MP 1,1-5,1 Bare Metal Windows on cMP

[Dayo]

PART 1 of 3​

This is a guide to installing Windows 10 on Classic Mac Pros without the Boot Camp Assistant.
This is one of many ways to implement such a "Bare Metal" setup but is a straightforward method.

This guide is for installing Legacy Windows, as opposed to UEFI Windows, but can also be used for installing UEFI Windows with one change in the process (which will be pointed out).

UEFI Windows is now the orthodox installation setup but unlike Legacy Windows, usage, and even simply just running the installer, comes with risks of damaging Classic Mac Pros. Users need to be aware of these risks, and deal with them, should they decide to use UEFI Windows. Please search the forum or create a separate thread for this if your prefer UEFI Windows.

The installed Windows 10 instance can apparently be upgraded to Windows 11.
A link to a tool that apparently does this is provided at the end of the guide.
It may however be best to remain on Windows 10 until absolutely required.

NOTE
This guide requires installing Legacy Windows on a separate disk to avoid the HybridMBR hack that the Boot Camp Assistant relies on. To install Legacy Windows and Mac OS on the same disk however, the HybridMBR hack must be applied instead. Follow these altenative instructions to manually apply the hack and to install Legacy Windows when done.

Spoiler: GENERAL PREPARATION

The basic principle of this is to start the installation on a Virtual Windows Machine, ensure the installation disk is properly formatted for Windows and then finalise the installation directly on a Mac.

• Ensure a Pre-Boot Configuration Screen is Available
  • This is required to install and handle the Multi-Boot arrangement.
    • If running a GPU that supports this, you can access the Mac Pre-Boot Configuration Screen by pressing the OPTION key on restarting your Mac.
    • If you do not have such in place, try using MyBootMgr to set RefindPlus up for an equivalent screen.
• Download and Install VirtualBox v6.1
  • IMPORTANT: VirtualBox does not ordinarily work on cMP as from v7.x.
  • This will be used to create a Virtual Windows Machine that will be used to initiate the installation process and make sure the disk is properly formatted.
  • You need the "macOS / Intel hosts" variant.
  • Do not open VirtualBox from the Applications Folder after installing or if you do, make sure you shut it down before continuing.
• Download Windows 10 ISO
  • This will represent a "CD/DVD" that will be inserted into the Virtual Windows Machine to start the installation
  • Access the link from Mac OS or Linux as the page does not show the required download options on Windows

Spoiler: DISK PREPARATION

Launch Disk Utility and choose Show All Devices under View in the top left corner of the window. Then, select a disk (whole disk, not just a volume on a disk) attached to one of the four native SATA Bays in your MacPro and format it by clicking Erase. NB: This will be wiped clean so ensure you move any important data out first. Also, note that the native SATA Bays are required to run Legacy Windows on Classic MacPro. UEFI Windows can be run from any available port/slot.

After Erase is clicked, you will get a drop down dialogue box as below:

Choose the same options as shown above and click Erase to format the disk. Once done, launch Terminal, enter diskutil list and note the Disk ID for your "WIN_DISK" disk (See "3" below):

Return to Disk Utiity and unmount WIN_DISK:

Run the following command in Terminal: sudo VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename "${HOME}/Desktop/Win10.vmdk" -rawdisk /dev/disk#.
Make sure /dev/disk# matches the Disk ID noted earlier.
Reconfirm the Disk ID if you have rebooted since you last checked as it can change between boots.

This will create a virtual hard disk file on your desktop (Win10.vmdk) to be used by a Virtual Windows Machine but which points to WIN_DISK as it has been created in Raw Disk Mode.

Return to Disk Utiity and unmount WIN_DISK again as it would have been mounted by that command:

​

Your physical disk is now prepared and ready to be connected to a virtual Windows machine.

Spoiler: CREATE VIRTUAL WINDOWS MACHINE

Type and enter sudo virtualbox into Terminal to launch VirtualBox.
Remember not to launch directly from Applications but to use Terminal.
When it is launched, select New:

Swtich to Expert Mode on the drop down box as the Virtual Machine needs finetuning:

In Expert Mode, adjust settings as shown:

1. WIN10
2. /Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/Virtualbox VMs
3. Windows 10
4. Leave at default setting. Will tweak later
5. Select "use existing file".
6. Click folder icon to select the file

You will get a dialogue as shown where you should click Add:

You can then navigate to your desktop and select the Win10.vmdk file created earlier. Highlight this when returned to the dialogue box and click Choose.

You will then be returned to the Expert Mode dialogue where you should press Create to create a Virtual Windows Machine linked to a physical disk on your Mac.

CONTINUED BELOW...

