Roelof-43
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Installing Windows 7 through Boorcamp does not work anymore.

I have a Mackbook air from mid 2012 running on El Capitan.

Earlier, I had installed Windows 7  (and later upgraded to Windows 10) without any prolblem.

Since I recently had some problems with the Windows installation (caused by myself), I have deleted Windows conform the instructions through Bootcamp successfully.

In the meantime, I had upgraded the OS/X to El Capitan and all was running fine.

 

Now I wanted to reinstall Windows 7. I followed the instructions:

Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support

to the letter.

After point 6 (Select only the options to create a Windows install disk and to download the latest Windows support software from Apple. Then click Continue), Bootcamp finished with a message which directed me to the same webpage about how to install Windows 7 (see above).

 

Then I tried again, this time without selecting "download the latest Windows software from Apple", because in point 8 of the instructions I had to download the windows drivers from Apple and add them to the WININSTALL stick.

 

I installed Windows 7 , but nothing worked because the drivers had not been found and the WININSTALL stick was nowhere to be found in Windows.

 

I deleted Windows again through Bootcamp and I I don't know how to proceed.

Any ideas?

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Oct 24, 2015 7:20 PM

Close
Roelof-43

Q: Installing Windows 7 through Boorcamp does not work anymore.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Oct 24, 2015 8:07 PM in response to Roelof-43
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Oct 24, 2015 8:07 PM in response to Roelof-43

    When you run BC Assistant, how many options (check boxes) do you see?

     

    1. If you see none, BCA will create a partition called OS X Reserved.

    2. If you see two options (Download Software and Install/Remove Windows), such MB Air models need an external SuperDrive with a physical Windows DVD.
    3. If you see three options, check all of them, use a Windows DVD or ISO, and the USB will contain BC drivers and the Windows Installer combined into a single bootable USB. It will partition your disk and start Windows installation. Please ensure you use a USB2 flash drive. Disconnect all external storage and USB hubs.

     

    You may have already seen How to install Windows using Boot Camp - Apple Support .

     

    From your Windows 7 link...

    Connect a 16 GB or larger USB flash drive that you can erase. Leave this flash drive connected to your Mac until Windows installation is finished.

    The screen has three options.

     

    In step 6 you are creating the USB installer. The second checkbox may give you drivers, which may not be valid for Windows 7, but are meant for Windows 10.

    Steps 8-12 rectify the drivers to be W7 compatible, in case you ended up with W10 drivers (bad design approach from Apple Engineers).

     

    In Step 13, you have a USB installer with driver appropriate for W7 or W10 as you chose. Now you will run the installation from the USB.

     

    If you do not use steps 8-12, you may be able to install W7, but could run into Keyboard/Mouse issues during installation.