Install win7 32bit on mac mini (server) Later 2012

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Sagi_Meiri Author

Level 1

8 points

Install win7 32bit on mac mini (server) Later 2012

Hi,

We received few Mac mini machines with this spec:

- Later 2012

- Server Edition

- Processor i7

- 4GB Ram

- 2x1TB Disks

- OSX 10.8.1

I tried applying Windows7 32bit and managed to install it using BootCamp.

When tried installing the drivers, Windows could not recognize them (the drives were created using BootCamp assistant).

I read about it and found out that Windows7 32bit could not be installed on Later 2012 Mac minis.

I have tried to update the Mac OSX version to the latest 10.8.2 (server 2.1.1 ??), after installing the updates I could not even install the Windows 7 32bit,

the system prompts to use only 64bit version.

I am trying to find out if this limitation (of using win7 32bit) is related to hardware or software...

Does anybody know if this is only software related limitations for OSX 10.8.xx ?

If so, is there a way to downgrade the system to 10.7.xx ?

Mac mini, OS X Server

Posted on Feb 27, 2013 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

mende1

Level 10

93,618 points

Feb 27, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Sagi_Meiri

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities

Late 2012 iMacs and Mac minis can only use 64-bit Windows versions with Boot Camp. That's because hardware limitations: it looks like the hardware of these computers don't work properly with 32-bit versions.

If you bought Windows 7 in a shop, you should have the 64-bit disc, too, so just insert it and run Boot Camp Assistant. However, if you want to use a 32-bit version, the only solution is to install an app like Parallels, VMware Fusion or VirtualBox, and install Windows in a virtual machine. Doing this, its performance will be less

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Answer 2

mende1

Level 10

93,618 points

Feb 27, 2013 12:36 PM in response to Sagi_Meiri

There isn't any reason to drop the 32-bit support, so I'm sure it's a hardware limitation. For example, the new iMac has got 8 GB of RAM; if you install a 32-bit Windows version, only 4 GB will be detected.

Apart, you can use the 64-bit version for your uses, because both 32 and 64-bit applications work with a 64-bit operating system. My advices is to install a 64-bit version to get the maximum performance, and to prevent any problem. As it's a hardware limitation, you may have problems

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