Boot Camp - Windows Support Software

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Level 1

67 points

Boot Camp - Windows Support Software

I have to admit I screwed up. While running Vista by way of Boot Camp, the Windows Vista OS suddenly went berserk and became so unstable as to be unusable (no surprise for Windoze). I also had XP on another partition. While uninstalling Vista in order to do a clean reinstall, I accidentally uninstalled XP also. Both Vista and XP had an application on them that I cannot do without. Therefor, I tried to reinstall Vista by using Boot Camp. When I get to the point where I downloaded the Support software there was no option as to where I wanted/needed it to be installed. I need it to be placed on the flash drive. iEach time I tried it ended up on my boot partition. I was able to install Vista, but the support software is necessary to install the required drivers. I tried to copy the files from the boot partition to a flash drive, but the install files were not there. I opened Get Info, and checked each Boot Camp file,but could not find the necessary install files. How do I get to download the Support software to the flash drive so I can complete the installation of Vista? 😢

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1), (MacPro 4,1 (early 2009))

Posted on Sep 30, 2011 9:06 PM

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Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Oct 1, 2011 12:38 AM in response to AJD1170

First of:

With OSX 10.7 Lion and BootCamp 4.0 Apple has ended support for WIndows XP and Vista.

So the downloaded Windows Support Software would be of no use since it only contains Drivers for Windows 7.

Assuming that you have a OSX Snow Leopard Install DVD boot into Vista and insert that disc to install the BootCamp Drivers off it.

After that you can download the further Driver Updates (3.1 and 3.2) from Apples Download page.

Stefan

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Answer 2

AJD1170 Author

Level 1

67 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:08 AM in response to Fortuny

Stefan: And therein lies my problem. I do have the white SL install DVD, but I no longer have Vista into which to boot. I had wiped out the Vista partition on my HDD with the intention of reinstalling it because I was unable to correct its' unstable behavior. My XP partition was accidentally destroyed too. My problem now is not being able to capture the Windows Support software in order to complete the installation of Vista.

So, the situation is this: I have created a new partition into which I can install Vista, but I cannot complete the installation without the support files and, even if I were able to download the earlier drivers by way of the SN partition I have on my HDD, I would still have no way of getting them into the Vista installation.

If I sound confused it is because I am. I would greatly appreciate any further advice you can provide.

Thanks,

A. J.

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Answer 3

d6d24r94

Level 3

610 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:16 AM in response to AJD1170

All you have to do is make a partition for Vista, then do a clean install of Vista. AFTER you finish installing Vista, all you have to do is insert the white OS X DVD (yes, while on Windows) and Windows can read the part of it that contains the Boot Camp drivers.

Boot Camp drivers come AFTER the Windows installation is done, not duirng or before.

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Answer 4

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:21 AM in response to AJD1170

The advice offered by d6d24r94 is accurate, install Vista then install the drivers using the method in his post.

The DVD will be white if it is a retail copy, grey if it came with your Mac

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Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:24 AM in response to AJD1170

Mac Pro owner like myself: Download free Windows 8 Dev Preview instead.

Otherwise, get Windows 7 Pro SP1 64-bit System Builder

You could do both of course

Put on one drive.

Run XP Mode under 7 or 8 if you need to

Drivers: any and everywhere. Even if you have to buy 10.6.3 DVD.

If you didn't have Lion (and on Mac Pro that is one place where I question putting it, drivers, apps, hardware, etc) except for testing. But there was a combo pack (for 10.5 users mostly) with 10.6 and 10.7.x on USB thumb drive for $69.

If you have Lion, then just run Boot Camp Assistant 4.01 and don't partition or anything, just download the drivers. Those should be fine.

You may have to kick the drivers but we've had to do that anyway before.

I've run Vista RC, Windows 7 RC and 8 on Mac Pro wo Apple drivers. It is so close to a pure PC tower.

