Scroll until you find the latest Boot Camp update for the Mac system you’re running. Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the latest software update for Boot Camp. Reboot your Mac. Important: If you’re using Windows XP or Windows Vista, Boot Camp 4.0 does not support these versions of Windows. If you are installing Windows 10 on a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista, or if you need to create installation media to install Windows 10 on a different PC, see Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC section below.
- Can't Download Windows Support Software Bootcamp
- Download Windows Support Software Without Bootcamp
- Download Windows Support Software Without Bootcamp
Bootcamp (Boot Camp Assistant) is essentially Apple's way of welcoming Microsoft into its walled garden in a roundabout way. In other words, it allows you to install Windows on a Mac computer by partitioning the disk and letting you dual-boot a laptop or desktop. You will need to specify the amount of disk space for Windows installation, as well as get all the drivers required to run Windows on your Mac OS X or macOS computer. Once installed, it will be exactly the same as working in Windows. A lot of users prefer this over switching between Mac and PC, so you can imagine why Boot Camp Assistant has been so popular for so many years.
Part 1: Problems with Bootcamp Assistant on Mac
That being said, there are a lot of problems in using Bootcamp Assistant on latest macOS such as Mojave or High Serria. One of the errors is the 'Boot Camp installation failed' error. Apple suggests that you move to macOS Mojave and try installing Windows 10 again, but the issue doesn't always go away. Another common error is when trying to copy the Windows installation files. In still other cases, you'll notice that several Mac features don't work when running Windows, such as Apple Software Update stopping, no audio from built-in speakers, mic or webcam not recognized by Windows and so on.
To avoid such errors and issues, which can often take quite a lot of your time to figure out and fix, you can use alternative solutions to install Windows on a Mac from USB. Though you will still need to use Boot Camp Assistant for part of the process, but you're not likely to come across major installation errors when doing this. You can also use Terminal in Mac to help you install Windows. The next two sections describe these methods in detail.
Part 2: Make a Bootable Windows 10/8/7 USB Installer on Mac
Boot Camp Assistant is the official recommendation for creating bootable Windows USB. In case it does not work, we will suggest two alternative software in this section. Both are working fine on latest macOS and we tested three USB drives without running into any issue.
Can't Download Windows Support Software Bootcamp
Method 1: Create Windows Bootable USB Using ISO Editor (without Bootcamp)
UUByte ISO Editor can work as a great alternative to Bootcamp for installing Windows OS on Mac. You can easily fetch all the required drivers using Bootcamp, but the installation process for putting Windows on your Mac is different from how Bootcamp does it. UUbyte is one of the most robust Windows 10 bootable USB creator for Mac that you'll ever find. It can do a lot more than just create bootable media, such as creating ISO files, editing them, copying from disc to ISO and so on. For this process, you will need to use the Burn module, which is explained below:
Step 1: Get the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft's website and install the Mac version of UUbytes ISO Editor.
Step 2: Launch Boot Camp Assistant, go to Action and click on Download Windows Support Software. When the dialog appears, click Save and specify a location for the files.
Step 3: Open the UUbytes program and click on the module that says Burn. Insert a USB flash drive and burn ISO to USB drive. Select the ISO image and click on Burn. This will create a bootable USB drive for the Windows installation.
UUByte is the best alternative to BootCamp for creating bootable Windows USB installer. It is simple to use and has less errors.
Method 2: Create Windows Bootable USB Using Terminal App (without Bootcamp)
This method uses Terminal application to create the bootable media for Windows 10. You will still need Boot Camp Assistant for the support software, but if you're comfortable with command line work, you try this approach. You will first need to download the Windows 10 ISO file. You will also need to use Boot Camp Assistant to get the support files, for which you can follow Step 3 from Method 1.
Step 1: Launch an instance of Terminal. Type the following command and then Enter to list out your drives:
diskutil list external
Step 2: Scroll down the name of the USB drive listed in Terminal. You will be using this in the next command. For now, let's call it disk2. The next step is to format your USB drive for Windows 10. Use the following command, then hit Enter:
diskutil eraseDisk ExFat 'WINDOWS10' MBR disk2
Step 3: You will be able to see a mounted disk called Windows 10. Mount the downloaded Windows 10 ISO file by double-clicking it in Finder. The name will be CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9. You can also run the following command:
cp -rp /Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9/* /Volumes/WINDOWS10/
Step 4: Unfortunately, there's no progress bar to indicate that the bootable media is being created. However, after a sufficient amount of time has passed, the USB drive will contain bootable media for a Windows 10 installation.
