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Edited: Sep 01, 2023

Old OS security

Hey guys,

Since I have been having some speed issues with the celeron laptop the BBS's are running on I have been trying to figure out a way to move to another one of the computers I have laying around.

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro

A pi400

2 old pc towers

I wanted to try to move them to the MacBook using boot camp. So in reality it would just be a regular windows pc.

I did originally hack it to run on the latest macOS. I tried to install win10 in boot camp but when it goes to do some updates it pretty much breaks the video cards so win10/11 is a no go.

Now, I am trying to downgrade it back to the most recent macOS. (That used to be simple but it appears Apple may have shut down the high sierra network servers).

My thoughts are get it back down to a officially usable macOS. Then attempt a win7 boot camp install. (The most current macOS version only supports win10).

I think that may be my best option for this project. Now, with win7 and high sierra out of support, is there a way I can run win7 with some good security? I am just concerned one of our friends from Russia will hack in and create havoc with my network.

I know some of you guys are really good with windows (I am not) and if memory serves one of us may have been using win7 to run one of the boards. But I could be mistaken.

If I get win7 working I am going to try an upgrade path to win10 from 7 to see if the issue resided with apples boot camp drivers (or maybe to open source patcher I used to install the latest macOS)

Any suggestions appreciated.

11 comments

11 Comments

Klepto

Sep 27, 2023

@Craig Abruzzese ... So what's the word? Any updates?

Craig Abruzzese

Sep 27, 2023

Replying to

I was able to get win10 installed on the old Mac. The BBS's have been on that computer for a few weeks now. So far so good.

I did get a few emails that it seemed to be a little snappier than before.

I did have a pickle of a time to get windows to not use the discreet graphics chip. But I managed to disable the amd card and turn off automatic downloading of drivers.

I have yet to run updates and reboot, but it has worked ok since I managed to get the amd card to not get used.

Klepto

Sep 28, 2023

Replying to

Sounds good. Glad to hear everything worked out.

Klepto

Sep 14, 2023

Maybe go with this one for Alcatrz's new home

Craig Abruzzese

Sep 15, 2023

Replying to

Purchased! That's my kind of computer!!!!

bf2k+

Sep 15, 2023

Replying to

Aww.. you beat me to it. (I was going to buy the computer because.... I don't have a MAC.)

Klepto

Sep 07, 2023

I don't think MacOS is the issue so downgrading shouldn't be necessary. Bootcamp is a whole different partition.

Have you tried deleting Bootcamp and re-creating and re-installing Win10? Maybe something weird happened during your first install.

Craig Abruzzese

Sep 07, 2023

Replying to

i have a copy of win10 running but it isn't stable. I think it might have something to do with using the Microsoft display drivers. I am running on the 2011 17inch mbp. The one that had the graphics chip that takes a dump.

I did have a new motherboard put in a bunch of years ago but trying to avoid using the ati chip.

I couldn't get the intel chipset drivers to update.

It will run then all of a sudden the computer is off. So win10 is having a problemo.

I still have two old towers I can move the boards to, just too lazy to drag them out and get them up and running.

Will keep yaw'll posted.

Klepto

Sep 08, 2023

Replying to

Wait, doesn't bootcamp have its own set of drivers?? I can't recall. It's been a while since I set up my bootcamp partition.

I guess you can also look into getting a cheap intel i-series based pc laptop. The i5's and i7's are pretty cheap n0w-a-days.

Going the tower route will take up more desk space cause of an additional monitor

bf2k+

Sep 05, 2023

Boot Factory runs on a PC in Win 7 using Altirra, but I don't know anything about a Mac or Boot Camp. I do know in Win 7, I run Altirra v3.91 as apparenlty Altirra 4 doesn't work in Win 7. I have thought about upgrading to a newer motherboard running a m.2 drive and Win 10 but it runs so well now, I hate to mess with it...

Ripjetski

Sep 01, 2023

Put it behind the firewall, and only allow the BBS port(s) through.