Wipe MacOS completely and only install Windows 10?

Hi josephd77,

It may be technically possible to install Windows alone on an Intel-based Mac, but it isn't recommended. You will need to complete these steps for each Mac in question.

DISCLAIMER: I have not actually tested all of these steps. I am providing this info on a best-effort basis. You may need to take additional steps to make this fully work. Back up your data before proceeding.

You will need an external keyboard and mouse. When the Boot Camp drivers aren't running, the Mac's peripherals (save the display) will not function. That also means the internal SSD won't be accessible until the drivers are loaded.

1. Start up in macOS and log in.
2. Open Boot Camp Assistant, located in Applications -> Utilities.
3. At the top of the screen, select Action -> Download Windows Support Software. (This is specific to each Mac.)
4. When prompted, save the support software to a flash drive formatted as FAT32, MS-DOS FAT, or ExFAT.
5. Wait for the support software to finish downloading. You may be prompted for your password at the end.
6. Prepare a bootable installer for Windows (one that contains WinPE, optionally WinRE).
7. Copy the support software onto the bootable Windows installer.
8. Boot into macOS Recovery, and open Startup Security Utility:
   1. If you are only offered to set a firmware password, you can skip this step.
   2. If additional options appear, set the Secure Boot settings to No Security, and allow booting from external media.
9. Start up from the bootable Windows installer.
10. When Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) appears, press Shift-F10 (or F8 if that doesn't work) to summon Command Prompt.
11. Enter a command similar to this one to load in the Boot Camp drivers for WinPE. Replace PEFolderPath with the actual path to the $WinPEDriver$ folder: pnputil /add-driver PEFolderPath /subdirs
    1. If that command doesn't work, try adding the /install flag at the end.
12. If successful, all of the WinPE drivers for Boot Camp should now be loaded. You should be able to use the built-in keyboard, trackpad, and access the internal SSD.
13. Install Windows as desired.

These steps may not work at all, unless the Windows installation is configured to include the WinPE Boot Camp drivers in the new copy of Windows.

1. Proceed through Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) until you reach the desktop, using your external keyboard and mouse.
2. On the flash drive, run WindowsSupport -> BootCamp -> setup.exe.
3. Once finished, all of the necessary drivers will be installed on the Mac, and it should now be fully functional.

EDIT: After doing some further digging, it may be easier to install Windows normally via Boot Camp Assistant, then use Paragon's CampTune to either remove macOS entirely, or resize it to an absolute bare minimum.

josephd77 wrote:

I'm guessing you didn't read my entire message.

Don't bet on your guess.

Here is your question: "So, is this in fact possible? If so, what do I need to do? If it's not

possible, I would also like confirmation on that so as to not waste

anymore time." How did I not answer the question?

I'm guessing you did not read my response.

Here it is again: "There are two ways to install Windows. You can use a virtual machine

like Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox or you can use Boot Camp

Assistant."

josephd77 wrote:

And of those 2 ways

So what I'm asking is... are there any other options other than these 2,

that's all.

Thank you.

I don't know how else to say it. There are only two options, for the third time.

This is a business environment. I doubt anyone who depends on their IT resources would want anyone doing what you describe. Sounds like a good hobby project for someone who won't mind when their computer stops working to the point it can no longer be depended upon.

josephd77 wrote:

Yes, they have numerous Macbooks they want to do this on. That and they will expect each technician to know how to do this and proceed with "converting" all these laptops.

From the sounds of it... since they are against doing Virtual Machines, the best course of action would then be to strip down the Windows 10 image we use from the 29GB down to 10GB(or less) so Boot Camp will accept it.

I think rather than tinkering and messing with company resources by trying to setup unsupported configurations I would search for Windows PCs to purchase.

BobTheFisherman wrote:

I think rather than tinkering and messing with company resources by trying to setup unsupported configurations I would search for Windows PCs to purchase.

This is the best option hands down.

And yes, the steps I posted are not friendly for IT (nowhere near reliable enough).

None of us here work for Apple. We are users like you. Tell him what I told you. If I was the boss I would not want you performing an unapproved hack on business critical company resources.

There are two ways to install Windows. You can use a virtual machine like Paralells, Fusion, or VirtualBox or you can use Boot Camp Assistant.