 

[Dayo]

PART 2 of 3

​

Spoiler: CONFIGURE VIRTUAL MACHINE

On creation of the virtual machine, select the instance and go to the Settings tab.
There, under Storage, you will note that the Virtual SATA Port for a hard disk is connected to the VMK file but that the port for the Optical Drive shows that the drive is empty.

To install Windows, you need to load a virtual installation CD/DVD into the virtual optical drive of the VM and run the installation program. So, click on Storage:

To load the virtual CD/DVD:

1. Select Storage
2. Select the optical drive bay
3. Click on the icon to load the virtual optical drive

Select Choose a disk file, navigate to your Windows 10 ISO file and select this:

This will insert the ISO file into the virtual optical bay:

Click on System

1. Tweak the RAM allocation.
   • About 50% of available RAM is good as the virtual machine is to be deleted once done
2. IMPORTANT: To install in Legacy Mode, ensure Enable EFI is NOT CHECKED
   • Legacy Mode is recommended for Classic Mac Pros.
   • Obviously check this if you want UEFI Windows.
     • Not tested myself but should work
3. Click OK

Spoiler: INITIATE INSTALLATION

Return to Disk Utility and unmount WIN_DISK again as it would have been mounted during the creation process and must be unmounted to boot the VM:

Start the virtual machine to run the installation program from the virtual CD/DVD:

The VM will start Windows:

Complete the initial config and proceed:

CONTINUED BELOW...

 

[Dayo]

PART 3 of 3​

At this point, you will initiate the first steps of installation and reformat the installation disk for Windows.
You will stop the installation after the first stage and continue directly on your Mac. The Virtual Machine can then be deleted afterwards.

Spoiler: INSTALLATION STAGE 1

Start the Installation and indicate that you do not have a Product Key (unless you do) and move to the next screen. A product key can be added later:

Select the desired version of Windows.
You will typically be better off selecting Windows 10 Home instead of Windows 10 Pro:

Accept the license:

IMPORTANT: Select the Custom option on the next screen

You will then be presented with a screen that says Windows cannot be installed on the selected drive when you select WIN_DISK. At this stage, Format the disk:

Once formatted, you can proceed:

Keep an eye on the installation for when it gets to the Getting Finished stage:

When it completes this installation stage, the installer will issue a reboot on the Virtual Machine.
You will need to intervene and power the Virtual Machine down to prevent this reboot of the VM.
You will then need to physically restart your Mac to complete the installation directly on the Mac.

The reboot call is activated after a 10-second countdown; which will be displayed in the VM.
Prepare to shut the VM down by navigating to the menu item shown below (Right click on the VM to display).
Only press Power Off when the countdown is running (Do not let it get to the end).

Spoiler: INSTALLATION STAGE 2

This is easy, just shut your Mac down after the forced VM power down and reboot into the Windows Disk from your Pre-Boot Configuration screen to continue the installation by following the Windows prompts. You can access the screen by pressing "Option" on boot if your GPU supports this or use a third party tool such as RefindPlus, which can be set up using MyBootMgr

Nothing special needs to be done at this point but those that use bluetooth connected peripherals and such may need to install drivers. I haven't needed extra drivers myself but that might be because I keep everything hard wired and have modest needs for Windows.

One useful step is to right click on the "C\:" drive in Windows, select "Properties" and add a label. The disk will then be displayed with this label in RefindPlus when it is set to load an NTFS filesystem driver (as done when an intent to use Windows is indicated when running MyBootMgr). Otherwise, a generic name such as "NTFS Volume" will be used.

---

This tool apparently works for upgrading Windows 10 to 11, bypassing TPM and other requirements:

GitHub - AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat: Universal MCT wrapper script for all Windows 10/11 versions from 1507 to 21H2!

Universal MCT wrapper script for all Windows 10/11 versions from 1507 to 21H2! - AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat

github.com

It is possible to get drivers from this site:

Apple Laptops & Desktops Drivers Download for Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, XP

Download the latest drivers for your Apple Laptops & Desktops to keep your Computer up-to-date.

www.driverscape.com

Alternatively, the Brigadier tool apparently works for getting and installing drivers when set to iMacPro1,1.

brigadier -m iMacPro1,1

Another option to get drivers is by using the Boot Camp Assistant:

Spoiler: Install Drivers with Boot Camp Assistant

​

This procedure is distilled from the HybridMBR guide linked in Post 1​

Step 1: Download the Bootcamp Windows Support Software (in Mac OS)​

This download will contain the Windows drivers you will need to run Windows on your Mac. Allow the computer to do this for you via the Boot Camp Assistant application:

1. Open Boot Camp Assistant from Applications -> Utilities
2. Click continue at the introduction, you may see 2 or 3 options, unclick these options, we will not use them:
   
   
3. Instead, from the Action menu, select Download Windows Support Software
   
   
4. Select your Desktop or Downloads folder as the destination for the download
5. Press Quit once you are done. The download is 1.35GB, drag it to a USB drive, best formatted as ExFAT, to use later when booted into Windows

Step 2: Install 'Bootcamp Windows Support Software' (in Windows)​

These drivers are installed as part of the Bootcamp Windows Support Software and will allow Windows to work with the Mac specific devices: WiFi, Graphics, External Monitors, Webcam, Bluetooth and Audio. The Bootcamp Windows Support Software should be on the USB drive you created earlier.

