Q: Windows 7 fails to install completely via Bootcamp on El Capitan
Configuration info:
iMac: 27 inch, late 2009, with internal optical drive
Internal hard drive capacity: 1TB, 593 GB available (after giving Windows 96 GB)
OS: El Capitan, 10.11.2
Processor: 3.08 GHz, Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 8GB
Boot Camp: 6.0.1
Windows 7, Professional, SP1, 64 bit
My Windows 7 install does not complete, stopping somewhere on the last phase that says "Completing Installation." I had Windows 7 installed on my Mac before El Capitan was installed and it worked well (used the 32 bit version then-I tried that too after installing El Capitan, but that did not work either). I did a fresh install of El Capitan than then tried to install Windows 7 again, but nothing worked, as noted below.
I am using Bootcamp 6.0.1 to install Windows 7 Professional (full version) on a DVD via the internal optical drive. Bootcamp does not offer the option to select an ISO file. My select task selection for Bootcamp shows only these two options:
- Download the latest Windows support software from Apple
- Install Windows 7
I selected both options and had the support software installed on a 64GB thumb drive. Since the only option after installing the support software is to quit BCA, I did that. I reopened BCA, deselected the option to download the support software and continued to install Windows 7, making Bootcamp's partition 96GB. I chose custom install and formatted the Bootcamp drive. The Windows installation software completes the list of things to do (copying files, expanding files, …) and then reboots. The starting Windows screen appears and window shows “completing installation.” Now this where the odd behavior begins, I think. It reboots again. After the Windows startup screen comes on, the screen turns black for about a couple of minute and then reboots. This happens again, but the reboot does not occur, acting as if it is hung. I even let it run overnight just in case it needed some time, but I found it still hung in the morning. The computer was still on and the screen was black. I rebooted by pressing and holding down the power button, Windows starts up showing the starting screen, goes black and hangs. ... I booted Windows into safe mode and it says that it cannot complete the setup in safe mode. So it looks like I am stuck. During all this the thumb drive was still connected.
Is there something I need to do to have it complete the install?
Note that I have tried to install Windows using Bootcamp a number of times, varying one thing at a time; like removing all external drives, physically disconnecting from the internet (I am using a USB to Ethernet adapter since my Ethernet port was fried during a lightning storm), etc. I have also tried various ideas that I found on there internet, but none of those worked.
Thanks in advanced for any help.
iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)
Posted on Jan 8, 2016 8:00 PM
1. Disconnect all storage and ethernet/USB connections.
2. Run the following two procedures
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support
How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
3. Please also see (these are different from the drivers mentioned in step 4).
Boot Camp: iMac displays a black screen during installation of Windows 7 - Apple Support
iMac Late 2009 Windows 7 Drivers
4. The drivers referenced in 3 are not the same as regular Bootcamp/W7 drivers referenced in Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support . The regular drivers are downloaded when you check the Download Software option in BC Assistant.
5. If this does not work, there is an additional step, which disables El Capitan SIP.
This is not intended to point a finger at you, but it is very intriguing and fascinating that users using a 2009 (or older than 2013) Macs, desire to run W7 (from circa 2009), yet run OSX El Capitan (2015). It may be due to software requirements, UIs, Corporate guidelines, etc. And you are not the only alone. I have seen users with 2015 Macs wanting to run W7 (but it is no longer supported).
Posted on Jan 8, 2016 9:08 PM