Installing Windows directly onto Macbook

[Kiyuubi]

I got a Mid 2009 Macbook Pro for free, and installed Linux on it. I want to give it to my brother, but he wants Windows on it. I am trying to boot to the flash drive, but when I hold down Alt while powering it on it does not show anything to boot from. Just a cursor.

Any ideas?

[Windows7ge]

9 minutes ago, Kiyuubi said:

I got a Mid 2009 Macbook Pro for free, and installed Linux on it. I want to give it to my brother, but he wants Windows on it. I am trying to boot to the flash drive, but when I hold down Alt while powering it on it does not show anything to boot from. Just a cursor.

Any ideas?

A lot of Apple products are custom manufactured to work with Apples operating systems (very similar to Linux) I don't think installing Windows on a Macbook would be possible. Although I'd love for you to prove me wrong, I'd love to see it work. I'd show it off to people.

[r3bify]

Did you make sure that A) the macbook is configured to allow booting from USB, and 2) the USB configured properly?

[Kiyuubi]

1 minute ago, r3bify said:

Did you make sure that A) the macbook is configured to allow booting from USB, and 2) the USB configured properly?

Yes, I installed Linux on it a few weeks ago, and yes.

[Ruhel]

3 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

A lot of Apple products are custom manufactured to work with Apples operating systems (very similar to Linux) I don't think installing Windows on a Macbook would be possible. Although I'd love for you to prove me wrong, I'd love to see it work. I'd show it off to people.

Do you not need boot camp to install Windows on a Macbook. I have both on my Macbook Pro. I installed Windows through OS X using boot camp. Maybe you have to install OS X then WIndows?

 

16 minutes ago, Kiyuubi said:

I got a Mid 2009 Macbook Pro for free, and installed Linux on it. I want to give it to my brother, but he wants Windows on it. I am trying to boot to the flash drive, but when I hold down Alt while powering it on it does not show anything to boot from. Just a cursor.

Any ideas?

 

[r3bify]

Apple's website says that C is the key to hold down during startup to access the Boot Manager, not Alt. And to the guy saying you can't install Windows on a mac, Boot Camp was made for that exact reason, and it's built into the OS. 

[Windows7ge]

35 minutes ago, r3bify said:

Apple's website says that C is the key to hold down during startup to access the Boot Manager, not Alt. And to the guy saying you can't install Windows on a mac, Boot Camp was made for that exact reason, and it's built into the OS. 

You're speaking of using a virtual machine. What I'm referring to is having a clean HDD, installing windows and expecting the Macbooks hardware to work with it. Yes you can install it inside of a linux OS (Boot Camp) but this guy want to try and install windows like it's a PC. That is what I don't believe is possible.

[sirtoby]

9 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

You're speaking of using a virtual machine. What I'm referring to is having a clean HDD, installing windows and expecting the Macbooks hardware to work with it. Yes you can install it inside of a linux OS (Boot Camp) but this guy want to try and install windows like it's a PC. That is what I don't believe is possible.

You're partially right here. Installing Windows on a Mac with a clean harddrive is difficult. Installing it with Bootcamp however, will allow you to create a USB drive which will allow you to install Windows natively. You can't just dd the Windows iso onto the drive and expect it to work

[Windows7ge]

1 minute ago, sirtoby said:

You're partially right here. Installing Windows on a Mac with a clean harddrive is difficult. Installing it with Bootcamp however, will allow you to create a USB drive which will allow you to install Windows natively. You can't just dd the Windows iso onto the drive and expect it to work

If I understand you correctly does that mean it's possible to boot to said USB or can Linux run in the background and have the laptop boot to Windows automatically? I'd imagine his brother isn't going to want to navigate the Linux menu's just to start up Windows.

[sirtoby]

5 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

If I understand you correctly does that mean it's possible to boot to said USB or can Linux run in the background and have the laptop boot to Windows automatically? I'd imagine his brother isn't going to want to navigate the Linux menu's just to start up Windows.

Sorry, that I wasn't clear enough: A Macbook can run Windows natively, like any PC, no VM necessary. The problem here is that OP is trying to install Windows on to a Mac without having OSX installed. Installing Windows on a Mac requires drivers, as well as a specially formatted USB drive. You could do all of this manually but it's a huge pain in the arse. Bootcamp takes care of creating that USB drive for you. 

[Windows7ge]

1 minute ago, sirtoby said:

Sorry, that I wasn't clear enough: A Macbook can run Windows natively, like any PC, no VM necessary. The problem here is that OP is trying to install Windows on to a Mac without having OSX installed. Installing Windows on a Mac requires drivers, as well as a specially formatted USB drive. You could do all of this manually but it's a huge pain in the arse. Bootcamp takes care of creating that USB drive for you. 

I see, rather than calling it a virtual machine would it be more accurate to call it emulation?

[sirtoby]

Just now, Windows7ge said:

I see, rather than calling it a virtual machine would it be more accurate to call it emulation?

Nope, its running natively. Like when you install Windows on your computer. Windows isn't very picky on what hardware it runs. There are a few drivers necessary to make the function keys on the keyboard and the backlight work properly, but that's it. Macs don't have any magic hardware in them to stop you installing other OSs. The reason OSX only runs on Macs, is due to the fact that OSX only supports Mac hardware.

[Windows7ge]

Just now, sirtoby said:

Nope, its running natively. Like when you install Windows on your computer. Windows isn't very picky on what hardware it runs. There are a few drivers necessary to make the function keys on the keyboard and the backlight work properly, but that's it. Macs don't have any magic hardware in them to stop you installing other OSs. The reason OSX only runs on Macs, is due to the fact that OSX only supports Mac hardware.

Alright, makes sense. You definitely have more knowledge on the topic than I do. Could you explain to him how to do it so his brother can get a "new" laptop?

[sirtoby]

OP, This is going to be a bit difficult. The easiest step would be to find a friend who has a Mac (Any will do, should be 2006 or later though) and create the install USB on there. If you are unable to find another Mac to use, I would advise you to reinstall OSX and create the USB installer with BootCamp. This will be A LOT easier than figuring out the correct partition for the drive and to source the bootcamp drivers. I've never had to reinstall OSX onto an older Macbook, but I've done a few newer ones. If you're lucky, then the recovery partition is still intact. You also might be able to use the internet recovery. Everything you need is described here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904