MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) Bootcamp install of Windows 7 fails

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Level 1

8 points

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) Bootcamp install of Windows 7 fails

I searched and tried everything suggested, but I am unable to get Windows 7 to install on my MacBook Pro (Updated to OSX Lion 10.7.4)

I even replaced the hard drive, installed Snow Leopard, upgraded to Lion, and am still at the same place.

Bootcamp assistant does its thing, creats the partition and when Windows 7 boots up to install, I end up with a blank screen (which tells me this has to be a driver related problem) - The CD spins for a while, and then all goes silent :-(

I've even connected an external monitor to the external display port, but that's also blank.

Has anyone out there managed to get Windows 7 installed on this model (This is the one with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT processors)

I've tried, in System Preferences/Energy Saver to switch to the "High Performance" graphics card, but still no go.

I have tried legitimate copies of Windows 7 Professional with SP1 and Windows 7 Ultimate.

I'm a Computer Science graduate with more than 30 years in Windows and more than 10 years in Mac experience and this one has stumped me.

Any help would be appreciated before I submit a support request to Apple $$$$

MacBook Pro & MacPro, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on May 11, 2012 5:57 AM

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Answer 1

May 11, 2012 7:28 AM in response to ferdil

You should try the Boot Camp forum. https://discussions.apple.com/community/windows_software/boot_camp

and the Boot Camp help files could provide some assistance http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

WRT your question if anyone succeeded, yes thousands have.

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Answer 2

ferdil Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2012 7:36 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

@Bob - that's a bit presumptious of you to assume that I had not done any of your "suggested" remedies. If you've got nothing constructive to add to my post, then please keep away from my post. I don't appreciate your tone and your suggestions which imply that I have not done my homework.

If you are one of the "thousands" that have done this, then please give me details of your hardware configuration. If there are "thousands" that have succeeded, then we'll just wait and see how many of those "thousands" respond here.

Meantime, stay away - your unconstructive tells me that you've not really the helpful sort.

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Answer 3

May 11, 2012 8:05 AM in response to ferdil

Both my suggestions were good. My crystal ball is out of order so I did not know you had previously consulted the help files. It is apparent that you posted in the obviously wrong forum so how could I possibly know that you read the correct help files and installation instructions which I provided a link to.

Once again, visit the Boot Camp forum I linked to. And here is an unsolicited piece of advice. Do not insult those over there who may try to help you. Good luck.

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Answer 4

ferdil Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2012 11:48 AM in response to ferdil

I've resolved my problem in that it turns out to be a hardware problem on my MacBook Pro.

Seems like the NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (the discrete high performance graphics processor) is not working - I am unable to switch the MacBook to the "High Performance" GPU - it always remains in the 9400M (integrated GPU) mode - which explains why Windows 7 is not installing - it's not supported with the 9400M, only the 9600M GPUs.

I'll send my MacBook in to see if they can replace the 9400M but I suspect that's a motherboard problem.

Hey Bob - looks like it turned out to be a MacBook Pro problem after all, and not a Bootcamp problem (Thanks for suggesting I look there tho)

I'm off FISHING !!!

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Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

61,041 points

May 11, 2012 12:09 PM in response to ferdil

No one is a mind reader, and the support page is excellent starting point and has "black screen on startup" and other articles along with FAQ, manual and How To.

I would have said check RAM actually as that has come up enough that I do recommend it now and just find that Lion will run on poor or marginal RAM (once the DIMMs were way too loose, and they had just upgraded to 8GB).

No one is able without a checklist or 15 questions able to narrow it down to WHY.

But I have seen and found errors easier with Windows and its tools for bad blocks, video card (trial and error) and other issues.

We are the ones fishing for 'try this, was it that" but generally unable to install then go to the basics, even 'was the DVD burned slowly from ISO"

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