What I lack: OS Switcher, TimeSynch, power on (SMC) management. Not that much really, depends how much dual booting you do have to remember to set the clock, and use Startup Disk only in Mac OS.

Does that help any?

I feel it is best for your (mine) to install Widnows alone on its own hard drive, not share the Mac boot drive (you can put SL and Lion there). Also, to remove ALL drives during Windows install, except the one Windows will use.

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Answer 6

AJD1170 Author

Level 1

67 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:31 AM in response to Csound1

Actually, when I bought my Mac Pro, both the white and grey install discs came with it. Can I assume that the use of either will work? Thanks for your advice. 🙂

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Answer 7

d6d24r94

Level 3

610 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:32 AM in response to AJD1170

Either one will probably work, and you can certainly try both, but the white is more guaranteed based on my experience. I don't have a grey one, just the white one, and I know the white one does work.

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Answer 8

AJD1170 Author

Level 1

67 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:44 AM in response to The hatter

Hatter: Thanks for the advice. I am not a complete Newbie, but, I am sorry to admit, it is way over my head. Could you please explain in terms simple enough for my addled brain to understand? Thanks.

PS: You folks are incredibly kind and helpful.

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Answer 9

d6d24r94

Level 3

610 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:49 AM in response to AJD1170

As long as you have a retail copy of Windows Vista that has never been opened before and as long as you have a white Snow Leopard DVD, you're guaranteed to not have any problems. I have a 2007 MacBook and a retail copy of Windows Vista Home Basic that I bought on eBay, with a white retail Snow Leopard DVD. Everything works fine for me.

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Answer 10

AJD1170 Author

Level 1

67 points

Oct 1, 2011 11:59 AM in response to d6d24r94

This sounds very encouraging. I know with everyone's help I'll eventually get this sorted out.

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Oct 1, 2011 12:01 PM in response to AJD1170

Look for the one labeled OSX, or OS, the other disk is usually an applications disc.

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Answer 12

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Oct 1, 2011 12:23 PM in response to AJD1170

Maybe you can take what I said, apart, one at a time.

I am not great otherwise, but I use to teach programmer types and sometimes, months past and they would get the "ah ha!"

Your 2009 came with either 10.5.7+ or 10.6.x dependis on if it was after Sept 2009 and the OS X Install DVD is fine.

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Answer 13

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Oct 1, 2011 12:25 PM in response to AJD1170

My last advice is to ditch Vista and install 7, I've used both and there is a huge improvement in 7.

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Answer 14

AJD1170 Author

Level 1

67 points

Oct 1, 2011 3:07 PM in response to Csound1

I was hoping to do this without having to go to any further expense if at all possible. Thanks to all of you I was able to get Vista to install on the Widows partition on the boot drive. I had gotten to this point before, but here is what happened:

The installation starts, I get to the window where I enter my user name and password and select the user picture. Once that is done the "Next" tab on the bottom right of the page lights up, but I cannot activate it. I tried using the return, enter, and just about every key on the keyboard, but nothing works. I am stuck on that page and cannot complete the installation. I don't understand why the keyboard will not now work, since I was able to get that far using it. Because I cannot complete the installation I cannot access the drivers on the SL install disk. What do I do now? Is my only alternative to buy Windows 7 and install it on the Windows partition? Wouldn't I run into the same problem?

I am also puzzled by the fact that when I was first setting up my Mac, I used boot camp and had no problem installing both Vista and XP on their own partitions. Have I now lost whatever had remained of my feeble mind?

Holy cow. I am really frustrated. 😠

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Answer 15

AJD1170 Author

Level 1

67 points

Oct 1, 2011 4:18 PM in response to AJD1170

Hallelujah: Don't ask me to explain it, because I can't, but for some reason I was finally able to get past the User Name and Password page (I didn't fill either one of them in this time) and I was then able to complete the install of Vista. I hope it will remain stable enough this time to allow me to use it.

Thanks to everyone for your advice.

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