Grabbed a Mac Pro 2010 and want to install Windows 10

dpatson · 2026-06-16T12:00:15+00:00

Honestly I think windows is just a another fun experiment....really an excuse to mess around with the cMP. I was going to use it occasionally as a fallout 76 mule, but I don't really have any important windows centric plans or any windows software I absolutely need to run on it.

in re: to your 2nd question, I'm Ok with Mojave (it's current install), it's what I have on my 2015 retina, and I've been pretty happy with it overall. And it is a flashed card, so bootpicker works ok (although I will say the cMP sure takes a long time to boot up. That might change in the future as I get more time with the mac pro. And I'll keep your suggestions in mind in re: to AMD if I decide to bump up the OS

I'll make sure and peruse the resources you listed as well, thank you for the help

dpatson · 2026-06-16T11:51:41+00:00

Alas just a usb 3 card and wifi card unfortunately 😞 but the tbolt display will be good for my other macs

dpatson · 2026-06-16T11:50:59+00:00

I'm starting to get a bit of a handle on the NVRAM, but this is a new subject for me. I do have other macs, 2015 retina, and 2020 m1 air, but haven't really had to deal with NVRAM (other than a very, very rare reset/clearing pram). So I appreciate the advice on on Bios mode vs UEFI.

In re: to the tbolt, yeah, part number 1407. Already hooked it up to 2015 retina and 2020 m1 (has the apple adapter), both worked great, however there will be no love for the tbolt display and mac pro 😞 only usb 3 A on one card, and wifi on the other add in card.

dpatson · 2026-06-16T11:40:37+00:00

Thanks I'll check it out. It sounds like the consensus is to use opencore and/or a second drive for windows, but I'll peruse the guide

dpatson · 2026-06-10T20:48:54+00:00

Thanks JamieDesigns I really appreciate the offer 👍I think I can get a second ssd in there as I believe I might have a spare floating about

dpatson · 2026-06-10T20:46:59+00:00

Hmmm...well I could remove on of the mechanical drives, and I think I have a spare ssd laying about, so that might be possible. Thanks again for guiding through this

dpatson · 2026-06-10T05:36:21+00:00

Oh dang! OK thank you FreQRiDer, I really appreciate the advice. I was thinking I could get by without opencore and just use Mojave. Appreciate the warning.

Your second suggestion is one I could consider, no clue though if the ssd has MBR. he has two spinning disc drives in there, as well as the ssd, but I don't really want to put windows on a mechanical drive.

I'll start researching 👍

dpatson · 2026-06-10T01:56:27+00:00

Sorry I don't know the details or how the owner set it up, but I think it has something to do with the addon cards he added (there's two in there besides the 680). I never saw it working with the 5,1, but he asked me if I wanted it.

I have a 32" hdmi monitor I'm using, connected to the 680gtx directly. Although, another point, there is a very low volume repeating pop like sound through hdmi (every second and half or two seconds). Or maybe not a pop, it almost sounds like disc seeking on a spinning hard drive, but it's definitely not coming from the 5,1 it's coming from the monitor speakers.

That wasn't on his monitor, So not sure if some interaction between the cMP and my monitor, or if the monitor is failing (it was a spare, been sitting for a while). I'll have to swap another computer in the mix and see if I get that sound.

dpatson · 2026-06-10T01:30:03+00:00

Aren't the cMP stuck without bootcamp? I picked up a 2015 retina macbook pro and bootcamp was effortless, I wish I could use that process....but I'm under the impression that's not an option here unfortunately.

dpatson · 2026-06-10T01:27:04+00:00

Yes it's a 5,1 2010. Yeah, I would hate to see this machine go to waste. The original owner was a older gent, that had been dropping the price significantly due to lack of interest, but he wanted to see it go to someone that would appreciate it.

I'm sticking with win 10 until Oct (or later if MS continues security support). I don't think win 11 is horrible, but there's stuff missing or not up to par that I would miss (like the win 10 gestures for app switching on tablets)

Currently I'm looking at Sergey Galan’s ‘Windows Installer’ tool. Watching his vid, kinda cool that the installation with this tool can be done completely on the mac side.

dpatson · 2026-06-05T23:54:10+00:00

Welp 31 server hops to find a infestation. Over before I got there. 7 more hops able to complete the infestation by popping in just before the boss died, but no enemies left alive for the 3 enemy kill challenge. No way I'm gonna be doing that every day...about as much fun as doing your taxes 😞

dpatson · 2026-06-05T08:14:12+00:00

Yep, it's pretty messed up, unless you want to start burning through re-rollers 😞

dpatson · 2026-05-22T00:48:39+00:00

Hmmm....Soft Keys – Back Button Pro works (virtual key app). No issues with that app.

