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User profile for user: Charkizard
Charkizard Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Bootcamp (iMac 27-inch, Mid 2011) Windows 7 (32-bit) or Windows 8.1 via iso file?

Hey peeps,


I'm trying to bootcamp my iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) from an iso file downloaded via Microsoft (DreamSparks).


The only versions of Windows DreamSparks offers are Windows 7 (32-Bit) and Windows 8.1, both of these are .iso files.


I've tried putting both versions onto both a USB and Rewritable DVD, but my iMac doesn't detect the install disk anywhere when running bootcamp.


Any idea how this could be fixed?


I read somewhere that my iMac doesn't support Windows 8+ and will only support 64-bit versions on Windows, any clarification on these two areas would be great.


Thanks for your time!


Charkizard

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.3), Bootcamp Issues.

Posted on May 30, 2014 2:33 AM

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4 replies
User profile for user: kevin_
kevin_
User level: Level 4
1,561 points

May 30, 2014 4:00 AM in response to Charkizard

Your Dreamspark account should have an option for both Win 7 Pro 32 and 64 bit. If not, you can download the 64 bit ISO at http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-24281.iso The serial numbers provided by Dreamspark will work on both the 32 and 64 bit.


Once you have downloaded the ISO on your Mac you use Boot Camp Assistant to create a USB install disk that has both the installer and the bootcamp drivers. You will need an 8GB flash drive to do this.


Open up Boot camp assistant, there is an option to create a Windows install disk. When you use this option, it *** for the location of the Windows ISO file, once you select the ISO that you want to use just follow the prompts. Boot Camp Assistant will download the latest Boot camp Drivers, and then will create a USB drive with the Windows installer that includes all of the Apple Specific drivers needed by your iMac.


Just note that this process can take over an hour to finish. But once it does, you can then use Boot Camp Assistant to partition your iMacs drive and then install Windows using the Flash drive that you created.

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User profile for user: kevin_
kevin_
User level: Level 4
1,561 points

May 30, 2014 10:11 AM in response to Charkizard

There was an issue with one of the older iMacs.. Not sure if your model was the one...


But in order to install WIndows in Bootcamp you had to use a windows DVD, but at the same time have a USB flashdrive with the bootcamp drivers plugged into a USB port.


You can use disk utility to make a DVD from the iso, and use Boot Camp Assistant to make the boot camp driver USB drive.

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Bootcamp (iMac 27-inch, Mid 2011) Windows 7 (32-bit) or Windows 8.1 via iso file?

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