USB Windows 7 install with OS X 10.9 Mavericks

Question

Level 1

8 points

USB Windows 7 install with OS X 10.9 Mavericks

I've spent much of the day trying to find out how it is possible to do the following on my MacBookPro without an optical drive with OS X 10.9 installed:

* Create a bootable USB drive with Windows 7

* Make my Mac dual boot Windows 7

It is my hope that by posting what did and did not work for me it will save someone else some time. I am currently completing this process so I will post a reply or revision with further instructions. Procede with caution, some of this got scary for me.

Create a bootable USB drive for Windows 7

What worked:

Giving in and borrowing a Windows 7 laptop with an optical drive. I used my Windows 7 disc and a freeware Windows application (WiNToBootic, http://www.wintobootic.com/) to create the bootable USB drive.

What did NOT work:

* Downloading or creating an .iso file and using the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool (on Windows 7)

* Using Disc Utility to create a bootable USB drive with a downloaded or created .iso file (on Mac)

* Using the Boot Camp Assistant to create a bootable USB drive with a downloaded or created .iso file (on Mac)

* Also did not work: Modifying the Info.plist file in the Boot Camp Assistant app to make the above work (tried various methods and terminal commands to authenicate file, but never worked, assuming a Mavericks issue)

Make my Mac running OS X 10.9 dual boot Windows 7

What worked (so far):

In addition to having the bootable Windows 7 USB drive, I also had an .iso file some created for me (would probably work to download one online as well). Both files were required for this to work. Download and install DAEMON Tools (free for 20 days, http://www.daemon-tools.cc/products/dtMacLite). Before completing this step make sure the drive you wish to put Windows 7 on is properly formated (what I am trying to determine now, I believe using Disk Utility select Partition, Options, Choose Master Boot Record, and Format: Free Space). Then use DAEMON Tools to mount your downloaded or created .iso files. Boot Camp Assistant will now think that the .iso is an inserted Windows 7 install disk. Follow the prompts in Boot Camp Assistant selecting only to Install/Remove Windows. At this point my computer tried to restart and stayed on a blue screen. THIS IS WHERE IT GOT SCARY! I did a hard shut down because my computer appeared to freeze. When I started it again, it said there was no boot media and to insert one then hit any button. I put in my bootable USB drive and pressed a key but nothing happened. Next I hard shut down again leaving the bootable USB drive plugged in then when restarted I attempted to use alt/option to select a partition to start from which did not work, but much to my pleasant surprise, the Windows 7 installer appeared. The only reason I stopped is it would not allow me to fully reformat the target disk or install Windows on it so I started OS X back up again by exiting the installer and using alt/option (which worked this time) to start in OS X. Now I am going to try again after changing the format in Disk Utility.

What did not work:

* Using alt/option at startup to select the bootable USB drive (seems to be disabled with Mavericks, what a disappointment Apple)

* Using Boot Camp Assistant with the bootable USB drive

* Installing an earlier version of OS X so that I could install Windows easier (I didn't try very hard here, just hit one wall and stopped)

I will keep you all updated on my progress. I hope this is useful...

MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.53 GHz), OS X Mavericks (10.9), Two hard drives, no optical drive

Posted on Nov 1, 2013 6:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

nerdoo

Level 1

0 points

Nov 10, 2013 7:12 AM in response to marcellus.mc

Sharing my experience with Installing Boot Camp and Windows 7 on Os X 10.9 Macvericks

My machine is MBP 15 mid-2012

In my case the Boot Camp assistant manages to make a bootable USB flash from Win7 iso image in addition to adding downloaded extra Boot Camp files and drivers on same flash.

My problem was that Boot Camp assistant couldn't see the bootable USB flash it made in order to proceed with partitioning and installation. Repeated process few times with no luck, did't find a similar issue or solution for this via googling.

