Codeus
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Q: MacBook Air 2013 Windows 7 freezes during installation

Hi there,

 

I have a new MacBook Air Mid 2013, 13" model (UK region) and am trying to install Windows 7 (via bootcamp) as a second OS.

 

When holding down 'Alt' and selecting my Windows boot DVD, everything goes OK but it freezes on the inital user input screen (Language selection).  Using the same procedure, and same DVD in a Retina MBP, it works OK.

 

Anyone else seeing this behaviour / have any suggestions?

Posted on Jun 13, 2013 5:30 AM

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Q: MacBook Air 2013 Windows 7 freezes during installation

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  • by Codeus,

    Codeus Codeus Jun 13, 2013 8:25 AM in response to Codeus
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 8:25 AM in response to Codeus

    It turns out this isn't a freeze, but rather the Keyboard and Mouse are unresponsive in the Windows Installer.

     

    It seems when initially re-booting in to the Windows Installer process *DIRECTLY* from BootCamp assistant, the Keyboard and Mouse DO work, however after any subsequent restart, the Keyboard and Mouse are not recognised (such as the restart half-way through installation of Windows 7). External, USB Keyboards and Mice are not recognised either.

     

    So it seems like some firmware glitch perhaps where Bootcamp assistant is setting something when changing the startup disk that otherwise doesn't get set.  Most likely this relates to the Haswell chipset in the new MB Air.

  • by khsaechao,

    khsaechao khsaechao Jun 13, 2013 11:36 AM in response to Codeus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 11:36 AM in response to Codeus

    I'm having the same issues. Please update if you find a solution

  • by Codeus,

    Codeus Codeus Jun 14, 2013 12:42 AM in response to khsaechao
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 12:42 AM in response to khsaechao

    I spoke to Apple support about this and they had me create a new administrator user account, remove and recreate the bootcamp partition and strangely it worked using Windows 8 Pro (previously I was having the same issue in 7 & 8).

     

    I don't see why it would work as my existing user account was only a couple of days old and nothing had been imported or migrated, nonetheless, it did solve my issue.

     

    The other suggestion he made was to do an SMC reset which I had already done: -

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

     

    HTH

  • by khsaechao,

    khsaechao khsaechao Jun 14, 2013 3:21 PM in response to Codeus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 3:21 PM in response to Codeus

    Odd so I got windows 8 pro installed successfully too but once everything loads the bootcamp driver package won't install (Bootcamp 5033).  That said, it kind of works but not really because drivers don't exists yet.  What did you do?

  • by Geof Corb,

    Geof Corb Geof Corb Jun 14, 2013 7:43 PM in response to khsaechao
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 7:43 PM in response to khsaechao

    I am having the same issue in trying to install Windows 7 on a new 2013 MacBook Air. I got through the first part of the Windows install. Now when it boots to Windows, it wants me to give the Windows computer a name and neither the mouse nor the keyboard are responsive.

     

    What can I do?  I'd rather not install Windows 8.

  • by khsaechao,

    khsaechao khsaechao Jun 14, 2013 7:47 PM in response to Geof Corb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 7:47 PM in response to Geof Corb

    Well I'm sure Apple will release updated bootcamp drivers soon (hopefully).  In the meantime, I just installed parallels to run my work apps.  Will report back how it goes. 

     

    Btw, i hate windows 8. 

  • by Geof Corb,

    Geof Corb Geof Corb Jun 14, 2013 8:31 PM in response to Geof Corb
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 8:31 PM in response to Geof Corb

    I installed Parallels and created a virtual machine for my Boot Camp partition-- which had been the plan all along, though I would still like to be able to boot natively into Windows when I need to.  In any case, I was able to get the machine up and running through Parallels.  I still have no mouse and keyboard when I boot directly to Windows.

  • by stihl88,

    stihl88 stihl88 Jun 14, 2013 8:44 PM in response to Codeus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 8:44 PM in response to Codeus

    Ok, i had the same problem so i ended up recreating the Windows 7 boot stick in Boot Camp again as i noticed the original WIndows 7 boot stick i created didnt appear to have the "Windows Support" files loaded onto it. Anyway, after running the WIndows install again my Mac keyboard and external Keyboard and mouse were all working again during the instillation stage.

     

    Hope this helps you.

  • by khsaechao,

    khsaechao khsaechao Jun 14, 2013 9:56 PM in response to stihl88
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2013 9:56 PM in response to stihl88

    weird... ok so i followed your instructions and it's installing now.  Thanks Stihl88

     

    Here's what I did.

     

    - Put a copy of windows 64 bit iso on desktop

    - Ran bootcamp wizard and selected create boot disk and download latest software (not sure exact wording but you get the idea)

    - Ran bootcamp wizard again and only selected downloaded latest software

    - Ran bootcamp wizard again and choose install windows

     

    Now it's finishing install of windows...

  • by Geof Corb,

    Geof Corb Geof Corb Jun 15, 2013 7:21 AM in response to Geof Corb
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 7:21 AM in response to Geof Corb

    My Windows install is pretty unstable.  Blowing it away and trying again.

  • by Geof Corb,

    Geof Corb Geof Corb Jun 15, 2013 7:22 AM in response to khsaechao
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 7:22 AM in response to khsaechao

    This isn't a driver thing because we don't get to the point of being able to install drivers... unless there is some way to replace the basic drivers in the Win7 install.

  • by Geof Corb,

    Geof Corb Geof Corb Jun 15, 2013 8:46 AM in response to Codeus
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 8:46 AM in response to Codeus

    Just found this KB posting from this week that sounds as though it addresses the problem.  Will try it later when I get the chance...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4517

     

    Here's to hoping...

  • by JLewisR,

    JLewisR JLewisR Jun 15, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Codeus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Codeus

    Had the exact same issue.  Following khsaechap's instructions exactly as written worked perfectly.  Thanks!

  • by khsaechao,

    khsaechao khsaechao Jun 15, 2013 1:31 PM in response to JLewisR
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 1:31 PM in response to JLewisR

    Yep i just re-did it and it works.  Key is making that usb.  Good luck

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