2011 OS Lion.. Can't Install Windows 8.1 In Bootcamp

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Level 1

8 points

2011 OS Lion.. Can't Install Windows 8.1 In Bootcamp

Ok, Going into my third WEEK, I have literally over 100 hours just trying to install Windows 8.1 on my 2011 imac.

Working machine before HD crashed. Had High Sierra running with Windows 8.1 in Bootcamp. Installed this years ago I believe starting out with Windows XP (32 bit) on Leopard or Snow Leopard without any hitches to speak of. Upgraded Mac OS and went through Windows 7 upgrade then full version of Windows 8.1.

Installed new HD and installed new Mac software. Started out with High

Sierra, then Sierra, then El Capitan, then Mavericks and finally Lion.

Going backwards with hopes Bootcamp would work installing Windows 8.1 from Windows disk.

Using Bootcamp Install itself on each of those version gave me no

install using DVD legit Windows disk. First, the internal optical drive

in my imac would not accept Windows installer disks. Put the disks in

and it ejected them. Drive works fine with any DVD or CD's. Just not

with Windows Install Disk or ISO burned disk. I read that to install

Windows it had to be from the internal drive not an external (God only

knows why but that is what I read).

I used an external USB optical to get the Windows disks to mount on

desktop. They did. Went through Bootcamp install using USB flash drive

(32 GB). Once partition installed in Bootcamp with MS-DOS (FAT). Then

imac rebooted. Results... black screen with flashing - sign in upper

left corner. Never booted no matter how long I let it cycle. Ok, turned

off and booted with option held down.

Holding down option showed Windows disk and EFI Windows Disk (plus Mac HD). Clicking on Windows disk restarted and a black screen came up with nothing on it. Would do nothing. Rebooted holding option again. Clicked on Disk EFI. Rebooted into Windows install after clicking on keyboard for any key. Windows booted for install. Typed in key. Went to list of disks. Every disk listed had an error. EFI not compatible with MBR

format. Needed GPT format, NFTS type of disk. Tried the format option.

Error can't install. No options for the GUID (GPT) type of format in

Bootcamp just theMac Journaled and DOS type without the third option for MBR or GUID.

Checked Bootcamp partition after reboot into Mac in Disk Utility and

said partition was now NTFS after erased in Windows install. Ok, thought

it needed NTFS format to install. Nope. I kept downgrading the Mac OS

thinking it may be needed but same problems in every version. Also in

Lion, tried this with Windows 7 upgrade disk. Same results. OK... now to

the USB install disks.

Went through the install on USB flash drive through Bootcamp. El Capitan up to High Siera would want to install drivers for Windows 10 on USB disk. No option for other and would give error and stop installation.

Could uncheck this box and go on. Same as before errors.

OK, kept downgrading Mac OS to get the install of drivers. Mavericks did

download the files/drivers. Created USB install disk. Same as before

only the the USB was listed as EFI got the same errors. I downloaded and

tried WINDISKWRITER software, same results. USB in Utilities was not a

bootable drive. Same errors.

OK downgraded to OS Lion. Different Bootcamp install with three options instead of the two in newer OS. Results were the same.

Then put ISO Windows on desktop to install Windows on USB. Did installs with this. Same exact results.

OK so what is exactly the problem? These Intel Macs were sold

SPECIFICALLY to run both OS softwares yet they have no possible way that I can see how to install windows in Bootcamp.

Is it hardware of software? I read that for some reason when making

partitions in Bootcamp it made a hybrid type of system that Windows

would reject. Supposedly this workaround turned off the protective

coding called SIP to change the drive format. I tried that in Lion and

SIP is not even a part of the software.

I am completely at a loss on how to do what should be a 30 minute

install. So far I have invested literally over 100 hours of time. I have

chased my tail across the internet looking for software or solutions. I

have tried dozens of supposed fixes and different third party softwares

which none have worked.

So it is a reality that Mac created an expensive computer to install Mac

and Windows OS but it was built or coded to not be able to.

I can't keep throwing hours and days away on this. If someone doesn't

have some idea's or solutions on what to try I am just going to get rid

of this machine and buy a PC.

Thanks to all on here who have helped and to those in the future who hopefully will in advance.

Clark

EDIT: Would installing Leopard or Snow Leopard give me any joy? Would

have to find it online to install but if this is a real option willing

to do so. Thanks.

Posted on Oct 16, 2025 8:09 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Nathan Alden

Level 3

984 points

Oct 18, 2025 11:35 PM in response to clark6

Hello,

If anything, your 2011 Mac should be running macOS High Sierra (10.13). This will also upgrade the system and embedded controller (better known as the SMC) firmware to its last available version, which will stamp out any known issues as of 2021, which was the last year of support for that particular model year. Be advised as well that with High Sierra and later versions of the OS, the firmware version numbers received new formatting (e.g. "486.0.0.0") to replace legacy Intel version formatting (e.g. "MBP41.0080.B03").

Your particular Mac requires external media to install Windows, and the last version supported was indeed 8.1. Here's how you should be able to do that.

