Windows support software not available

I'm also receiving the same error. Was hoping to get the most up-to-date package.

I'm getting the same issue this evening.

Hello everyone. When faced with an issue it is good 'net manners to see if the topic is already discussed before beginning a new thread. ;}

This is well discussed here, with many minute variations. The short version is that Apple has a glitch here, and the work-around is to proceed as if the download was successful, then in the end use the drivers supplied in your OSX DVD or Stick.

Hello NA Smith. Even though I understand your concern, searching for the exact error returns this as the #1 result, followed by 227 pages of indirect boot camp threads. As 'net manners' are concerned, it would be unethical to expect anyone to go through all of those.

However, as you're a frequent user and recall a possible fix, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Unfortunately, that didn't work for me. What did work, was using the OSX DVD and updating after windows was installed using apple software update as a temporary work-around.

Hi,

I am trying to do the same thing and I get the "unavailable" message. Can you please explain what you did step for step as if I were a 5 year old? Haha. I am not very Mac savvy and I am trying to get this to work.

Thank you.

...

Ramaset,

Start the boot camp assistant, choose to use the software from your OSX DVD instead of downloading it, insert the DVD, and continue. Follow the prompts, and when you get to the formatting the drive option in windows, select the partion that has "boot camp" in the description name, format it, and install on that partition. Follow the prompts for the normal windows installation.

OK - my version of "for a 5 year old"...

From your Mac side - click open Applications, then Utilities, then open Boot Camp Assistant, click "Continue" (bottom right). Next select the option that says "I have the OSX installation disk that came with my Mac or I have… etc" and hit "Continue". Next click "Start the Windows installer" and follow the directions to install Windows. Once Windows has been installed, (perhaps you have already installed Windows, then skip all this) Windows will not be able to go online for updates or downloads as the Boot Camp Drivers for Windows need to be supplied (software that will activate Apple hardware). These drivers were supposed to be downloaded fresh but Apple has a slight problem there. What we are doing now to work around that problem is we are going to use older drivers that are present on the OSX DVD that came with your Mac. For Air owners, these (I believe) are on the OSX install stick (not a DVD). SO - WHEN you are in Windows for the first time, put your Snow Leopard OSX DVD into the slot, and the Auto-Run should play and offer to install the drivers software. Do what it says, and you're done. If it fails to AutoRun, then click open the DVD and look inside for the BootCamp part, and click icons until it runs - that's it. Apple Boot Camp Drivers has it's own Updater, so your machine will be obtaining fresher drivers pretty much as you need them (it will ask your permission).

You guys are great. Thank you for explaining. Again this is my first Mac, but that really isn't an excuse. I'm in college and my dad has always had a computer buddy do all of our stuff. I'm trying to do things on my own and learn as I go with this Mac hence trying to do bootcamp by myself (but of course I would get an error like this with my luck). I accidentally opened up the Terminal application today and almost had a heart attack. Plus my dad's computer guy told me I went to the dark side by getting a Mac. So he doesn't know anything about them. Haha.

Thanks again, guys.

First Mac and going for Windows, read through the pdf and Apple tech articles; there is Mac 101 and other areas, and do get a copy from library or bookstore of "Mac OS X The Missing Manual Snow Leopard Edition" - great for new, old, long time users or not.

http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp has link to full Boot Camp Guide pdf which is almost 30 pages I think.

Apple hides a lot of things that are more accessible with Windows 7 to see what you have though. The drivers could be easier and better, and the firmware is a black closed sealed proprietary box, something that may not seem like an issue with Mac OS but can be with Windows or if you thought you had a semblance of control, and while firmware updates are rare, they can't be rolled back (Apple doesn't provide an easy mechanism to rollback updates and drivers or to uninstall a program either). So those are some of the reasons. Things that Vista even has had for years may come to Mac OS like even simply dragging the side, any side, of a window, to resize, stretch; send a windows to another monitor; a more functional "Finder" where you can do... anything you want.

But you may not have the malware threat for now is perhaps the only upside I find.

Same here. But I don't have the installation discs. What shall I do?

$29 ($25 sometimes from Newegg and Amazon).

I'm in the same boat. Just finished purchasing a refurbished Mac Book Pro. The installation CD doesn't even give me the option to install drivers. Instead it gives me some weird setup to allow me to share my files through my network.

When trying to alternative option to "download the drivers for windows through this mac" I get Windows support software not available.