Setup/Recovery Media

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Level 1

23 points

Setup/Recovery Media

I have a MacBook Pro A1989 that I need to install Windows 7 or Windows 10 on. The procedure seems simple enough using Boot Camp, but it indicates a MacBook installation/recovery disk is needed for a successful installation of Windows. My MacBook Pro did not come with any recovery media, as there is a recovery partition on the device. I also expect the hard drive to fail at some point and I’ll be needing the recovery disk(s) to reinstall Catalina 10.15.6

How can I obtain the setup disks?
Is it possible to create reinstallation media from the recovery partition to a DVD/CD?
Is it possible to put Windows on an external drive and just boot into Windows with that?

I’m quite familiar with Apple iPhones and iPads, but am a complete dummy when it comes to the MacBook. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Sep 23, 2020 4:49 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,222 points

Sep 23, 2020 7:52 PM in response to Toadywot

There aren’t recovery disks. It is referring to the Recovery volume.

3. I don’t know if Windows can boot from an external. It couldn’t in the past. Maybe that has changed.

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Answer 2

Toadywot Author

Level 1

23 points

Sep 24, 2020 4:50 PM in response to Barney-15E

I realize no installation disks were included with the MacBook. But if I need to replace the hard drive, I’ll be needing recovery/reinstallation media, as I’m thinking the recovery volume will no longer be there after formatting the new hard drive. Plus, I’d feel a lot better if I had hard copies of installation media, just in case. Adding Windows 7 requires the setup disks for the MacBook during the procedure, so I HAVE to have them to do so. I’ve got to work this out or I’m out of a job. The procedure is easy enough till it asks for the disk. Can I not burn a DVD copy from the Recovery volume?

Thanks for the suggestion....I’m getting desperate.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,222 points

Sep 24, 2020 5:16 PM in response to Toadywot

But if I need to replace the hard drive, I’ll be needing recovery/reinstallation media,

No, you won’t. You reinstall from Recovery.

I’d feel a lot better if I had hard copies of installation media

Download the installer from the App Store and create a bootable USB installer.

Adding Windows 7 requires the setup disks for the MacBook during the procedure

Once again, there aren’t any setup disks. The last ones available were for Snow Leopard, about 14 years ago. They won’t boot your Mac.

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Answer 4

Toadywot Author

Level 1

23 points

Sep 25, 2020 4:02 PM in response to Barney-15E

So in a nutshell, I won’t be able to setup Windows on a partition of the MacBook Pro simply because there are no recovery media, just Recovery on the device? Or will it work if I use the bootable USB installer? Windows allows recovery disks to be made, so I guess I’ll have to use a Windows computer if Apple doesn’t allow that.

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Setup/Recovery Media

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