How can I install Mac Mini drivers for Windows 7 32-bit if I didn't install Windows 7 using bootcamp?

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maclearner19 Author

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How can I install Mac Mini drivers for Windows 7 32-bit if I didn't install Windows 7 using bootcamp?

Hello. I have a mac-mini (mid 2010) and with bootcamp, was successfully running XP.

I then decided to upgraded to Windows 7 had lots of trouble installing it on my existing bootcamp partition.

I finally was able to install Windows 7, by just booting off the CD and letting it install that way.

But reading more on it, I think I was supposed to use Bootcamp to do it for me...

I had thought the Bootcamp Assistant was for only fresh installs of a Windows O.S. where no partitiion existed previously.

I had a partition so thought Bootcamp wasn't required for my needs.

But now, inside Windows 7, I have 0 drivers installed. I have an AirPort Express, so on the Mac side, I downloaded

and installed the Windows version of AirPort Utility and copied it to my USB stick. Then

I exported my settings to a text file on a USB Stick, then on Windows was able to successfully install AirPort Utility and import the settings.

But it still doesn't find my network. I am pretty sure I'm broadcasting my SSID...

So I need to know the following:

1) How to know I'm broadcasting my SSID - where do I find this in settings?

2) How I can install my mac-mini drivers on Windows 7 so I can use my existing wireless network, now that I've gone through the installation without using Bootcamp?

3) Do I need to set up network adapters and all that stuff in Windows 7 first? If so, how and what drivers do I need?

One other thing I tried was downloading Bootccamp 4.x and installing that on Windows 7 to see if it gives me the drivers that were supposed to be written to my USB stick if I had installed Windows 7 using Bootcamp in the first place... However I think the message it said was that it couldn't install as it was the wrong version. So I'm still stuck without drivers and therefore no internet.

And that is my main task - getting the Internet up and running in Windows 7.

Other Info:

I'm running Mac OS X 10.6.8 with 2 GB of memory.

I installed the 32-bit version of Windows 7 and I don't know what version of Bootcamp I'm running...

I can tell you that BootCamp Assistant is v3.0.4, but don't know if that means Bootcamp is also 3.0.4.

Hope you can help.

Thanks.

Mac mini (Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8), Bootcamp Assistant is v3.0.4

Posted on Mar 31, 2013 6:45 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 31, 2013 8:25 AM in response to maclearner19

If I were you, I would do the following because you have done a non-standard installation of Windows. These steps will be equally instructive and leave you with a better performing Mac with a functional dual-boot solution.

Backup files you want to keep onto external media.
Install 4GB (2x2GB) memory for improved Snow Leopard and Windows performance.
Reinstall full (wipe) of Retail Snow Leopard as a single partition, OS X Extended (Journaled), GUID partition scheme.
1. Perform Software updates until nothing is in the queue.
2. This brings you to 10.6.8.
Make sure you have the latest Boot Camp for Snow Leopard installed
1. Use Boot Camp to add the Windows 7 partition to your hard drive
  Use only Boot Camp to remove Win 7 partition if a future need arises
2. Follow Boot Camp instructions
  1. Follow the Boot Camp manual
  2. Obtain and save Win 7 Boot Camp drivers to external media
  3. Install Win 7
  4. Install Boot Camp drivers for Win 7
  5. Fully update Win 7 (you may need to reinstall Boot Camp drivers again)
In System Preferences, configure your default boot device.
On boot, hold down option key for OS selection

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Answer 2

maclearner19 Author

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Mar 31, 2013 9:29 AM in response to VikingOSX

I tried something that worked for me...

Knowing that after my install of Windows 7 wasn't the correct method (didn't go through bootcamp), and the BootCamp 4.x package wouldn't install under windows 7, I tried reinstalling Bootcamp 4.x in Windows 7 to see what the exact message was it gave me. The message said it couldn't install because of a 32-bit O.S. vs a 64-bit version of the package.

So that got me thinging - my XP version was 32-bit, and so is my Windows 7 installation. So I tried installing the bootcamp that came with my Mac OS X installation CD. This is bootcamp version 3.1.

Not only did it install, but it practically took care of everything driver-wise for me. I was then able to see my wireless network, enter my password and I was connected. The only thing else I had to do to get on the Internet was bring IE8 online (guess it ships offline by default). Firewall and Antivirus are now installed, just a few more things to go.

That's one thing that's just not clear that I'll be sure to note for next time... The Bootcamp packages you download are actually driver packages for Windows. That is where the Windows drivers exists that are necessary to make your Windows 7 PC work on a bootcamp partition!

I didn't need the AirPoirt Utility at all (at least, I never went into it).

Thanks VikingOSX for your post. I will not need to follow the steps you provided, but they may help someone else as all of these bootcamp issues I've been reading seem to be very unique per installation.

Hopefully my solution helps others.

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