What I did and worked 100%:

1. make bootable USB flash from Win7 iso image using Boot Camp assistant.

select all three options, "Create Windows 7 disk...", "Download lates Windows support..." and of course "Install Windows 7..." might work who knows.
if for some reason like many others you don't have first option of creating a bootable USB flash you need to follow instructions here to enable it, or/and here

2. using Disk utility in Os X partition your hard disk (Macintosh HD), new parition as FAT/NTFS, name it BOOTCAMP, size up to you.

3. when partioning is finished, with the bootable USB flash connected restart you machine holding "alt/option" key

4. select the USB flash called "WININSTALL" to start Win7 installation.

5. select the new partition BOOTCAMP and format it to NTFS, otherwise Win7 installation won't proceed.

5. towards finishing installation will get prompted by Boot Camp to install all necessary drivers and files, yes, yes, yes 😉

Wait a bit and your done!

This way no hassle with manual install of Boot Camp support stuff on Windows.

If you get booted to Os X toward end of installation just use Startup Disk in System preferences to go back.

Hope this helps others! good luck.

Reply

Answer 2

marcellus.mc Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 2, 2013 8:33 PM in response to marcellus.mc

Woohoo I am writing this from OS X again!

Step 3: Install the Boot Camp support software on Windows 7

This worked: Download Boot Camp 4.0.4033 directly from Apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1630) and install in Windows 7.

Whew!

***And for everyone like me who hates reading through threads on forums to find solutions, here is what worked in order (below):

Step 1: Create a bootable USB drive for Windows 7

Borrow a Windows 7 computer with an optical drive. I used my Windows 7 Home Premium disc and a freeware Windows application, WiNToBootic (http://www.wintobootic.com/) to create the bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Make my Mac running OS X 10.9 dual boot Windows 7 on a separate internal hard drive

Format the additional internal drive using Disk Utility (select Partition, Options, Choose Master Boot Record, and Format: Free Space). You may need to format this space again using the Windows installer but that's okay, it is really easy and quick to do. Next, shut off the computer and physically remove your OS X hard drive, leaving only the blank destination drive (the reason for this is that with multiple drives, the Mac equivalent of BIOS does not allow the second drive to be a boot drive, likely something boot camp is supposed to remedy). If you need help taking apart your Mac, visit iFixIt.com. They also sell the tools I used to remove the proprietary screws holding in the battery. Next plug in the bootable USB drive and turn on the computer - Windows should start installing. After installation, shut off your computer and reinstall the OS X hard drive.

Step 3: Install the Boot Camp support software on Windows 7

Download Boot Camp 4.0.4033 directly from Apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1630) and install in Windows 7. More recent versions of Boot Camp do not work on my set up but maybe they will for you.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 1, 2013 11:52 PM in response to marcellus.mc

very.

Im positively scared I need to have it too with additional win7 installed.

What can I expect of it when I install it?

will iMac Haswell perfomr like any other windows PC or are there special quirks?

Reply

Answer 4

truelies

Level 1

9 points

Nov 2, 2013 6:04 PM in response to marcellus.mc

I'm also trying this. Looks like all ways can't work. I am preparing to install superdrive back to install win7. Don't know why apple lock this. I also have Macbook pro mid 12 non retina. Every time it will freeze.

Reply

Answer 5

marcellus.mc Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 2, 2013 7:59 PM in response to marcellus.mc

Ok so here is what REALLY works (at least Step 1 & 2):

Step 1: Create a bootable USB drive for Windows 7

Giving in and borrowing a Windows 7 laptop with an optical drive. I used my Windows 7 disc and a freeware Windows application (WiNToBootic, http://www.wintobootic.com/) to create the bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Make my Mac running OS X 10.9 dual boot Windows 7 on a separate internal hard drive

Format the additional internal drive using Disk Utility (select Partition, Options, Choose Master Boot Record, and Format: Free Space). You may need to format this space again using the Windows installer but that's okay, it is really easy and quick to do. Next, shut off the computer and physically remove your OS X hard drive, leaving only the blank destination drive (the reason for this is that with multiple drives, the Mac equivalent of BIOS does not allow the second drive to be a boot drive, likely something boot camp is supposed to remedy). Plug in the bootable USB drive and turn on the computer - Windows should start installing.

