CVoador

Q: Windows on Mac - clean install vs bootcamp pros and cons?

Hi folks,

 

I recently got my first Mac - a Macbook 2016. I have tried out El Capitan and I still much prefer Windows, so I am looking to install it on the Mac.

 

I've been reading through bootcamp for dual installation but I would much prefer to do perform a clean install on Windows (I have a copy of Windows 8.1 Pro with a license key). I cannot seem to establish whether or not this is advisable and I would appreciate it if someone could clarify this for me.

 

My understanding is that: -

 

1) It is possible to completely remove OSX and have a clean install of Windows.

2) OSX (in my case, El Capitan) can be reinstalled at a later date at no extra cost (i.e. for free) by using OSX installer.

3) Installing Windows/removing OSX will not affect my warranty as the warranty is for Apple hardware.

 

One of the main concerns seems to be that no using Bootcamp means Apple drivers for Windows will not automatically be available. I've heard some mention that these drivers can actually now be downloaded separately from the Apple website and installed directly on the machine once Windows is in place. Can anyone confirm this please?

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Hoping I can get definitive information and I can move onto Windows soon.

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), macbook, windows, clean, install

Posted on Jul 10, 2016 6:41 AM

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Q: Windows on Mac - clean install vs bootcamp pros and cons?

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  • by mende1,Helpful

    mende1 mende1 Jul 10, 2016 7:00 AM in response to CVoador
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 10, 2016 7:00 AM in response to CVoador

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities

     

    CVoador wrote:

     

    My understanding is that: -

     

    1) It is possible to completely remove OSX and have a clean install of Windows.

    2) OSX (in my case, El Capitan) can be reinstalled at a later date at no extra cost (i.e. for free) by using OSX installer.

    3) Installing Windows/removing OSX will not affect my warranty as the warranty is for Apple hardware.

     

    You're right. You can remove OS X and keep Windows only, but this has a few cons you should know before doing that. Apart from that, Internet Recovery will let you install OS X anytime even if you removed the Recovery partition, and you will not have to pay for OS X: OS X is free and is already registered to your Apple ID.

     

    Respecting to the drivers, Boot Camp Assistant (an app you can find in /Applications/Utilities) leads you through the first steps before installing Windows on your Mac, and one of them is to download the drivers your Mac requires and put them into a USB drive. However, you may need OS X to get newer driver versions.

     

    Instead of removing OS X completely, I suggest you to assign most of the space to Windows, but still keep OS X in a small partition. By doing this, you will still be able to update the drivers (in case you need OS X to do it) and you will have less trouble getting back OS X in the future if you want to remove Windows.

     

    Finally, remember to make a backup of your files before installing Windows on your Mac. You may need it in case something goes wrong with the Windows installation.

  • by CVoador,

    CVoador CVoador Jul 10, 2016 7:00 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 10, 2016 7:00 AM in response to mende1

    Thank you very much for a prompt and informative response.

     

    Are Apple intending to allow direct installation of new drivers via Windows in future?

     

    Also, could you possibly tell me: -

     

    1) The minimum space needed for retain a minimal El Capitan installation? Obviously, it would be my intention to remove absolutely everything I don't need.

     

    2) Can one operating system access the partition of the other? I would assume not (as in I couldn't access any files on the OSX partition when I am using Windows and vice versa) but then OSX must have a way of updating the drivers for Windows going forward?

     

    Thanks again!

  • by mende1,Helpful

    mende1 mende1 Jul 10, 2016 9:46 AM in response to CVoador
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 10, 2016 9:46 AM in response to CVoador

    CVoador wrote:

     

     

    Are Apple intending to allow direct installation of new drivers via Windows in future?

     

    Sometimes Apple provides small updates through Apple Software Update, an app installed in Windows alongside the drivers, but big updates are still available through Boot Camp Assistant only.

     

    CVoador wrote:

     

    Also, could you possibly tell me: -

     

    1) The minimum space needed for retain a minimal El Capitan installation? Obviously, it would be my intention to remove absolutely everything I don't need.

     

    20 GB are often enough for a small OS X installation if you do not have anything on it.

     

    CVoador wrote:

     

    2) Can one operating system access the partition of the other? I would assume not (as in I couldn't access any files on the OSX partition when I am using Windows and vice versa) but then OSX must have a way of updating the drivers for Windows going forward?

     

    OS X can read (not write) the Windows partition, and Windows can read (not write) the OS X partition with a driver provided by Apple. This lets you move files from one operating system to another without the use of an external drive, but this does not let install drivers to a different operating system: that's completely impossible, not only with OS X but with any operating system.

  • by CVoador,

    CVoador CVoador Jul 10, 2016 9:48 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 10, 2016 9:48 AM in response to mende1

    Thanks.

     

    One question about OSX being able to write to the Windows partition... I am intending on encrypting this partition with Bitlocker. Will this not stop OSX from being able to write to it?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 10, 2016 10:00 AM in response to CVoador
    Level 9 (50,486 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 10, 2016 10:00 AM in response to CVoador

    OS X can not write to the Windows partition at all (as previously stated)

  • by CVoador,

    CVoador CVoador Jul 10, 2016 10:03 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 10, 2016 10:03 AM in response to Csound1

    Oh, sorry, I misread the answer in my haste. So how does Bootcamp update drivers?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 10, 2016 10:08 AM in response to CVoador
    Level 9 (50,486 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 10, 2016 10:08 AM in response to CVoador

    Sometimes they can be downloaded separately.