can i run windows 7 on macbook air?

CarolynnP..

I recently bought a 2011 Macbook Air 11" with 256GB drive and the latest Mountain Lion to use as a Windows PC while travelling. I already have a 15" Macbook Pro at home for producing music and I need quite a few Windows-only apps for my work as a software developer, so I decided to install Windows 7 on the Air and remove OSX completely.

You will need a Windows 7 installation DVD, an external USB DVD drive (one from a PC should work), and a USB external hard-drive of sufficient capacity to back up the entire hard-drive of your Mac - those are quite cheap from Maplin, Frys, Wal*Mart, Dick Smiths etc. depending on where you live.

1. Download a Mac program called "Carbon Copy Cloner" and make an exact copy of your Mac's hard drive to the external USB drive. After copying, check that you can boot from the copy by pressing & holding "Alt" immediately after switching on your Mac.

2. Go into Bootcamp Assistant and download the Bootcamp drivers for Windows. Save these to a thumb-drive. This takes a while as it's a 700MB download!

3. Connect the external DVD drive and insert a Windows 7 install DVD. Reboot the Mac and press+hold Alt immediately after switching on. When the boot options appear, select the DVD.

4. Delete all Mac partitions and load Windows as normal.

5. Once windows starts, insert the thumb-drive containing the Bootcamp drivers and load them. You should now have a fully-functioning, small, light & trendy Windows 7 PC.

I've read a lot about how battery life is impacted by running Windows under Bootcamp on a Mac. I've been using this for 2 months now and I'm getting 6 to 6½ hours on a full charge, which is about the same as under OS X. Presumably because Windows 7 supports UEFI natively, the BIOS doesn't have to be emulated, saving power. The trackpad, screen controls, keyboard backlight etc. all work perfectly and even sleep/instant-on works when the lid is closed.

Another problem folks often cite regarding removing OS X completely is that if the UEFI needs updating (or power-on brightness changed etc.), this can only be done under OS X. This is what the backup is for. Any time you need to go into OS X, plug in the external drive before starting-up and press+hold Alt to select the drive. You can get into OS X any time to do updates.

Hope this helps..

Gordon

Don't you think it would have been easier to just buy a PC instead of that rigmarole?

Allan

..and miss out on so much fun... But seriously, I chose the Macbook Air for its small size and excellent enginnering. The build quality of many PCs is abysmal, and the nearest I could find was the Samsung Series 9 which, for the same size, has a lower spec. I mainly use Linux and Windows in my work and the odd challenge like this helps me keep up with the latest in tech. I posted this here as it's a popular forum, and a lot of people seem to think you can't use a Macbook Air as a Windows PC..

I never said you can't use a MBA like a PC. I was just thinking that this process was a bunch of hoops to jump trough for something that a PC can do a lot easier that is all. Good luck on your efforts.

Allan

You will be behind the technology since there are not many places to get Windows hardware drivers for Apple hardware. Newest Windows hardware and drivers will come out for Windows PCs before Apple develops and releases Windows drivers.

I wasn't even going to go down that path.

Allan

Why would I want to update the hardware drivers? It boots up Windows 7 in under 15 seconds, shuts down in 3, runs incredibly quickly and hasn't crashed once in 2 months - it's not lke the hardware in a MBA is ever likely to change. I only ever perform updates to either OS or drivers when I actually need to - it seems the whole industry has been brainwashed into thinking that you have to update things all the time - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my motto, and it's server me well for many years.. ;-)

OK. You came here for advice and got some feedback. Do as you wish. We don't care. It is not what I would do. Good luck.

HI,

Planing to buy a Mac Book Air by next month.Wanted to use the machine with Windows 7 OS. Once the Windows 7 OS is installed in the machine , will the bluetooth device connect connect to non apple devices?

Or it will connect only to only mac machine inspite of what OS is used in the machine.

Have you checked this? Any Idea!

Hi Thomas,

Just follow the steps provided by vertsyeux (carbon copy cloner is optional). Been running windows 7 natively on Mac for 2mths+ and the Bluetooth works fine with 3rd party Bluetooth devices. Am getting a decent 4hr when on battery.

Hi Vertsyeux, thanks for the step by step guide. Cheers.