Step 3 - incomplete: Install the Boot Camp support software on Windows 7

I am still trying to make this work. On OS X 10.9, the Boot Camp Assistant will no longer create the support driver USB drive like it is supposed to. I downloaded Boot Camp 5.X from apple.com then manually moved the files to a USB drive per Apple's instructions. Unfortunately, however, when I tried to run the installer on Windows, I get a message saying my computer is not compatible. Oddly enough, I previously had Boot Camp and Windows 7 installed on this same computer. Now I am trying to find and download an older version of Boot Camp to install yet most the files I have come across are merely updates and not the original software. In the mean time, I fixed a few annoyances like the trackpad by installing the drivers from the Boot Camp USB drive individually. Also, I no longer seem to be able to boot into OS X even when using the alt/option key at start up, likely due to not having Boot Camp installed. I will update when I get new information, but don't worry all you fellow frustrated wanna-be dual booters, I will get this to work!

Reply

Answer 6

truelies

Level 1

9 points

Nov 3, 2013 2:26 PM in response to marcellus.mc

On OS X 10.9, the Boot Camp Assistant will no longer create the support driver USB drive like it is supposed to.

My 2012 MacBook's boot camp can create support drive when you have an external connected. Why you need step 3? After step 2 you can't start win 7?

Reply

Answer 7

marcellus.mc Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 3, 2013 6:01 PM in response to truelies

Wondering if this works if I only want part of my additional internal drive for win 7, also does work for MacBook Pro 2012?

It should work if you want to only format part of the internal drive, just make sure you create more than one partition in Disk Utility in Step 2.

My 2012 MacBook's boot camp can create support drive when you have an external connected. Why you need step 3? After step 2 you can't start win 7?

If it works for you, great! However, on my 2009 model, it did not nor did the current drivers install.

Reply

Answer 8

marcellus.mc Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2013 7:41 AM in response to truelies

truelies,

Do you have Windows 7 installed now and just cannot access it using Alt/Option at startup? If so, go into System Utilities on the Mac side and choose Startup Disk. Here you can choose to restart your computer in either Mac or Windows. On the Windows side, in order to boot into Mac again, simply use the Bootcamp Control Panel and Startup Disk should be the first tab that opens.

Reply

Answer 9

truelies

Level 1

9 points

Nov 10, 2013 7:55 AM in response to marcellus.mc

It won't let me choose windows disk, pop out an error. you method doesn't work with mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13.3. I found the only way is install super drive back after wasted several days trying a lot of ways, also the VMware trick doesn't work for mavericks.

Reply

Answer 10

marcellus.mc Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 4, 2013 6:32 AM in response to joedrichite

joedrichite,

Are you trying to install on a second hard drive? I had to physically remove the drive with OS X. Otherwise, you might have luck using DAEMON Tools. Also, it seems booting from USB is not a universal problem. I visited a friend recently with a new MacBook Pro with Retina Display and he demonstrated to me that he was able to boot from USB without any issues. Possibly it is an issue with the particular bootable drive or maybe a bug on older Macs that were updated, I do not know.

Download and install DAEMON Tools (free for 20 days,http://www.daemon-tools.cc/products/dtMacLite). Before completing this step make sure the drive you wish to put Windows 7 on is properly formated (what I am trying to determine now, I believe using Disk Utility select Partition, Options, Choose Master Boot Record, and Format: Free Space). Then use DAEMON Tools to mount your downloaded or created .iso files. Boot Camp Assistant will now think that the .iso is an inserted Windows 7 install disk. Follow the prompts in Boot Camp Assistant selecting only to Install/Remove Windows. At this point my computer tried to restart and stayed on a blue screen. THIS IS WHERE IT GOT SCARY! I did a hard shut down because my computer appeared to freeze. When I started it again, it said there was no boot media and to insert one then hit any button. I put in my bootable USB drive and pressed a key but nothing happened. Next I hard shut down again leaving the bootable USB drive plugged in then when restarted I attempted to use alt/option to select a partition to start from which did not work, but much to my pleasant surprise, the Windows 7 installer appeared.