1. Insert your USB drive
2. Run WindowsSupport -> Bootcamp -> setup.exe.
3. This will install all the required drivers and may also install 'BootCamp for Windows' which you may wish to uninstall immediately.

 

[joevt]

I guess using a VM means you don't need a working DVD drive or to create a DVD disk or USB flash drive (not sure if USB stick works for legacy install?).

The instructions in the original post use an entire drive for Windows or limit the number of partitions to 3. Different instructions are required for using a separate partition of an existing disk that contains many other partitions:
- use macOS to create the new partition (make it a FAT partition)
- convert the disk to hybrid MBR/GPT with up to 3 partitions made visible to Windows (include the one you just created)
- make sure the MBR has legacy boot code
- mark the new partition as active in the MBR
- when installing Windows, format the new partition as NTFS before installing - never use Windows to create new partitions.

Does VBox work with Hybrid MBR/GPT disk?

For creating the partition and setting up the MBR (whether MBR only or MBR/GPT hybrid), I use iPartition.app. One of the GPT fdisk tools (gdisk or cgdisk) can probably do it also.

For Windows drivers, after installing Boot Camp drivers, I use Driver Genius 20 to make sure all the drivers are up to date. I don't think there's a Boot Camp driver that would be overwritten by this or that any overwritten Boot Camp driver would be needed.

 

[startergo]

Does VBox work with Hybrid MBR/GPT disk?

Yes it does. All you need to do is deselect EFI firmware, or for UEFI installation you have to select EFI.
If you want to install on the same disk you can use modified Bootcamp assistant which will create hybrid MBR partition.

 

[joevt]

plus help you boot back to Mac OS from Windows desktop.

You don't want to use Boot Camp control panel to boot back to macOS if you have a custom boot loader (rEFInd, OpenCore, or APFS Patch).

Boot Camp drivers are useful for Apple or LG UltraFine display and keyboard features, etc.

 

[startergo]

The process will be very much simpler if you can borrow a native Windows machine for an hour

How is disconnecting drives and borrowing another machine simpler than mounting the disk in Virtual Box?

 

[eikic1]

anyone can help me?
why Error created File VMDK?

 

[Dayo]

Try sudo VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename "${HOME}/Desktop/Win10.vmdk" -rawdisk /dev/disk#

 

[eikic1]

Try sudo VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename "${HOME}/Desktop/Win10.vmdk" -rawdisk /dev/disk#

success created bro, but error on virtualBOX

 

[Dayo]

Spotted an error in the instructions.
You need to unmount the disk before creating the virtual disk. So please go back and redo.
No need to download the things again but probably best to reboot your computer first.

Delete the VMK file you currently have and also try to follow the guide exactly as written.

 

[eikic1]

Spotted an error in the instructions.
You need to unmount the disk before creating the virtual disk. So please go back and redo.
No need to download the things again but probably best to reboot your computer first.

Delete the VMK file you currently have and also try to follow the guide exactly as written.

Thanks for respon brother
Now proccessing install windows error, what using windows version for support ??

 

[Dayo]

No Idea. Format the disk and restart from the top.
Remember to follow the instructions exactly.

 

[eikic1]

No Idea. Format the disk and restart from the top.
Remember to follow the instructions exactly.

OK bro
i try with windows 8 maybe fix with this version
i try 2x with other iso windows but same

 

[Dayo]

Should not matter which Windows Version but go ahead.

 

[Dayo]

It seems like you took this image with a camera. https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/2718aacb-1246-4b3d-bd13-2136c32a1b94-jpeg.947713

Any reason why it was not just a screenshot directly from your computer? Was it not running in a small window like mine here: https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/img_21-png.944837

 

[eikic1]

i successfully install windows but windows 8, and i try to upddate to 10 so crash, and now im back to win8 , how to detect on OC6?

 

[Teachermark01]

PART 3 of 3​

At this point, you will initiate the first steps of installation and reformat the installation disk for Windows.
You will stop the installation after the first stage and continue directly on your Mac.
The Virtual Machine can then be deleted afterwards.

