my PC which has a pre installed windows 10 with mac OSX. I have only one HDD. I have searched many forums and sites but was not able to find any suitable help. Please help me out.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 19,516
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       #2

    Are you sure that computer can run OSX at all ? If it's not an official Apple product it would be called "Hackingtosh" and if it even works at all, by all the accounts it will not be completely compatible and it's very "Iffy" proposition.
    Apple is very proprietary company and doesn't allow their OS to be installed just anywhere.
    You could also try using Virtual Machine from Windows and maybe, just maybe, be able to run OSX in it.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #3

    You can run MacOS X in VMware (and other virtual machines) by using a modified virtual image or a special patch to add Mac OS support. If you have a Hackingtosh (standard PC with Mac OS installed) then you can dual boot by adding the necessary boot entries in Windows boot loader with EasyBCD (or manually). Or you can add just use Chameleon or whichever Hackintosh boot loader which also allows you to boot into Windows. The safest is to disconnect your Windows hard disk and try any Mac stuff in a separate disk. When successful you can connect both disks and dual-boot. If you are an advanced user, you can shrink your Windows partition, make room for Mac. Then create a new FAT32 partition to the empty space. Boot into Mac OS installer and use Disc Utility to convert the FAT32 partition to MacOS Extended Journaled. Then try installing MacOS there.

    For more help about Hackingtoshes, see the Insanelymac forum. Before trying anything, make sure your hardware supports the Mac OS X version you want to install. The newer the version, the most current must be your PC or it won't work.

    In case your Mac installation fails and you cannot boot into Mac or Windows, use the Mac installer (assuming on DVD or USB flash drive) to try reinstalling. If nothing works, use Windows 10 DVD-ROM to repair startup and restore Windows boot loader so your can at least boot into Windows 10. That's why I said you must be an advanced user to dual-boot from a single hard disk. It is not that simple.

    An alternative is to temporarily install Mac OS on a separate disk (can also be a USB disk or USB flash drive with enough space) while having your Windows hard disk disconnected. Once successful, connect your hard disk again, shrink Windows partition and create a new FAT32 partition for Mac. Then boot to Mac OS. Use Disk Utility to convert that partition to MacOS Extended Journaled. Then download the SuperDuper utility to clone the successful Mac OS installation on that new partition on your Windows disk. Warning: This doesn't make the partition bootable! You have to use another media (DVD or USB) to boot Mac OS on the new partition. Then install the Mac boot loader again on your disk. This will allow you to boot to Mac OS by default, but also select to boot into Windows 10. You can then modify the boot configuration to make Windows 10 default if you want. Or you can just boot into Windows 10 and use EasyBCD to add a boot entry for Mac OS.

    Advice: Do all Apple Updates, but avoid those combo that upgrade the Mac OS version. They frequently fail and screw your Mac OS installation. Also your Hackintosh is set to pretend it is an actual Apple model, so Mac OS can work. Avoid any updates referring to firmware or hardware for obvious reasons!
    Last edited by spapakons; 12 Oct 2015 at 07:24.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 10
    Windows 10, Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #4

    spapakons said:
    You can run MacOS X in VMware (and other virtual machines) by using a modified virtual image or a special patch to add Mac OS support. If you have a Hackingtosh (standard PC with Mac OS installed) then you can dual boot by adding the necessary boot entries in Windows boot loader with EasyBCD (or manually). Or you can add just use Chameleon or whichever Hackintosh boot loader which also allows you to boot into Windows. The safest is to disconnect your Windows hard disk and try any Mac stuff in a separate disk. When successful you can connect both disks and dual-boot. If you are an advanced user, you can shrink your Windows partition, make room for Mac. Then create a new FAT32 partition to the empty space. Boot into Mac OS installer and use Disc Utility to convert the FAT32 partition to MacOS Extended Journaled. Then try installing MacOS there.

    For more help about Hackingtoshes, see the Insanelymac forum. Before trying anything, make sure your hardware supports the Mac OS X version you want to install. The newer the version, the most current must be your PC or it won't work.

    In case your Mac installation fails and you cannot boot into Mac or Windows, use the Mac installer (assuming on DVD or USB flash drive) to try reinstalling. If nothing works, use Windows 10 DVD-ROM to repair startup and restore Windows boot loader so your can at least boot into Windows 10. That's why I said you must be an advanced user to dual-boot from a single hard disk. It is not that simple.

    An alternative is to temporarily install Mac OS on a separate disk (can also be a USB disk or USB flash drive with enough space) while having your Windows hard disk disconnected. Once successful, connect your hard disk again, shrink Windows partition and create a new FAT32 partition for Mac. Then boot to Mac OS. Use Disk Utility to convert that partition to MacOS Extended Journaled. Then download the SuperDuper utility to clone the successful Mac OS installation on that new partition on your Windows disk. Warning: This doesn't make the partition bootable! You have to use another media (DVD or USB) to boot Mac OS on the new partition. Then install the Mac boot loader again on your disk. This will allow you to boot to Mac OS by default, but also select to boot into Windows 10. You can then modify the boot configuration to make Windows 10 default if you want. Or you can just boot into Windows 10 and use EasyBCD to add a boot entry for Mac OS.