First, let's make sure you have at least 4 GB main memory and can allocate at least 64 GB of your hard drive to Windows. I'd personally double those numbers for the sake fo smooth performance, but pick your poison.
You'll need a Windows 8.1 64-bit ISO image and either a blank double-layer DVD or a USB stick. Google is your friend in finding a proper image. If you must use a USB stick, you'll need a PC to write the image onto it; but if you use a DVD, the Mac's Disk Utility will do fine in making the image into a disc for you.
Run Boot Camp Assistant to partition the hard drive. Follow all instructions carefully. You might need to save the drivers to another USB stick if so prompted. Your computer will download Boot Camp 5 by default.
Keep the USB stick(s) and the DVD (if you used it) in place as Windows Setup starts.
Setup should be reading a script from the Boot Camp USB stick. If it doesn't, here's what you need to do:
1. Select a Custom Install.
2. Choose the partition called BOOTCAMP, and click Format in the row of buttons below. If prompted, answer Yes.
3. Click Next, and wait.
Your Mac will start in Windows. Complete the initial setup steps and you'll come to Start. From here, go to the Desktop, and your Boot Camp Installer should launch. If it doesn't, you might need another keyboard and mouse for the time being to navigate Windows. Launch File Explorer and go to your Boot Camp driver stick, then run the Setup file there. Give it a Yes when prompted by Windows.
The installer will guide you through adding al of the Mac's hardware in Windows. It will prompt to restart. Do so.
Here's where things may get trippy: if you find yourself back in macOS, restart the machine while holding Option on your keyboard. If you have any USB sticks attached, eject them first.
You'll see three options. Select the hard disk marked "Windows", then hit the arrow below it or the Return key.
Log in to Windows as usual.

Support for Windows 8 and its Store ended in 2023, so you'll need additional help to get the system updates you need. Get the Firefox ESR web browser first, then head for https://www.legacyupdate.net to get an update tool that will help out.

Good luck,

--Nate

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Answer 2

clark6 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2025 11:29 AM in response to HWTech

Mid 2011 imac

Hard drive replacement - Brand: OWC 2.0TB HDD - Compatible with: iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011) Model ID: iMac12,1 (2.5GHz i5 , 2.7GHz i5, 2.8GHz i7)

Disk Utility Drive Info: File System Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Mac OS Lion 10.7.5 installed from clean install. Works perfect.

Original Internal Optical Drive: Will not mount any Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 disk. Legit copy of full install for the 8.1. Legit copy of Windows 7 upgrade. Will not mount disk with Windows ISO on it. Ejects all of these disks. Read somewhere that in order to install windows on Bootcamp you have to use this drive. Reason unknown to me.

External USB Optical Drive: Mounts all of the above on desktop.

Bootcamp Version: (4.0.4 (437)

Start Bootcamp Info: Bootcamp downloads support software, creates partition for Windows, and then starting Windows installer.

Select Tasks Window:

Check Box: Create a Windows 7 install disk - selected.

Need a USB flash drive and Windows 7 ISO

Check Box: Download Windows support software from Apple - selected.

Bootcamp Drivers

Install Windows 7 - selected

Allows Windows partition and start install process.

Chose Windows 7 Pro ISO

Status: Copying Windows files to USB flash drive - Drive formatted and named WININSTALL

During this install Bootcamp connects to download the support software. Is this corrupting the install due to newer support files?

Burned the ISO files to the USB flash drive. Before I went on with the partitioning I checked the info on the USB. The main disk was created in Master Boot Record. The volume was called WININSTALL. The windows files were there. I checked the info and this volume was created in MS-DOS (FAT 32). It also was NOT a bootable drive in the info file.

Created the partition and it rebooted itself. Screen came up with "No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key". I pressed key(s) and nothing happened. Just the statement above and a flashing line under it.

Turned off computer and held option. Nothing showed up except Mac HD and Recovery HD.

So... Bootcamp made a USB with Windows software on it but it is unbootable and does not show up after the option boot.

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

68,408 points

Oct 16, 2025 6:59 PM in response to clark6

With both Windows and macOS evolving over the years....what used to be possible may no longer be possible. I'm not entirely sure how Bootcamp Assistant worked....was it complete on the local drive, or did it access the Internet to pull down the updated drivers & configurations?

Here is Apple's current documentation regarding Windows & Bootcamp:

Start up your Mac in Windows or macOS with Boot Camp -- High Sierra - Apple Support

Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Oct 16, 2025 7:30 PM in response to clark6

Some other options:

Load Linux, and boot Microsoft Windows as a guest.

Install an old VM for macOS 10.13, and boot Windows as a guest.

Acquire a PC with proper TPM and support for Windows 11. Which will be easier than wrestling with vintage gear.

Microsoft Windows 10 just ended mainline support too, and that and earlier Windows versions add to the wrestling.

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Answer 5

clark6 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2025 11:46 AM in response to MrHoffman

Hi, thanks for your input.

I have no knowledge of Linux. I just want to create a system like before the HD crashed.

Of note: I am a retired graphic artist. I am using Photoshop 6 software that I own and Illustrator 9. I am using this software to work on my personal files. I can't afford to be raped by Adobe to rent their software by the month for what little I do. Thus I have to use Windows 8.1 because 10 doesn't work right with this older software. Even if I could afford the cost of a new Mac it wouldn't work for what I need.

I am using my 2011 imac with compatible software on both sides of what this Mac was designed for. All legitimate software yet I have spent unreasonable time just trying to get it to do what it was supposed to do when I bought it. I can't understand why this is so difficult.

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