iMac Boot Camp Windows 7 installation shows black screen with blinking cursor

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iMac Boot Camp Windows 7 installation shows black screen with blinking cursor

I'm not managing to install Microsoft Windows 7 via Boot Camp on my old iMac. Everything seems to be in order but when it restarts to enter into the Windows Installation it's just ends up at a black screen with a blinking white line cursor in the top left corner. I've left it for over 24 hours and it doesn't progress any further.

I've also tried booting into the Windows Installation DVD/CD disc via Hold option and via selecting Start Up Disc in Settings, and same deal - black screen with blinking white cursor.

Is there another method I can use to install Microsoft Windows 7 onto this machine?

The iMac is:

iMac 12,2

Mid 2011

2.7 GHz Intel Core i5

32GB 1333 MHz DDR RAM

AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512MB

Factory dual hard drive option - 256GB SSD and 2TB Hitachi HDD

Fresh installation of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 - but happy to install any other versions of MacOS as needed (I think OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 is the latest compatible with it?)

This iMac has their-built DVD/CD drive and I also have a USB Apple SuperDrive here too.

My intention here is to set this old iMac up running Microsoft Windows 7 for my workshop where I sometimes use some old automotive programs requiring Windows 7.

[Edited by Moderator]

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Sep 25, 2026 10:14 PM

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Answer 1

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Nathan Alden

Level 4

1,022 points

Oct 9, 2026 10:45 AM in response to twr7cx

I suspect multiple issues could be in play. Your first task is going to be running both Disk Utility on the Mac side and CHKDSK from a command prompt in Windows to verify filesystem integrity. For the Windows side, start from a disc or USB drive and select the option to repair the computer. The aim is to rule out a failing mechanical HDD. Get to the command prompt and run:

chkdsk <d>: /r

<d> is usually a single letter, starting from C. If C is the Windows drive, you write "chkdsk c: /r". This tells CHKDSK to verify the physical surface of the hard disk and mark any spots it can't read reliably.

Having owned a Mac from that era, I can tell you that El Cap is not the absolute latest for that particular iMac. If you try to reinstall it, you'll have to do some gymnastics with the date and time to get around a code-signing oversight (i.e. disable Wi-Fi and set the date prior to 1/15/2017). The top of the line in this case? That's macOS High Sierra (10.13). Grab that from Apple and install it to patch up the firmware combo. Use the App Store to fetch every update you can, as machines from this era were serviced until 2020.

Once you're up on High Sierra, you'll create a new USB stick with drivers for Windows. Launch Boot Camp Assistant and then, from the menus up top, find the option to "Download Windows Support Software" and follow the prompts to put Boot Camp 4.x or 5.x on your USB.

Assuming your HDD came up clean, try to reinstall Windows from your Windows disc and get to the desktop. Then, plug in your Boot Camp USB and run the installer.

If the HDD came up with one or more issues, you'll want to replace it and reinstall High Sierra and Windows. iFixit has some guides and tools that should help.

--Nate

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