Spoiler: INSTALLATION STAGE 1

Start the Installation:

View attachment 944841​

Indicate that you don't have a Product Key (Unless you do) and move to the next screen. A product key can be added later:

View attachment 944843​

Select the desired version of Windows. You will be typically be better off selecting Windows 10 Home instead of Windows 10 Pro:

View attachment 944844​

Accept the license:

View attachment 944845​

IMPORTANT: Select the Custom option on the next screen

View attachment 944846​

You will then be presented with a screen that says Windows cannot be installed on the selected drive when you select WIN_DISK. At this stage, Format the disk.

View attachment 944847

View attachment 944850​

Once formatted, you can proceed:

View attachment 944851​

The installation will start and you need to keep an eye on it for when it gets to the Getting Finished stage:

View attachment 944852​

When it completes this installation stage, the installer will issue a reboot on the Virtual Machine.
You will need to intervene and power down the Virtual Machine to stop this reboot.
You will then need to physically reboot your Mac and continue the installation. Basically switch from using a Virtual Machine.

The Reboot call takes 10 seconds to be activated once made (there is a count down) so prepare to shut down the Virtual Machine by navigating to the menu item shown below (Right Click on the VM Instance to bring this up).
Only press Power Off when the installer is attempting to reboot the VM.

View attachment 944853

Spoiler: INSTALLATION STAGE 2

This is easy, just shut down your Mac after the VM power down and reboot into the Windows Disk to continue the installation by following the Windows prompts.

Nothing special needs to be done at this point but I use a wired keyboard/mouse but those that use bluetooth and various other stuff, you may need to install drivers.

The Brigadier tool apparently works very well with installing these drivers when set to IMacPro 1,1.

brigadier -m iMacPro1,1

I haven't needed it myself but that might be because I keep everything hard wired.

PART 3 of 3​

At this point, you will initiate the first steps of installation and reformat the installation disk for Windows.
You will stop the installation after the first stage and continue directly on your Mac.
The Virtual Machine can then be deleted afterwards.

Spoiler: INSTALLATION STAGE 1

Start the Installation:

View attachment 944841​

Indicate that you don't have a Product Key (Unless you do) and move to the next screen. A product key can be added later:

View attachment 944843​

Select the desired version of Windows. You will be typically be better off selecting Windows 10 Home instead of Windows 10 Pro:

View attachment 944844​

Accept the license:

View attachment 944845​

IMPORTANT: Select the Custom option on the next screen

View attachment 944846​

You will then be presented with a screen that says Windows cannot be installed on the selected drive when you select WIN_DISK. At this stage, Format the disk.

View attachment 944847

View attachment 944850​

Once formatted, you can proceed:

View attachment 944851​

The installation will start and you need to keep an eye on it for when it gets to the Getting Finished stage:

View attachment 944852​

When it completes this installation stage, the installer will issue a reboot on the Virtual Machine.
You will need to intervene and power down the Virtual Machine to stop this reboot.
You will then need to physically reboot your Mac and continue the installation. Basically switch from using a Virtual Machine.

The Reboot call takes 10 seconds to be activated once made (there is a count down) so prepare to shut down the Virtual Machine by navigating to the menu item shown below (Right Click on the VM Instance to bring this up).
Only press Power Off when the installer is attempting to reboot the VM.

View attachment 944853

Spoiler: INSTALLATION STAGE 2

This is easy, just shut down your Mac after the VM power down and reboot into the Windows Disk to continue the installation by following the Windows prompts.

Nothing special needs to be done at this point but I use a wired keyboard/mouse but those that use bluetooth and various other stuff, you may need to install drivers.

The Brigadier tool apparently works very well with installing these drivers when set to IMacPro 1,1.

brigadier -m iMacPro1,1

I haven't needed it myself but that might be because I keep everything hard wired.

So within MacOS you can change the drive for booting, so here you need to change to drive to the windows drive I guess? Cause I have the RX580 and can't do it in the bios. Is that correct?

 

[Dayo]

You need a bootscreen ... Install MyBootMgr to get one.

 

[Teachermark01]

You need a bootscreen ... Install MyBootMgr to get one.

Omg dude you are amazing! Unbelievable!
Working great!

Now going to install the drivers 💪

 

[Teachermark01]

Omg dude you are amazing! Unbelievable!
Working great!

Now going to install the drivers 💪

Go some strange errors using Brigadier. Who can help me out?

 

[Dayo]

Sorry, no experience with Brigadier.
You might want to search for a relevant thread or post a question

 

[Teachermark01]

Sorry, no experience with Brigadier.
You might be want to search for a relevant thread or post a question

No problem at all, you helpt me big time with this information. Took me a long time (cursing) to fix this haha.

So this is amazing!

 

[Teachermark01]

Get this error when I am trying to add the Win10.vmdk to VirtualBox, what can I do? Also getting an error running the command...

Kind regards,

Mark

 

[Dayo]

Follow the guide carefully and make sure the disk is unmounted whenever it says it should be.