Part 3: Create a New Partition for Windows OS on Mac
Windows OS can be only installed on a FAT/ExFAT or NTFS partition. You have to create a new partition on Mac for storing Windows OS files as the default partition on Mac is HFS+ or APFS. This can be done with the help of built-in Disk Utility app. However, this is a highly risky task. Please backup your important data to iCloud or external drive with Time Machine.
To create a new partition for Windows OS, please open Disk Utility app on your Mac. Click the internal disk name on the left sidebar. Now, click the Partition tab on top menu. From the pop-up window, type a name for this new partition and select ExFAT for Windows 10 and MS-DOS (FAT) for Windows 7 from Format drop-down menu. At the end, set a size for the new partition. Finally, click Apply button to take this into effect.
Part 4: Boot Mac from Windows Installation USB
Mac will boot from internal hard drive or SSD in default. To install Windows OS on Mac without Boot Camp, you should let your Mac booting from USB drive to start the installation process. However, this is an easy task.
Make sure you disconnect all USB devices except a wired keyboard and the USB drive containing the Windows ISO files. Now restart your computer and hold down the Option (Alt) key at the same time. Wait for about 10 seconds, Apple logo shows up and you will be presented with several boot options. Pick up the drive you have set in Part 2. If you did not do that, the default name is EFI Boot.
Part 5: Start Installing Windows 10/8/7 on Mac without Bootcamp
When Mac boots from the bootable Windows 10 USB, wait about 30 seconds and Windows installation wizard appears. At this time, the window is much small because graphics driver are not installed yet. Now, you have to follow the screen prompt to choose language, region and most importantly the partition to install Windows OS files.
Part 6: Download and Install Windows Support Software (Drivers)
The Windows ISO image file only has the basic drivers for running Windows OS. Some of the hardware on Mac won't work in Windows, suchas Apple Mouse, trackpad or speaker. You have to install addition drivers to use Windows seamlessly as it is on a PC. To do this, you should download and install Windows Support Software with the help of Boot Camp Assistant.
As usual, launch Boot Camp Assistant app on your Mac and click Action tab on menu bar, where you can see an option named Download Windows Support Software. Now, choose your Windows Installer USB as the target location to store the driver files. It will take 5-10 minutes for the downloading task.
Now, boot your Mac into Windows partition. You will see a pop-up from Boot Camp installer. Just follow the prompt to install Windows Support Software. If it does not appear, then plug the USB drive and navigate to USB drive in File Explorer; then go to WindowsSupport -> BootCamp, and click setup.exe to start installing Windows drivers for this Mac.
Part 7: How to Switch Between Windows and macOS
Now, you have everything set up properly for both Windows and macOS. You may be wondering how can you switch OS between Windows and macOS? The trick is a bit different depending on which OS you are currentlt in.
If you are in macOS now and want to restart into Windows, then reboot your Mac and hold Option key untill you see the Startup Manager, where you can choose a booting device like we mentioned in Part 4, something like this:
You can also do this in Startup Disk from System Preferences. Choose th Windows partition and click Restart... button to boot Mac into Windows OS.
If you are in Windows OS and want to switch to Mac, click the Up Carat icon and select Restart in macOS. If this option does not show up, then reboot Windows as normal and press Option key to bring up Startup Manager and pick up Macintosh HD this time.
Conclusion
It is absolutely not an easy journey for installing Windows on Mac without BootCamp. Fortunately, we have put everything together to help you complete this task smoothly. The key part is how to partition the Mac internal drive and create bootable Windows USB. If you are not comfortable using Terminal, UUByte ISO Editor is the recommended way to install Windows on a Mac without Boot Camp Assistant. It's reliable, quick and doesn't require any special technical knowledge.
Summary
After installing or updating Windows on a Mac using Boot Camp, you may notice that you no longer hear sound through the headset or internal or external speakers.
