Windows 7 64 Bit Boot Camp install on iMac 27" (2010) without int. DVD drive

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Level 1

98 points

Windows 7 64 Bit Boot Camp install on iMac 27" (2010) without int. DVD drive

I have a current 27" iMac (bought last year) and the internal DVD drive doesn't work. It's new, has NEVER been used. I guess it's dust inside, but cleaning CDs didn't help. I don't want to bring or send my iMac to the Apple repair service because normally I don't need this internal DVD drive.

Hence I'm looking for alternative ways to install Windows 7/64 via Boot Camp. I have rEFIt-0.14 installed, an Original Windows 7 Retail-DVD (and a ISO image of it), an external USB DVD drive (Samsung), an external USB hard drive 160GB (LaCie), some USB flash drives (Kingston, 4GB) and a Windows PC.

I've read many threads about this problem, for example this:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3000794 resp.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3000794?answerId=15016734022#15016734022 (saying it SHOULD work!)

Hmmm... Some people succeeded in installling - other didn't. I've also read about that "Parallels way" - but I would prefer not to use Parallels.

Is any information missing...? What would you recommend? Thanks a lot!

iMac 27, Mac OS X (10.6.7), Kensington Expert Trackball

Posted on May 1, 2011 4:40 PM

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Answer 1

coxorange Author

Level 1

98 points

May 4, 2011 1:18 AM in response to coxorange

It doesn't work! But others reported that it should!

I've tried it using the Original Windows 7 DVD and also

a bootable 4GB Kingston USB flash drive made

under Windows 7 as follows:

The rEFIt-0.14 boot menu lists the following options...

* Boot Mac OS from Macintosh HD

* Boot EFI\BOOTX64.EFI from EFISECTOR

* Boot Windows from CD

* Boot Legacy OS from EFISECTOR

... but nothing helps - I always get the message

"No bootable device -- insert boot disc and press any key"

and can only switch off my Mac.

What am I doing wrong?

Or will only that Parallels option work? (Last year when

I tried Parallels for the first time, the uninstall function

didn't work comprehensively and I had trouble removing

the Parallels installation completely from my system.)

Thanks for any help!!

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Answer 2

ReMacs

Level 2

295 points

May 5, 2011 12:44 AM in response to coxorange

Audio/Video URL below may help if you can make USB Flash from DVD copy etc. in a Windows OS.

I'm not sure how you can tell Mac/Bootcamp that Usb is boot drive though

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/itmanagement/ff765019
Install windows from Flash Drive. Bios Mac problem/question
Install another OS to Partitioned drive
Etc.

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 5, 2011 5:35 AM in response to coxorange

Take it in to Apple and get the optical drive fixed / replaced

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Answer 4

coxorange Author

Level 1

98 points

May 5, 2011 12:34 PM in response to Csound1

Thanks Csound1, but that's too much time and effort (next Apple store is 50 miles away) just for the Windows installation -- I never used/use that internal drive.

I would only take my Mac to apple if I would have a problem with the display or hard drive. :-)

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Answer 5

coxorange Author

Level 1

98 points

May 5, 2011 12:40 PM in response to ReMacs

Thanks ReMacs, the video link was more or less exactly what I did.

> I'm not sure how you can tell Mac/Bootcamp that Usb is boot drive though

Yes, that's the question. I thought with rEFIt installed that

"No bootable device -- insert boot disc and press any key"

message would disappear. How do I configure it correctly?

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Answer 6

coxorange Author

Level 1

98 points

May 6, 2011 5:12 PM in response to coxorange

Interesting: On my 2009 21.5" iMac I can boot the Windows 7 DVD from an external DVD drive (Samsung), but on my 2010 27" iMac, using the same drive, I can't! -- Why? USB via rEFIt doesn't work on both.

On http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/9136/macbook-air-install-windows-7-with-boot-camp -without-an-external-dvd-drive/ I found a comment:

"Okay. I think I got it working for the 'no bootable disk' error. Funny enough, before you select the windows partition on the rEFIT, just press shell and load it till the countdown. press ESC and type 'exit'. Once out to the main screen, select Windows. Should run now smoothly. It did for me."

I tried this, but without success. Can someone explain? Thanks.

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Answer 7

coxorange Author

Level 1

98 points

May 7, 2011 5:55 PM in response to coxorange

Any idea what could be wrong...?

Otherwise I'll have to give up and go Parallels... 😟

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