I wish you luck, please post what does and does not work. Hopefully this was helpful.

Reply

Answer 11

Dec 9, 2013 7:40 PM in response to marcellus.mc

Well I recently learned the problems lies with the fact that I have a superdrive. Mac OS 10.9 will not boot from a usb when there is a super drive. Even when I changed the code of Bootcamp. I tried DAEMON tools but once again, no bootable drive was found.

Reply

Answer 12

GvaUkJoe

Level 1

0 points

Jan 3, 2014 7:48 AM in response to marcellus.mc

EUREKA !!! Huraayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

I have a MacBook Pro Mid-2010. I removed the original HardDrive to place a SSD from Crucial 256GB.I also removed the optical CD-Rom to place a cady from OWC http://www.macsales.com/ with a Crucial 128GB.

I have upgraded my MacBook Pro with Mavericks 10.9 and unable like you guys, to install Windows 7 successfully on my 2nd hard drive via BootCamp. I tried to boot on the USB bootable pen drive done via Bootcamp, via a CDROM, unable to recognize any of them by pressing the ALT key on the boot.

I spend over 3 days with no luck, then.... I had an idea...

1° I removed my 2nd SSD, the one that I want Win7/Win8 installed on it.

2° I open a laptop/desktop from work/home (any will do as long as you can connect the SSD

3° In my situation, the SSD is now in a laptop, I inserted the Bootable Pen Drive done via Bootcamp (ticked the 3 options), then booted my laptop (lenovo), with the key F12 to choose from which device to boot.

4° I see the USB Pen Drive. It's now booting on the USB Pen Drive and a bootcamp message appears...

5° Begining of the installation of Win7.

6° He will try to install the drivers for my lenovo laptop, I bypass this.

7° My windows is installed, no update. I then shutdown the computer, then remove the SSD

8° The ssd is now back to my MacBook Pro, but I have before this remove the SSD that contain Mac OSX Maverics.

9° I am connecting the SSD with Win7 on the main connectivity of my MacBook Pro and not on the cady replacing the CD Rom.

10° I am booting and my windows is starting.

11° When in Windows, insert your USB pen drive done via BootCamp, and run the SETUP.EXE 64 to run Windows 7 installation.

12° It will create an upgrade, then reboot.

13° When rebooting, you will then be in the initial installation, letting you the choise to partition the windows disk.

14° From there, configure your Windows 7 installation as you wish.

15° At the end of the installation, Bootcamp will this time install all the drivers related to your MacBook Pro.

16° Don't run all the Windows update yet, no need.

17° When completed. shut down the MacBook Pro.

18° Remove the SSD that contain your windows7 and install it back in the cady that replace your CD Rom.

19° Install back your SSD that contain Mac OSX Mavericks.

20° Boot your MacBook Pro and press the ALT option key. BINGO, you know got your two dual boot, MAC OS X + Windows.

Time for you to configure your windows, set it up and you are done.

It toke me around 45minutes to do the 20 above steps, so if you are in trouble and don't want to loose time, you know what to do. Borrow any computer, you won't crash it, you just need a laptop/desktop to insert your SSD for 45 min.

Enjoy !!!