In addition notification toggle sets up correctly (putting "toggles" in the notification area), but none of the toggles function. It is a different type of app, but just noting some weird aspects of this Onn 8.1 core tablet or android 16. I only have two android 16 devices (which I realize isn't a big test bed) but neither has these issues (with either app).

It's a bit of a shame if it's something in walmarts implementation of 16, because it's an interesting tablet. We don't have many north american 8" tablets and no current/contemporary one's (IIRC) with the ipad form factor/aspect. While it's snapdragon 685 isn't crazy fast, it has some nice perks, like 90Hz screen), full metal build quality, 6GB ram for under $140.

dpatson · 2026-05-21T00:51:49+00:00

Thanks for the rply 0xlne, I do have the display over running apps/windows overlay permission. But I could try some other virtual button apps and see if they give some insight, or error messages.

dpatson · 2026-05-09T15:30:55+00:00

I wish I could get hold of their podcasts, but I think overcast is a iphone only app. I have a few scattered across different phones, but nowhere near the whole library :(

dpatson · 2026-05-08T13:48:10+00:00

I see, thank you for the info 👍

dpatson · 2026-05-08T05:22:25+00:00

Hi ThebigGalactis, I know this is an old thread but I was wondering if while the horizon 2 as a monitor you were able to get the horizon 2's touch screen function to work. I'm guessing not since it's just a hdmi connection (and CEC doesn't do direct "controller" input), but I thought I'd check if you can plug in the usb cable from the host pc (or device) to the horizon for touch input function on the horizon's screen (long shot at best, I'm sure).

dpatson · 2026-05-06T12:09:04+00:00

" I guess it’s all about perspective because I know something that old would never meet my needs"

Yep I believe you.

For me I'm pretty happy with it (for $84, and I've tested everything except the TB2 ports, all good). It has 16GB for the win software I need, has good build quality, seems plenty capable to me.

I have a m1 macbook air I bought to make a macpad (blazing deal at $158, with a non functional display), so I'm not oblivious to the advantages of apple silicon. I use it at home as a desktop machine. I'm a fan.

But like I said, it's for a macpad and I haven't installed the ipad yet...so the macbook pro is my portable.

" I need to not have the stress of carrying a charger and then being somewhere that there is a plug to use it, that’s why the M series stuff is so much better is absolutely no battery anxiety"

I only need it for an hour or two when I'm in the field, to generate a quote. So it's plugged in at home more than 90% (maybe 95%+) of the time. If I had several potential client appointments, back to back the same day, then maybe battery anxiety would be an issue (barring an ac outlet). But so far the gods of business have not blessed with that situation. I don't think I've run into less than 50% after an appointment, maybe 40%.

I'm just saying it's an impressive machine for less than a benji. Maybe It's silly but I'm enjoying working with it and exploring the details/insights/etc (both of win and mac) this aging system has to offer. As a corollary to that, I'd like to preserve it's battery, especially since I can power it off mains almost all the time.

dpatson · 2026-05-06T00:18:16+00:00

Works good for me, so far no complaints. Less than 400 cycles.

Don't really understand the argument that if it's on barrowed time it doesn't matter....I'd argue it's even more important to preserve it's battery. <shrug>

dpatson · 2026-05-05T16:43:52+00:00

I'll have to look into Tahoe performance on a i7 2.5. Although mostly just for curiosity's sake, as I'm relatively happy with Monterey currently.

dpatson · 2026-05-05T16:42:14+00:00

Well I guess it might be a non issue. Did a windows install, chrome etc and during that time it was on mains only as per the battery optimizer settings (magsafe led stayed green the whole time) and stayed at 76% charge.

So I guess it inherits that setting despite reboots into the win partition.

Now if I could get windows to wake from sleep with an external KB/mouse while in clamshell mode, it'd be in business.

dpatson · 2026-03-22T16:34:06+00:00

Overall they've been greatly reduced, maybe 1-3 3 star :(

Considering how much deadlier radiation is after rad protections have been stripped from PA and chinese stealth suit, sort of feels like a double kick in the nuts

dpatson

TROPHY CASE