MacBook (not unibody) will not boot from Boot Camp USB Key

Question

Level 1

0 points

MacBook (not unibody) will not boot from Boot Camp USB Key

Hello

I have a MacBook Pro 2007 (17", 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM and SSD) with a defect SuperDrive, and I want to install Windows using an USB key instead. But the computer will not boot from the USB Key, even though the USB key works on my MacBook Retina. Also I was able to install Mountain Lion using USB Key, on the MBP 2007.

Here is a bit more details:

I've installed Mountaion Lion from the same USB Key (so boot from USB works).
I've installed a Windows 7 Boot Camp using the SuperDrive before (when it was not defected)
I've partitioned the harddisk using the Boot Camp assistant (this requires a Windows DVD in the SuperDriver... however it worked just enught to be able to have OS X recognize the Windows DVD, and create the Boot Camp partition). So far so good. Installing from the SuperDriver howerver does not work.
I've created an Windows USB Key using my MacBook retina. Because the Retina does not have a DVD, the Boot Camp assistant offers the creation of a bootable Windows USB Key from an Windows ISO file. I've used this USB key to install Windows on my MacBook retina.
When I try to boot my MacBook 2007 with this Boot Camp USB Key, it shows an "EFI Boot" option (with a orange USB logo) in the MacBook boot menu. When I select this nothing happpens. The mouse freezes, and the computer never boots.

Questions:

Shouldn't I be able to boot from an EFI USB Key on this MacBook 2007, when I'm able to install Mountain Lion using a USB Key?
When I installed BootCamp using the SuperDrive, I had to do som "magic" to make it bootable. Like this: http://www.logicalvue.com/2009/10/installing-window-7-x64-on-a-macbook-pro-using -bootcamp. I tried doing the "oscdimg -n -m -bc:\efi-dvd\boot\etfsboot.com c:\efi-dvd c:\efi-iso\win7x64.iso" trick and create a EFI bootable ISO and created the from this USB key using http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/. Same result... the USB key shows up in the boot menu, but nothing happens when I select it (except the mouse freezes).

Any suggestions? Right now it feels like I have a bricked computer, because my kids needs Windows to run their games.

: Thomas

Windows 7

Posted on Sep 21, 2012 7:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

ezybzy

Level 1

10 points

Sep 22, 2012 8:17 AM in response to tjementum

Windows Installation from USB drive isn't supported by that model. You may use rEFIt to install Windows from USB drive.

Reply

Answer 2

tjementum Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2012 8:46 AM in response to ezybzy

Thanks... I just tried rEFIt... and it almost worked.

After installing rEFIt I got several different boot options:

Bootmgr.EFI - This failed quick with a "unsupported" message
Bootx64.EFI - This actually started the Windows installation with "Loading files.............". But after a few minutes when all files was loaded, the screen went black. I tried ataching an external screen, but the screen was still black.
Boot from "Bootcamp" drive... as this drive is empty nothing happend.
Boot from "USB Key"... I'm not sure how this is different from the first 2 options... but nothing happend. I belive this is what happens if I try selecting the USB key from the build in boot manager.

Ofcause, whan I saw the "Loading files......" I thought I solved the problem, but as you can tell, I'm still stucked.

Actually... I tried with both Windows 7 64 bit, Windows 8 64 bit and Windows 8 32 bit. Only Windows 8 64 bit, got me to the "Loading files.....". This was created with the Retina Boot Camp assistant.

I also tried my own home made Windows 7 and Windows 8 ISO (created with this link: http://www.logicalvue.com/2009/10/installing-window-7-x64-on-a-macbook-pro-using -bootcamp).

I guess my problem is another now. I'll continue my hunt... but I don't have more time right now. So I've installed Parallels and Windows 8 for my kids. Not optimal, but at least the can play their games.

Reply