Reply

Answer 13

Jan 6, 2014 8:04 AM in response to marcellus.mc

here is my experience:

macbook late 2008 - core 2 due, 2gb ram, 250gb hdd and the internal superdrive.

the hdd has osx snow leopard with win7 32-bit partitioned with bootcamp assistant.

i performed a little surgery to my little mac so it could run much faster than before:

1. replaced one of the 1gb ram sticks to a 4gb ram stick (=5gb of total ram). would be happier with 8gb, but upon replacing both sticks i get a memory error which i could solve up to this moment (though this is probably not related to nmy problem).

2. replaced the superdrive with a 250gb ssd from samsung (840 series).

i downloaded mavericks osx 10.9.1 and loaded it into a 16gb usb, which installed flawlessly on the ssd (125gb partition).

as i've formated the usb using snow leopard's disk utility and hadn't install any lions, i had no recovery partition (which disables "find my mac" along with other stuff). i decided to add a recovery partition, and have successfully done so using a custom app named Recovery Editor (instructions can be found here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1606779).

next, i've tried to install windows 7 64-bit on the same drive (ssd) on the second partition - 125gb formatted to fat32. i've placed win installation files in the usb using the modified boot camp assistant (removed "pre" from "PreUSBBootSupportedModels" and "PreUEFIModels", added my model under "DARequiredROMVersions" and "UEFIModels").

before even trying to use this usb (and following a mass amount of people reporting peoblems), i decided to use your method: formatted the usb with diskpart (fat32, active), added the windows installation files from an iso (which includes both 32- and 64-bit versions), copied the bootcamp v5 support software and restarted the computer.

however, pressing the option key shows 4 options - the snow leopard partition and win7 32-bit partition on the hdd and mavericks partition and recovery partition on the ssd.

the usb is not recognized.

i tried clearing the pram (option+command+r+p) and eject and insert the usb after pressing option to see if it will add the usb to the list.

from what i've read around, some people were able to use their usb if they disconnected the hdd and placed the ssd instead (leaving the cdrom place empty), but i would rather avoid this.

might anyone have an idea how to fix this?

many thanks.

Reply

Answer 14

Jan 6, 2014 3:25 PM in response to marcellus.mc

From what I can gather here, it seems the only way I can install Windows on my Macbook Pro 13" (early 2011) is by physically removing the HDD onto which I want to install it, or else by somehow gaining access to a PC that already runs Windows 7. This is absolutely crazy.

I recently performed an SSD upgrade and was relieved after replacing the final screw that I wouldn't have to take it all apart again for a long time, if ever. My OS in on the 250GB Samsung EVO SSD in the primary drive slot, while the old HDD now just contains data (photos, music, archives) and is housed in the optical bay. The old SuperDrive is sitting in an external USB enclosure. Apparently this upgrade is officially sanctioned by Apple (one of the few things e.g. that doesn't invalidate a warranty).

Like everyone else here I've spent countless hours doing the far-from-merry dance of DiskUtility, BootCamp, DiskUtility, plist mods, Bootcamp, burn a DVD, create a USB drive from an iso, etc. And all to no avail.

[I know this won't help anyone else here (and how clever of Apple to leave us all floundering here to try and help each other without taking any responsibility themselves, offering no legitimate target at which to vent frustration), but this comes at the end of a long line of serious Apple-related frustrations. I'll never buy another Apple computer, though I've been using nothing else for ten years.]

Reply

Answer 15

marcellus.mc Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 22, 2014 2:55 PM in response to marcellus.mc

Okay, so the hard drive I had Windows 7 on went bad and I had to replace it. I followed all the steps I took last time but it didn't work this time around. For some reason I couldn't get the Windows installer to load even though I was using the same thumb drive. Then I tried a variation of one of the methods that did not work for my last time, as explained in the following link:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1680345

Don't know why different methods seem to work at different times, maybe just due to OS X updates. Oh well. One note though, even with using my Windows 7 install thumb drive and the method on the link, I STILL had to remove my Apple hard drive and I had to exit the installer and restart my computer again after reformating the extra drive in Windows. Anyways, everything is up and running great again. Good luck fellow compact disc ditchers!

Reply