Cause
This issue can be caused by outdated or corrupted drivers and other software.
Resolution
To resolve the issue follow the steps in the methods starting with method 1. If method 1 does not resolve the issue, go to the next method.
Method 1: Update to the latest version of Boot Camp
Tp download and install the latest update for Boot Camp, follow these steps:
Go to Boot Camp Support.
Click Downloads.
Scroll until you find the latest Boot Camp update for the Mac system you’re running.
Click Download.
Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the latest software update for Boot Camp.
Reboot your Mac.
Important: If you’re using Windows XP or Windows Vista, Boot Camp 4.0 does not support these versions of Windows.
Method 2: Install the latest version of your audio drivers
Install the audio driver from your Mac OS disk or download the latest version of the audio driver from Apple.
Option 1: Install the drivers from you’re Mac OS disk
Start your Mac and boot into Windows.
Insert your Mac OS installation disk.
a. If the installer window doesn’t appear automatically, click the Start button, click Computer.
b. Click the drive that contains the Mac OS disk.
c. Double-click the Boot Camp folder.
d. Double-click setup.exe.
e. Click Install.Follow the on screen instructions to install the drivers.
Reboot your Mac.
Option 2: Install the drivers from Apple’s website
Start your Mac and boot into Windows.
Open Internet Explorer and go toApple Support.
Click Downloads.
Scroll until you find the latest audio drivers for the Mac system you’re running.
Click Download.
Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the latest audio drivers for your Mac.
Reboot your Mac.
Method 3: Download and install the latest Realtek drivers.
To download and install the latest Realtek drivers from the manufacturer’s website, follow these steps:
Go to Realtek Download Center.
In the Download Search box, type drivers, and then click the Go button.
Click the software title that matches your current Realtek chipset.
For more information, see your computer’s documentation.Select the site that corresponds with your Windows operating system.
Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the latest drivers.
Method 4: Repair the Boot Camp drivers.
To repair the Boot Camp drivers, follow these steps:
Repair the Boot Camp drivers.
Start your Mac and boot into Windows.
Insert your Mac OS installation disk. If the installer window doesn’t appear automatically, click the
a. Start button, click Computer.
b. Click the drive that contains the Mac OS disk.
c. Double-click the Boot Camp folder.
d. Double-clicksetup.exe.Click Repair.
Follow the onscreen instructions to repair the drivers.
Reboot your Mac.
Method 5: Reinstall your sound drivers.
Download Windows Support Software Without Bootcamp
To reinstall your sound drivers, follow these steps:
Boot your Mac into Windows.
Open Device Manager.
For Windows XP:
a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
b. If you don’t see a System icon, click Switch toClassic View in the left hand pane of the window.
c. Double-click the System icon.
d. Click the Hardware tab.
e. Click the Device Manager button.
ForWindows Vista or Windows 7.
a. Click the Start button.
b. Type device manager In the Search box and then click Device Manager.Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
Double-click the audio device.
Click the Driver tab.
Click the Uninstall button.
If prompted, restart Windows.
Insert your Mac OS installation disk.
If the installer window doesn’t appear automatically, click the Start button, then click Computer.
Click the drive that contains the Mac OS.
Double-click the Boot Camp folder.
Double-click setup.exe.
Click Install.
Follow the onscreen instructions to install the drivers.
Reboot your Mac.
Method 6: Reinstall Boot Camp.
To uninstall and then reinstall Boot Camp Services follow these steps.
Step 1:
For Windows 7:
Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Uninstall a program.
Click Boot Camp Services, and then click Uninstall.
For Windows Vista:
Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Programs and Features.
Click Boot Camp Services, and then click Uninstall.
For Windows XP:
Download Windows Support Software Without Bootcamp
Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
Click Boot Camp Services, and then click Uninstall.
Step 2:
If prompted, reboot Windows.
Insert your Mac OS installation disk.
Click the Start button, and then click Computer.
Click the drive that contains the Mac OS disk.
Double-click the Boot Camp folder.
Double-click setup.exe.
Click Install.
Restart your Mac.
More Information
Additional Resources:
Windows help
Boot Camp Support
For additional help, ask questions or read other posts on Answers.