dudleyTheDud
Level 1 (8 points)
Notebooks

Q: Installing Windows XP on MacBook (no Bootcamp)

Trying to install Windows XP on Macbook 7,1 (Mid-2010) with broken disk drive. I've created an ISO of the original install disk using my Windows laptop and have made multiple bootable USBs from it. When I format the USB as NTFS, the Mac won't recognise it and when I format it as FAT32, the disk is recognised but the Mac won't allow me to boot from it (doesn't appear as an option in the boot menu or startup disk selector). Thought it was an EFI/BIOS compatibility problem at first, but when I put the disk into the SuperDrive of my iMac, I'm  able to boot and launch the setup process. What am I doing wrong and how do I fix it (if it can be fixed)?

Any help is much apperciated

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), White, Mid-2010, 7,1

Posted on Sep 10, 2016 5:34 PM

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dudleyTheDud

Q: Installing Windows XP on MacBook (no Bootcamp)

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  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 10, 2016 6:51 PM in response to dudleyTheDud
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
    Safari
    Sep 10, 2016 6:51 PM in response to dudleyTheDud

    The iMac's internal SuperDrive (or an external SuperDrive, if the iMac does not have a built-in Optical drive) will allow the media to boot, as will the built-in Optical drive in the 2010 Mac.

     

    If you use an external device, it will refuse to boot from a MBR/FAT32 device.

     

    If your built-in Optical drive on the 2010 Mac will not play Audio CDs or Video DVDs, you will need to get it repaired, or try a VMware/Winclone method of instilling Windows on the 2010 Mac. Search on MacRumours.

  • by dudleyTheDud,

    dudleyTheDud dudleyTheDud Sep 10, 2016 9:36 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 10, 2016 9:36 PM in response to Loner T

    Thanks for the response

     

    Just to clarify, the MacBook shouldn't be able to boot from any bootable device with FAT32 format?

    This morning I was able to install Ubuntu Linux onto the MacBook from a FAT32 formatted USB.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 11, 2016 3:31 AM in response to dudleyTheDud
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
    Safari
    Sep 11, 2016 3:31 AM in response to dudleyTheDud

    There are device discovery issues if you boot using such methods.

     

    The Macs prior to Late 2013 models run EFI 1.1 and will boot EFI. This is used to support GPT-based external disks for OS X.

     

    Is there an EFI executable on your USB?