So! You’ve got yourself a 2019 MacBook Pro—the all-powerful "Sequoia" version running macOS 15.2—and you’re itching to step into the wild world of Windows Tiny11 without cluttering up your internal storage or relying on Boot Camp. Maybe you want to play games, run certain Windows apps, or just enjoy the breath of fresh air that is a streamlined version of Windows. Whatever the reason, your vision involves a seamless dual-boot system, accessed right from the macOS bootloader, all on an external SSD or NVMe. Sounds dreamy, right? Let’s walk through the journey laid out in the original forum discussion, with added clarity, technical explanations, and sunlight on the darker corners where issues crop up.
In case you’re new here, Tiny11 is a slimmed-down, modified version of Windows 11. It removes unnecessary bloatware, delivering a lean and efficient operating system that consumes far fewer resources than its chunky sibling. This clean, nimble version of Windows is particularly appealing for users looking to run a snappy Windows environment on aging or resource-limited hardware—or in quirky configurations, such as external drives on Macs.
But as magical as Tiny11 sounds, it’s not officially sanctioned by Microsoft (read: customization enthusiasts created this). Be cautious if installing it for professional or critical use.
Here are the hurdles they faced:
Oh, and one last piece of advice… while Tiny11 is super lightweight, it’s technically a modified Windows distribution, meaning no guarantees of long-term reliability or update support. If that gives pause, consider using a standard Windows 11 installation on your external drive instead.
Happy tinkering, and may your SSD be fast and your boot screens conflict-free!
Source: MacRumors Forums Install Windows Tiny11 on external SSD/NVMe from a Sequoia MacBook Pro 16" (2019)
What’s the Deal With Windows Tiny11?
In case you’re new here, Tiny11 is a slimmed-down, modified version of Windows 11. It removes unnecessary bloatware, delivering a lean and efficient operating system that consumes far fewer resources than its chunky sibling. This clean, nimble version of Windows is particularly appealing for users looking to run a snappy Windows environment on aging or resource-limited hardware—or in quirky configurations, such as external drives on Macs.But as magical as Tiny11 sounds, it’s not officially sanctioned by Microsoft (read: customization enthusiasts created this). Be cautious if installing it for professional or critical use.
The Challenge: Where It Gets Tricky
The original poster (Mic-M4c) set out to install Tiny11 on an external SSD/NVMe connected to their 2019 MacBook Pro. Their goal was to avoid Apple’s built-in Boot Camp Assistant while still achieving dual boot capability—where you can press theOption key during startup to choose between macOS and Windows.Here are the hurdles they faced:
- Windows Bootloader Does Not Show in the Mac’s boot menu when pressing Option.
- OpenCore Bootloader Issues: Using OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) to tweak the startup environment also didn’t resolve visibility issues for macOS or Windows icons.
- Secure Boot & SIP Restrictions: macOS’s System Integrity Protection (SIP) and security protocols often obstruct adds like OpenCore or external boot configurations, unless properly disabled or bypassed.
Breaking it Down: Step-by-Step Guide
1. Pre-Installation Checklist
Here’s what you need before attempting this daring integration of ecosystems:- External SSD or NVMe drive: Ensure it’s fast and properly formatted (see below).
- Tiny11 Installation Media: You’ll need to create a bootable USB for installing Windows Tiny11.
- A Backup of Your Mac: Things can go awry when you’re disabling macOS security features. Use Time Machine or your preferred method.
- OpenCore Bootloader: This is optional but may help with bootloader visibility later.
- Patience and Coffee: You’re taming two OSes, and neither likes being cooperative.
2. Preparing the External Drive
First and foremost, get your external drive ready for Windows installation. Apple’s macOS likes to be clingy with its drive formatting, so you’ll need to make some tweaks.- Erase and Format the SSD/NVMe:
- Open Disk Utility in macOS.
- Choose your external drive and click Erase.
- Use the GUID Partition Map scheme with ExFAT format. (ExFAT ensures cross-compatibility with macOS and Windows.)
- Partition the Drive (Optional):
- If you want part of the external drive for macOS storage, leave some unallocated space and partition the rest for Windows.
3. Creating the Tiny11 Installation Media
Tiny11, being a custom version of Windows 11, can’t just be downloaded and slapped on a drive directly. You’ll need to create a bootable installer.- Download the Tiny11 ISO (you’ll know where to look—hint: community forums).
- Use a tool like Rufus (on another Windows machine) or UUByte ISO Editor on your Mac to make a bootable USB thumb drive.
4. The Crucial Step: Booting and Installing Tiny11
Here’s where things start to heat up.- Disable Apple’s SIP (System Integrity Protection):
- Reboot your Mac into Recovery Mode. Hold down
Command+Rduring the restart. - Open Terminal in Recovery Mode and run:
Code:csrutil disable - Reboot your Mac.
- Boot From the USB Drive:
- Connect the Tiny11 bootable USB and the external SSD/NVMe to your MacBook Pro.
- Restart the Mac and hold the Option key during boot.
- Select the USB drive from the boot menu.
- Install Windows Tiny11 on External Drive:
- Proceed through the Windows installation wizard as usual.
- During partitioning, select your external SSD/NVMe as the installation destination.
- Let it do its thing.
5. Making Windows Bootable on Mac’s Startup Menu
After installation, you’ll notice that pressing theOption key on reboot doesn’t show Windows as a bootable option. This is because macOS doesn’t recognize Microsoft’s bootloader out of the box. To fix this:- Install OpenCore Bootloader:
- Use OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) to install a version of OpenCore on your external drive’s EFI partition.
- This effectively acts as a middleman, allowing macOS’s boot environment to see and launch Tiny11.
- Disable Secure Boot:
- Reboot your Mac into Recovery Mode again.
- Open Terminal and tweak the system’s secure boot policies. Command:
Code:spctl kext-consent disable - Manually Add Windows Bootloader (if needed):
- Use Terminal or an EFI editor to directly point the Mac’s boot manager to the Windows bootloader on your external drive.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Windows Bootloader Not Visible (Still)? Double-check that OpenCore is correctly installed and recognize your Windows installation in the boot menu.
- MacOS Icons Missing? OpenCore configuration might need a tweak to re-add macOS itself to the boot manager's visibility settings.
- Windows Won’t Boot? It might be a Secure Boot issue. Ensure that legacy boot is enabled in your configuration.
- Installer Freezing on External Drive? Try formatting it to NTFS within the Windows installer.
Final Notes and Considerations
What you’ve attempted here—installing Windows Tiny11 on an external SSD while shaking hands with Apple’s tightly-controlled bootloader—was no small feat. But it’s doable, as evidenced by the trials and triumphs of users like Mic-M4c on community forums. OpenCore makes for a solid workaround when macOS restricts dual-booting, but remember: OpenCore is technically a hack designed for unsupported scenarios, so proceed cautiously.Oh, and one last piece of advice… while Tiny11 is super lightweight, it’s technically a modified Windows distribution, meaning no guarantees of long-term reliability or update support. If that gives pause, consider using a standard Windows 11 installation on your external drive instead.
Happy tinkering, and may your SSD be fast and your boot screens conflict-free!
Source: MacRumors Forums Install Windows Tiny11 on external SSD/NVMe from a Sequoia MacBook Pro 16" (2019)
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