Someone installed Windows 11 on a 16-year-old MacBook and here's how it looks

While many Windows users are still reticent towards upgrading to Windows 11, with the operating system reaching 400 million users only recently, there are people out there who would try everything to install the operating system.

Such is the tale of this Reddit user who tried repeatedly over 3 days to install Windows 11 on a 16-year-old MacBook laptop and lived to tell the tale (of how he did it, of course).

After 3 days of messing I ran Windows 11 on a 16 year old MacBook
byu/soy_de_ohio inwindows

While this is by no means an easy Windows 11 installation (if you’re looking for that, check out this guy who managed the break the record of the fastest Windows installation ever, at just 104 seconds), it can be relatively easily done if you have some tools available:

You’ll need:

1. Windows 11 ISO
2. Windows 10 ISO
3. Windows 7 ISO
4. Rufus
5. And a 16-years-old MacBook (this is obvious, by you can try similar models, as long as they’re Apple.)
6. Time, and nerves of steel. And a lot of patience.

The Reddit user explained how he did it:

So, my steps:

First, I installed Windows 7 via WinClone, this video, in Russian, but I think it will be understandable if just looking at what he’s doing.

Second, I installed Windows 10 using a windows iso, unpacked it. Then run the setup.exe NOT IN BOOT PICKER, in the OS

Then, I used rufus (the newest version required) to burn a copy of windows 11 on a USB and there was an option to disable tpm, secure boot, etc. Then run the setup.exe on the USB, and again, DON’T BOOT THE BOOT PICKER, it won’t work

Then I installed some drivers, and that’s all

soy_de_ohio, on Reddit

We have to tell you: the results look good. Windows 11 seems functional on the ancient MacBook, and the Reddit user agrees, as well, although it’s still quite slow:

They do, everything works slower than windows 7, but it somehow works

soy_de_ohio, on Reddit

There is not a lot to say about it, other than the next Windows update, now renamed to 2024 Update, will probably make this kind of installation impossible on such devices. The MacBook in question sports an Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7300 processor which will not be supported by the next Windows 11 version.

However, this is quite awesome, nonetheless, and a lot of people in the Windows community agree. Check out the Reddit thread.