HT204990: Use Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp

Learn about Use Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp
Carlton Ellis
Level 1 (16 points)

Q: What will NOT work with Windows 10 on my mid-2009 MacBook Pro if I upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 Pro?

I have a mid-2009 MacBook Pro.  I am running El Capitan OSX 10.11.1 and Windows 7 Pro in Boot Camp.  It appears that Apple doe not want me to upgrade to Windows 10.  My laptop is listed as "not supported".  What will NOT work if I do the Windows upgrade? 

 

I understand the complexity of maintaining drivers and depreciated libraries, but what is the downside of this?  I realize that Bluetooth 4 is one item, but what else?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11), Mid-2009 MacBookPro5,3

Posted on Oct 31, 2015 6:26 AM

by Loner T,Solvedanswer
Loner T Loner T
Level 7 (23,633 points)
Safari
A:

I suggest staying with W7 on this Mac. If you want to play with W10, buy a PC (instead of a Mac), with W10 (a desktop) and use it. Keeping these separate is a better option.

Posted on Oct 31, 2015 7:26 AM

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Carlton Ellis

Q: What will NOT work with Windows 10 on my mid-2009 MacBook Pro if I upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 Pro?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Loner T,Helpful

    Loner T Loner T Oct 31, 2015 6:54 AM in response to Carlton Ellis
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
    Safari
    Oct 31, 2015 6:54 AM in response to Carlton Ellis

    GPU, Wireless, Audio (may work). Your current 2009 MBP is a preUEFI Mac, W10 on such Macs is problematic, because there are half-hearted attempts to make it work on older 2013/2014 Macs. W7 Pro is a good OS and will keep running with security updates.

     

    Stability of W10 is another area on such Macs. Software Ugrades can cause future failures.

     

    Is there a specific reason to try W10 on a 2009 Mac? You will get better performance/stability out of 2014 Macs.

     

    Do you want to go around the world inside a DC10 or a Boeing Dreamliner/Airbus A580?

  • by Carlton Ellis,

    Carlton Ellis Carlton Ellis Oct 31, 2015 6:57 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Oct 31, 2015 6:57 AM in response to Loner T

    If I could afford to give up this well running older MacBook Pro, I would have long ago.  I actually thing Windows 7 will continue to work just fine for what few Windows apps I use.

  • by Loner T,Solvedanswer

    Loner T Loner T Oct 31, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Carlton Ellis
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
    Safari
    Oct 31, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Carlton Ellis

    I suggest staying with W7 on this Mac. If you want to play with W10, buy a PC (instead of a Mac), with W10 (a desktop) and use it. Keeping these separate is a better option.