Install Windows on Intel Mac Mini

[Times2]

I have a 2018 version Mac Mini with an Intel chipset.

Would it be possible to install Windows without any sort of boot loader program like bootcamp?

I would like to turn it into a media server for my network.

 

[LilGeek]

I've done it. Grab a copy of all the bootcamp drivers and add them to the install files. Shouldn't have any problems.

Here are the steps I took:

Prerequisites

1. Windows 11 ISO: Download the Windows 11 ISO from the Microsoft website.
2. USB Drive: A USB drive with at least 8 GB of space.
3. Mac Mini: Ensure your Mac Mini meets the hardware requirements for Windows 11.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Drive

1. Format the USB Drive:

   • Connect the USB drive to your Mac.
   • Open Disk Utility (found in Applications > Utilities).
   • Select the USB drive and click on "Erase".
   • Choose ExFAT as the format and GUID Partition Map as the scheme. Name it something like “WIN11”.
   • Click "Erase" to format the drive.

2. Create Bootable USB Drive:

   • Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities).
   • Use the following command to convert the ISO into a bootable USB drive:
     sudo /Applications/Install\ Windows\ 11.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/WIN11
   • If you downloaded the ISO instead of using the Windows installer app, you may need to use a different method, such as using a tool like wimlib to copy the files manually.

Install Windows from the USB Drive

1. Boot from USB:

   • Restart your Mac Mini and hold down the Option (⌥) key immediately when it starts up.
   • You will see the boot menu. Select the USB drive (it may show as "EFI Boot").

2. Install Windows:

   • Follow the Windows installation prompts.
   • When prompted to choose a partition, you may need to delete the existing macOS partitions to create space for Windows. WARNING: This will erase all data on those partitions.
   • Choose the unallocated space to install Windows.

3. Complete Installation:

   • Follow the remaining prompts to complete the installation process.
   • Once Windows is installed, you may need to install drivers for your Mac hardware. You can find these drivers on the Apple website or use Boot Camp drivers.

Post-Installation

• Install Drivers: After Windows installation, consider installing the Boot Camp drivers for better hardware compatibility.
• Setup Windows: Complete the Windows setup process, including activating your Windows license.

Notes

• Backup Data: Ensure you back up any important data before proceeding, as this process can erase existing data.
• Compatibility: Some features may not work perfectly since Apple does not officially support Windows installation on Mac hardware without Boot Camp.

This method will allow you to run Windows natively on your Mac Mini.