Nello Lucchesi
Level 1 (144 points)
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Q: Install Win7 w/ Bootcamp on iMac

I'd like to install Windows 7 on an external (FireWire) drive connected my  iMac (27-inch Mid 2010).

 

I looked at the this Microsoft support page:

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2647609

 

It says that Win7 requires, among other things:

  • A Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Mac OS X Lion installation DVD
  • A copy of Boot Camp version 3.3 (4.0 for Mac OS X Lion)

 

Is it possible to do this installation with a El Capitan (10.11.4)?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), 12GB RAM; 60GB SSD; 4TB HDD

Posted on Apr 21, 2016 3:17 PM

by Loner T,Apple recommended
Loner T Loner T
Level 7 (23,898 points)
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A:

Windows Retail versions which are supported on a Mac disallow installation on external media. Please see Boot Camp 5.1: Frequently asked questions - Apple Support as an example.

 

Windows Enterprise is not officially supported, but it has a portable Windows-to-Go component - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831833.aspx .

Posted on May 1, 2016 4:51 AM

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Nello Lucchesi

Q: Install Win7 w/ Bootcamp on iMac

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  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Apr 21, 2016 3:16 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    Apr 21, 2016 3:16 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    Please see Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support . Your 2010 Mac does support W7 64-bit and 32-bit, both.

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi Apr 30, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
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    Apr 30, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Loner T

    As suggested, I read Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support followed the instructions for "Perform a new install of Windows 7"


    But, I'm stuck on step 13, using Boot Camp Assistant (BCA) to do the install.


    When I launch BCA and click the Continue button I get a popup that says:


    The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.


    The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.


    My startup drive is formatted as a single partition using  OS X Extended.


    How do I change the startup disk to OS X Extended (Journaled) without erasing the content?



  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Apr 30, 2016 6:22 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    Apr 30, 2016 6:22 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    From OS X Terminal can you post the output of

     

    diskutil list

     

    1. Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support and retry BC Assistant.

     

    2. Boot into Internet Recovery (using Command+Opt+R during boot up), and run

     

    diskutil repairDisk disk0

     

    If there are no issues, try BC Assistant again.

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi Apr 30, 2016 8:01 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
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    Apr 30, 2016 8:01 PM in response to Loner T

    Descartes:~ nello$ diskutil list

    /dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

      #:                      TYPE NAME                    SIZE      IDENTIFIER

      0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *121.3 GB  disk0

      1:                        EFI EFI                    209.7 MB  disk0s1

      2:          Apple_CoreStorage Descartes              120.5 GB  disk0s2

      3:                Apple_Boot Recovery HD            650.0 MB  disk0s3

    /dev/disk1 (internal, virtual):

      #:                      TYPE NAME                    SIZE      IDENTIFIER

      0:                  Apple_HFS Descartes              +120.1 GB  disk1

                                    Logical Volume on disk0s2

                                    6E39962E-AEDC-4B28-8AFD-CF2A78893736

                                    Unlocked Encrypted

    Descartes:~ nello$ diskutil enableJournal /dev/disk1

    Journaling was already enabled for volume Descartes on disk1

    Descartes:~ nello$

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi Apr 30, 2016 8:19 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
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    Apr 30, 2016 8:19 PM in response to Loner T

    As you suggested, I booted into Safe Mode and then restarted.

     

    Now, launching Boot Camp Assistant (BCA), I have a new/different/better(?) error:

     

    The startup disk does not have enough space to be partitioned.

    You must have at least 50 GB of free space available.

     

    Well, it's true that the internal drive lacks this space.

     

    But, I'm trying to install Windows 7 on an EXTERNAL SSD.

     

    How do I get BCA to consider doing the install on the external SSD?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Apr 30, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    Apr 30, 2016 8:28 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    BCA does not support installing Windows on external disks, in general. Thunderbolt-connected disks (without any intervening adapters) can support installation on external disks.

     

    You may want to consider the following method.

     

    1. Backup your current OS X installation, and restore it to the external SSD and boot from the external SSD.

    2. Erase your internal disk and install Windows.

    3. If you want to move Windows to an external non-TB disk, use third-party tools like Winclone or Camptune.

    4. There are also licensing limitations and device driver issues if such an external disk moves between different Macs.

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi Apr 30, 2016 9:23 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 30, 2016 9:23 PM in response to Loner T

    I'm rather disappointed to hear just now that I can't use Boot Camp Assistant (BCA) to install Win 7 on an EXTERNAL drive.

     

    My original post in this thread said:

     

    I'd like to install Windows 7 on an external (FireWire) drive ….

     

    I'm kinda bummed that only now do I find out that this can't be done with BCA. 

  • by Loner T,Apple recommended

    Loner T Loner T May 1, 2016 4:51 AM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    May 1, 2016 4:51 AM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    Windows Retail versions which are supported on a Mac disallow installation on external media. Please see Boot Camp 5.1: Frequently asked questions - Apple Support as an example.

     

    Windows Enterprise is not officially supported, but it has a portable Windows-to-Go component - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831833.aspx .

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi May 1, 2016 6:50 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
    Desktops
    May 1, 2016 6:50 PM in response to Loner T

    I'm trying to do this install on my MacBook Air (13", Mid 2012) with 8GB RAM and 120GB SSD.

     

    I deleted some large files and now have 64G of free space.

     

    I launch Boot Camp Assistant (BCA) unchecked the first two boxes and left checked the last box that says install Windows 7.

     

    BCA successfully created a 32GB Windows partition, the screen flashed a few times as if it were restarting, and then it got stuck on something and displayed an error message that said something like:

     

    No Bootable Device.  Please insert disk and press any key

     

    I had my Win Install thumbdrive inserted already so I couldn't figure out what it wanted.  I tried powercycling to get back to my OS X partition, but this message kept appearing.  Finally, I booted to into Recovery Mode and set the startup disk to OS X; I rebooted into OS X, launched BCA, and removed the Windows partition.


    Okay, why didn't the Windows install see my thumbdrive as a bootable device?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T May 1, 2016 7:09 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    May 1, 2016 7:09 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    A quick test is to insert the USB, and power cycle the Mac and hold the Alt/Option key. Do you see the Windows installer with a USB icon? The other possible issue is that you are using a USB3 flash drive, for which W7 has no drivers. BC provides such drivers, after Windows is fully installed.

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi May 1, 2016 7:13 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
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    May 1, 2016 7:13 PM in response to Loner T

    How can I tell whether my USB drive is USB3 or USB2?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T May 1, 2016 7:31 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    May 1, 2016 7:31 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    From the OS X side, check System Report -> USB with your USB flash drive connected to the Mac. If it shows up under Super-speed bus, it is a USB3 flash drive.

     

    Bootcamp-Wininstall-USB.png

  • by Nello Lucchesi,

    Nello Lucchesi Nello Lucchesi May 1, 2016 7:37 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (144 points)
    Desktops
    May 1, 2016 7:37 PM in response to Loner T

    Drat!

    MacBook_Air.png

     

    So I have to have a USB2 stick, eh?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T May 1, 2016 7:51 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi
    Level 7 (23,898 points)
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    May 1, 2016 7:51 PM in response to Nello Lucchesi

    On all the 2012 Macs that I have used/installed Windows on, a USB3/W7 has never been successful. I have never had failures with the SanDisk cruzer that is shown in the image I posted earlier.

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