HT201457: Use Windows 8.1 on your Mac with Boot Camp
Learn about Use Windows 8.1 on your Mac with Boot Camp
Q: prefer windows 8.1 or 10 for the Macbook Pro?
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Jan 23, 2016 3:04 PMby BobTheFisherman,If your Windows 10 is not running well in Boot Camp then address the specific issues you are experiencing. Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 in Boot Camp work as well or better than they do on a Windows PC.
I think you are not hearing what we are saying or we are not explaining correctly. Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 are supported in Boot Camp. Both work as though installed on a Windows computer, except for touch screen which Apple computers do not have. The usability question is one you must decide. If you have used both 8.1 and 10 and have an opinion as to which you prefer from a usability perspective that is the OS you should use.
I don't see how else your usability question regarding Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 can be answered. They both work as designed in Boot Camp. Both installations include hardware drivers for your computer.
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Jan 23, 2016 3:14 PMby cohalon,you know what? you are right!
All of what you said, I agree.
My problem:
After installing Win10,
1. The touch-pad (i.e. mouse pad) has no "right-click".
2. The mouse-pad, does not scroll (two fingers).
3. The keyboard is not lit.
4. I could not find, neither in Apple web-site nor here (at least not until now), a solution.
5. I am using Boot Camp version 6.0
6. It seems that Apple has drivers support for only Boot Camp versions 5.x.x and not version 6.
Also, other things that concern Windows (it's crap) I will not mention here, but mainly what I see is screen resolution incompatibility.
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Jan 23, 2016 3:25 PMby BobTheFisherman,All those work for me. I'm using Windows 10 in Boot Camp right now. It sounds like you did not get the Windows Support software (hardware drivers) installed correctly.
Do you have the Boot Camp icon in your Windows task bar? Did you open it and configure your track pad?
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Jan 23, 2016 4:11 PMby cohalon,No, I do not have the Icon (Apple's Boot Camp, on the Windows Task-Bar).
I have previously used WinXP on an older Macbook Pro (Early 2010) and know which icon you refer to.
Part of the problem is, neither windows nor mac support-pages offer a solution.
Again, this is Boot Camp version 6.x, not 5.x.
Apple's support pages and screen shots are not up to date, yet. So it seems.
In short, I could see the problem, I know how things should function (based on previous experience), but could not find a solution.
I thought, Windows 10 (along with Boot Camp 6) are not ready for use yet, hence my question..
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Jan 23, 2016 6:42 PMby Loner T,cohalon wrote:
you know what? you are right!
All of what you said, I agree.
My problem:
After installing Win10,
1. The touch-pad (i.e. mouse pad) has no "right-click".
2. The mouse-pad, does not scroll (two fingers).
3. The keyboard is not lit.
4. I could not find, neither in Apple web-site nor here (at least not until now), a solution.
5. I am using Boot Camp version 6.0
6. It seems that Apple has drivers support for only Boot Camp versions 5.x.x and not version 6.
Also, other things that concern Windows (it's crap) I will not mention here, but mainly what I see is screen resolution incompatibility.
Taking item #3 as an example, from https://help.apple.com/bootcamp/controlpanel/5.1/#/bcmpa0d98882
Adjust your keyboard’s backlighting
The keyboards on some portable Mac computers provide backlighting, so that the keys are visible in low light conditions. If keyboard backlighting is on, the keys light up automatically whenever the ambient light is low.
Automatically turn off keyboard backlighting when your computer is idle
- If you’re viewing the Windows 8 Start screen, click Desktop to view the Windows desktop.
- While viewing the Windows desktop, click the Boot Camp icon
in the system tray, then choose Boot Camp Control Panel.If you don’t see the Boot Camp icon in the system tray, click the triangle to show hidden icons. - If a User Account Control dialog appears, click Yes.
- Click Keyboard.
- Drag the “Turn off keyboard backlight when computer is not used for” slider.
Change keyboard backlighting
- Press the F5 key to decrease keyboard backlighting, or press the F6 key to increase keyboard backlighting. You may need to hold down the Fn key as you press the F5 or F6 key.
If the F5 and F6 keys don’t adjust backlighting, make sure you have the latest Windows support software installed. In OS X, choose Apple menu > App Store, then install all available updates.
From https://help.apple.com/bootcamp/assistant/6.0/#/bcmp09f5f773
Install Windows support software
After installing Windows, install the support software, which includes Boot Camp drivers that support your Mac hardware.
- After you configure Windows, if the external USB drive or flash drive you inserted before installing Windows is still connected, an installer starts automatically. Otherwise, connect the external USB drive, then double-click the setup.exe file located in the BootCamp folder.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.Important: Do not click the Cancel button in any of the installer dialogs.If a message appears that says the software you’re installing has not passed Windows Logo testing, click Continue Anyway.You don’t need to respond to installer dialogs that appear only briefly during installation, but if a dialog asks you to install device software, click Install.If nothing appears to be happening, there may be a hidden window that you must respond to. Look behind open windows.
- When the support software finishes installing, click Restart, then click Yes.
- After your Mac restarts, follow the instructions for any other installers that appear.
- Check for updated Windows support software. In OS X, choose Apple menu > App Store, then install all available updates.
From BC6 Assistant...
Where do you think are the gaps in documentation, apart from some version number (W8 vs W10) information?
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Jan 23, 2016 8:16 PMby cohalon,Thank you Bob, though, I have been there on that page and done that.
I have Boot Camp 6.x and the screen captions in that help page (and the support offered) match Boot Camp 5.x.x
The procedure did not bring me to the same described window. I thought it is incompatible versions (5.x and 6.x and El Capitan...)
I will read on LonerT's response..
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Jan 23, 2016 8:36 PMby cohalon,Thank you LonerT for your comprehensive reply.
Last to first:
- At last, I know what is missing from the Apple help pages. Thank you for the right(!!!) screen caption.
- Boot Camp icon in windows - I don't have one (I know it from my previous Mac and Win).
- Windows - I use 10, not 8.
- Boot Camp Support Software, as downloaded from Apple, version 5.2, is compatible with Boot Camp 6?
- F-keys. F5/6 do not function ('fn' key makes them sub-function), Alt key should do. F1 and F2 do work for me (Display brightness), with Alt.
- F2 with 'fn' will do Rename file, like in typical windows laptops (such as Lenovo).
- Final result may be, remove windows and reinstall.
- Another option will be to install Win 8.1, I am sure it is more stable and well supported by MS.
But first, I go to the Mac side and try the Boot Camp Assistant window.
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Jan 23, 2016 9:09 PMby Loner T,cohalon wrote:
- Boot Camp Support Software, as downloaded from Apple, version 5.2, is compatible with Boot Camp 6?
- F-keys. F5/6 do not function ('fn' key makes them sub-function), Alt key should do. F1 and F2 do work for me (Display brightness), with Alt.
Do not confuse the version of BC Assistant and BC driver packages. BC Driver versions are stored in Bootcamp.xml downloaded as part of the package by BC Assistant. They are completely independent.
- Final result may be, remove windows and reinstall.
- Another option will be to install Win 8.1, I am sure it is more stable and well supported by MS.
That is unnecessary, W10 is better supported with BC6 drivers.
