Running Windows 8.1 on my iMac.

Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
72
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Your Mac's Specs
3.2 ghz 21" iMac Mid-2010 with Windows 7, iphone 7, ipad air 3rd gen.
I'm considering migrating to Windows 8.1 on my mid 2010 imac when Windows 7 goes out of support so I decided to see if it is compatible first. I've checked the Apple link here but it only lists the 27" and not the 21.5". Does anyone know if bootcamp supports it on my model? Should I suspect if it isn't on the list that 8.1 isn't supported on the 21.5" but it is on the 27" or was that an over-site on Apple's part?
 

Raz0rEdge

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
15,745
Reaction score
2,071
Points
113
Location
MA
Your Mac's Specs
2022 Mac Studio M1 Max, 2023 M2 MBA
What matters more is the version of OS X you have (not necessarily the size of the machine) which determines what Boot Camp you have, which determines what version of Windows will be supported. I believe OS X/macOS starting around Yosemite or El Cap will only have support/drivers for Win 10.
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
10,703
Reaction score
1,158
Points
113
Location
Rhode Island
Your Mac's Specs
M1 Mac Studio, 11" iPad Pro 3rdGen, iPhone 13 ProMax, Watch S7, 2018 15" MBP, AirPods Pro
One thing I have heard from other users (of Windows through Boot Camp) is that if you upgrade the Windows OS, it usually is compatible, because the drivers are already in place.
 

Raz0rEdge

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
15,745
Reaction score
2,071
Points
113
Location
MA
Your Mac's Specs
2022 Mac Studio M1 Max, 2023 M2 MBA
Traditionally the drivers for 8.1 would work with 10 (in most cases).
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
10,703
Reaction score
1,158
Points
113
Location
Rhode Island
Your Mac's Specs
M1 Mac Studio, 11" iPad Pro 3rdGen, iPhone 13 ProMax, Watch S7, 2018 15" MBP, AirPods Pro
Traditionally the drivers for 8.1 would work with 10 (in most cases).
@Ashwin, 10 has nothing to do with it, OP wants to go from 7 to 8.1.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
From all previous reports regarding Windows 8.1, I would avoid it and go to Windows 10 as Ashwin advised. Windows 8 and 8.1 are some of the worst versions of Windows to ever be released. Just do a search and read the reviews.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
Two words Charlie: Windows ME
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
Hey Sly:

I still have an original copy of ME on CD among my Windows stuff that I have saved over the years. Yeah, it was bad but not as bad as 8 or 8.1.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
I can count on one hand the number of times I used Win 8 or ME on one hand and didn't like either of them.

Was 8 really that bad or was it just that the interface changes were too much for people to take?
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
It was really that bad. And MS didn't help the situation by coming out with 8.1 shortly after 8. Windows 7 was a jewel compared to 8 or 8.1 according to reports. I have no experience with 10 but most folks seem to like it.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
My wife had ME on one of her Windows boxes and had no trouble with it -- unlike some of the many cimplaints you see online. We began to wonder if the problem wasn't that ME was very hardware sensitive. Her machine cane with ME already installed whereas it seemed like those with problems had upgraded from earlier versions of Windows.
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
10,703
Reaction score
1,158
Points
113
Location
Rhode Island
Your Mac's Specs
M1 Mac Studio, 11" iPad Pro 3rdGen, iPhone 13 ProMax, Watch S7, 2018 15" MBP, AirPods Pro
I had a Gateway that came with ME, way too many BSOD. It took me a couple of years to upgrade it to XP, and from there it was great, it lasted 8+ years. I don't think 8 or 8.1 were as bad as ME. And 10, seems extremely stable.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
Let's not forget that ME was the last version of Windows that rode on top of DOS. Although when booted, it would boot straight into Windows. However, there was a work around to cause it to boot directly to DOS first.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
I had a Gateway that came with ME, way too many BSOD. It took me a couple of years to upgrade it to XP, and from there it was great, it lasted 8+ years. I don't think 8 or 8.1 were as bad as ME. And 10, seems extremely stable.
All of my wife's computers have been Gateway boxes. Her current machine has run as long as my 2008 MacBook Pro. She will soon be needing a new box. Not sure who to trust no that Gateway has been pretty much bought out of the game.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
Gateway = cow box. :) Remember that?

Who to trust today? Probably either Lenovo or Dell. Or buy her one of those new MacBook Pros that Apple just released. :)
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
She hasn't used a Mac since she and I shared one. Apparently I tinker with them a bit to much and cause all kinds of confusion. This is of course a just a huge misunderstanding.

Her biggest reason(s) for using Windws are:
1. I won't touch it until absolutely necessary.
2. Some of the games she plays do not seem to play well on the Mac.
 
OP
townsbg
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
72
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Your Mac's Specs
3.2 ghz 21" iMac Mid-2010 with Windows 7, iphone 7, ipad air 3rd gen.
I don't currently have Mac installed. I'm just wondering if the current version of bootcamp for my Mac will support 8.1. I don't like 8.1 but I can live with it as long as I install classic shell. I don't want to go with 10 because I don't trust it but I want to stay on Windows after 7 is out of support and Apple stops supporting 7 for iOS and iTunes.
 

IWT


Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
10,218
Reaction score
2,175
Points
113
Location
Born Scotland. Worked all over UK. Live in Wales
Your Mac's Specs
M2 Max Studio Extra, 32GB memory, 4TB, Sonoma 14.4 Apple 5K Retina Studio Monitor
This Support Article from Apple says all there is to say, I guess, about Windows 8.1, Boot Camp and which Macs and which MacOS will work with it. (Open up the disclosure triangles for full info).

Your mid 2010 iMac appears on the list. I don't think you mentioned which MacOS you are running?

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/ht201457

Ian
 
OP
townsbg
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
72
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Your Mac's Specs
3.2 ghz 21" iMac Mid-2010 with Windows 7, iphone 7, ipad air 3rd gen.
As I mentioned in my first post the 27" is listed but the 21.5" isn't. Do you know if that is an oversight on Apple's account or is there a compatibility issue applicable only to the 21"? As crazy as it might sound I don't have Mac installed now.
 
Last edited:

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
By "Mac installed" we assume you mean you do not have macOS installed on the machine? And there should be no difference between the 21.5 and 27" models with regard to which version of Windows can be installed. Why are you concerned about Microsoft not supporting Windows 7? Windows 7 will continue to run long after MS stops support. There are Win boxes still running XP.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top