    Advice: Do all Apple Updates, but avoid those combo that upgrade the Mac OS version. They frequently fail and screw your Mac OS installation. Also your Hackintosh is set to pretend it is an actual Apple model, so Mac OS can work. Avoid any updates referring to firmware or hardware for obvious reasons!
    Okay.. so I have already partitioned my HDD, an I'll format it to FAT32, then install Mac OS via usb. I have a backup Windows 10 usb, so I'll repair that incase any problem arises. I'm just wanting to know a lil' bit more detail post-installation, if that's possible. Btw, thet was very helpful, thanks.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 470
    Win 10 Pro (x64), OSX 10.11
       #5

    themaverick96:

    I have MacBookPro 2011. I have Yosemite and Windows 7 running using Boot Camp.

    When I tried to upgrade Win 7 to Win 10, I was unable to do because the new Boot Camp that support Win 10 is not available to my MBP 2011.

    So now I just receive Parallel 10 and a bigger SSD to better support the Virtual environment. It is not complete yet!
    What a pain!

    However, you are going in a different direction. You have a PC with Win 10 and want to run Mac OSX.

    Please continue to post so others may learn from your experience. Thanks!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #6

    After first successful login to Mac OS you would examine all devices to see if they work. Check if you can set the native resolution your your monitor and if you have some special effects on the dock or if you can see all screensavers. This means graphics work OK, and have QE/CI support (hardware acceleration). Then check if you have system sounds and if the microphone is working in audio settings. This means the audio driver is OK. Then check your LAN, WiFi and finally check your camera. If during first login you could see the camera image in order to snapshot your login picture, then camera is OK. For anything missing check the Insanelymac forum for drivers or check here. If everything works OK, then you could launch Apple Updates and do all except combo ones that upgrade the OS version and anything firmware/hardware related. Then you can find and install applications either from Apple Store (Apple ID required) or directly using Google.

    To exchange files between Windows 10 and Mac OS, apart from the obvious solution, that is use a common FAT32 partition or a USB flash drive formatted in FAT32, there are other methods. Mac OS can read NTFS partitions but not write by default. You can enable full access but it is not recommended. Windows 10 can access Mac OS partitions using a utility such as MacDrive.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #7

    snoopy51 said:
    When I tried to upgrade Win 7 to Win 10, I was unable to do because the new Boot Camp that support Win 10 is not available to my MBP 2011.

    So now I just receive Parallel 10 and a bigger SSD to better support the Virtual environment. It is not complete yet!
    What a pain!
    Just FYI (I know this is not the subject of this thread) I am running Windows 10 through bootcamp on a 2007 MBP and it works fine. You can upgrade as any other PC and continue to use your existing bootcamp drivers (I'm using version 4).

    The only difference is the AppleHFS driver (to read HFS disk) deletes all restore points if you use a version older than bootcamp 6. If you use the Bootcamp 6 version it causes BSOD with KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE (139). Either way you can't use Apple driver.

    This works well on 10 for read/write access of HFS volumes and is free http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hfs-windows-free/
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 470
    Win 10 Pro (x64), OSX 10.11
       #8

    Thanks, halasz, I will check that out. Much appreciated your comment!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10
    Windows 10, Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    spapakons said:
    After first successful login to Mac OS you would examine all devices to see if they work. Check if you can set the native resolution your your monitor and if you have some special effects on the dock or if you can see all screensavers. This means graphics work OK, and have QE/CI support (hardware acceleration). Then check if you have system sounds and if the microphone is working in audio settings. This means the audio driver is OK. Then check your LAN, WiFi and finally check your camera. If during first login you could see the camera image in order to snapshot your login picture, then camera is OK. For anything missing check the Insanelymac forum for drivers or check here. If everything works OK, then you could launch Apple Updates and do all except combo ones that upgrade the OS version and anything firmware/hardware related. Then you can find and install applications either from Apple Store (Apple ID required) or directly using Google.

    To exchange files between Windows 10 and Mac OS, apart from the obvious solution, that is use a common FAT32 partition or a USB flash drive formatted in FAT32, there are other methods. Mac OS can read NTFS partitions but not write by default. You can enable full access but it is not recommended. Windows 10 can access Mac OS partitions using a utility such as MacDrive.
    Thanks mate, I'll try it out and let you know if that works out.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #10

    I remembered an annoying issue when dual-booting Windows with Mac OS or Linux. When on the other OS, the clock should be adjusted to "universal time" (not remember the exact words). Windows use local time, so when back in Windows you will notice that the clock is some hours behind or forward than local time. If you search the Insalenymac forum you will find a solution, to either set Mac OS in local time or Windows in "universal time". Or you can just manually correct the clock everytime you boot into Windows after Mac OS.

    EDIT: Found the solution. See this post.
      My Computer


 

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