How to install Windows 7 on a MacBook Air?

Hi everybody,

I am sorry in case this has been covered before, but i couldnt find anything searching different categgories here, so i´d appreciate some help.

I have got a late 2011 MacBook Air with lots of SSD and so on and i want to install windows 7.

I bought a wndows 7 OEM DVD (actually, two discs, one says support software)

I have tried to run bootcamp and follow the instructions, but to now end.

on my macbook air, i get the option "create a windows 7 disc" or something like that (the first option), which doesnt help me because i dont have optical drive

when i start boot camp on my iMac, this option will be greyed out.

Also, I have tried to to ISO copys of the windows DVD and save them to a USB stick but i just wouldnt come to any result.

does anybody have a good, comprehensive instruction on how to install windows 7 on an MBA withou optical drive?

Also, is 30GB OK for Win 7 if you basically dont wanna do to much in windows (no office etc, just some small clients)

thanks!

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7), 256GB SSD, 4 GB RAM, i7

Posted on Feb 9, 2012 7:14 AM

19 replies

Feb 16, 2012 6:34 AM in response to dalstott

Dont recall myself clamoring "why has the MBA no optical drive", sorry.

Also dont recall myself complaing about lack of serial port on my first power mac G3 etc etc

I am well aware of apples strategy over the past 10+ years.

And still - there has to be a simple, elegant apple-esque way of getting this to work without having to buy an optical drive, dont you think?

Well, I do think so and I appreciate any help

thanks

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Feb 16, 2012 7:15 AM in response to Alexander Reinelt1

after 5 yrs Windows-on-Mac @ 95% compatibility, I think not Applesque.

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Feb 16, 2012 11:21 AM in response to Alexander Reinelt1

RE: And still - there has to be a simple, elegant apple-esque way of getting this to work without having to buy an optical drive, dont you think?

If you find a way to accomplish this please post in this thread as we will all learn something.

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Feb 17, 2012 12:57 PM in response to Alexander Reinelt1

I don't know if this is worthwhile but you can try it for free. If CrossOver can run the .exe then maybe you could get windows on the USB.

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover/

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How to install Windows 7 on a MacBook Air?