Installing Windows 10 via bootcamp

By Datawolf, 29 September, 2020

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Hey all.

So as far as I know, you can't install Windows 10 in a bootcamp partition without sighted help because the required audio drivers will only be loaded after installation of Windows.

I could run it in a virtual machine, but I would like to run it natively if possible.

Did someone possibly figure out if it's somehow possible to install Windows without sighted help, by remembering keystrokes and what not?

I want to do a little test run on how this works while stilll using Mac productively.

Thanks in advance.

Options

Comments

By KE8UPE on Thursday, October 22, 2020 - 12:44

Hi,
If you have a pair of wired headphones handy, you can install Windows via bootcamp, without sighted assistance.
Do note though, that it won't work, if you're running the beta of macOS Big sur.

Simply download an iso file, open bootcamp assistant, and follow the steps to install Windows.

By Datawolf on Thursday, October 22, 2020 - 12:44

Hey, thanks for the answer.

but, I wonder how wired headphones will help me here. If I plug them into the audio jack on my Macbook, they will use the same audio driver used when my Mac is running on the normal speakers. So, it also won't have audio drivers during installation.

Or am I missing something here?

By KE7ZUM on Thursday, October 22, 2020 - 12:44

You should be able to launch narrator with windows control enter with headphones on, if I recall. I hope this helps a little bit. I no longer boot camp as I get the feeling it is going away soon ish.

I used to use a 2015 MacBook Pro, and the last several times I installed recent versions of Windows 10, I was able to use Narrator with a set of wired headphones. I also was able to use an external sound card plugged into the USB port, and this worked as well. I've unfortunately read reports that this isn't the case across the board, though, so it may be a case of "your mileage may vary..." but certainly worth a try IMHO.

By Datawolf on Thursday, October 22, 2020 - 12:44

Hey all.

Huh, that's interesting, I will give it ago. Maybe it will work xD.

By Fenrir on Friday, July 22, 2022 - 12:44

Hi all,
I was able to use Narrator, but after it rebooted and I had to actually configure Windows (keyboard layout, wi-fi ecc.) I got literally stuck: Narrator would actually be opened but no speech could be heard.
Any ideas?
I'm still using Big Sur, I have a 11 inches Macbook air (mid 2014)
Thanks

By Guyster on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 12:44

Hello all, first of all, I am very glad this site is back. I am trying to run Windows 10 on my mac mini, 2018. The problem i'm facing, how do you use voiceover to interact with the partition size selector. I did get it installed, and it's running great, but the partition is too small. I couldn't figure out how big I was making it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Guy

By Maldalain on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 12:44

Long gone the days of the BootCamp!

By Michael Hansen on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - 12:44

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Hi Guyster,
I have done many a Boot Camp installation and can unfortunately confirm that the issue you describe is a bug with VoiceOver. It indeed was possible to adjust the size of the partition in the past, and I would hope that Apple had addressed this issue in a macOS update. I'm assuming you're running the latest version of macOS?

By Jonathan Candler on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - 12:44

My work around for doing this, install WinClone, note you may have to buy said program, however, once you install, partission the drive just like you would any other drive and then, you can choose the size you need. From there, go to winclone, quick install and then choose your ISO of windows and your bootcamp support drivers and you're off to the rases! I just recently had to do this and it was okay. The only issue I couldn't get to work is getting nairator to go through my headphones the first half of the install of which I have no idea why but I had to use be my AI for some stuff and aeventually I got through it. After windows is installed and you're logged in, run the bootcamp installer and it'll make sure you have everything installed. Feel free to install NVDA or whatever screenreader you wanna use before doing this first.