Unable to Install Windows 7 2nd HDD MBP

Hi,


I replaced my superdrive with another hdd and i am trying to install windows 7 on it but i didn't success. it says "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu". As you know there is no BIOS on macs. There is EFI. But when i choose the EFI BOOT at startup, the mac stuck.


If anyone has a solution for this or any help I would be extremely greatful.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Dec 28, 2014 5:01 AM

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4 replies

Dec 28, 2014 5:13 AM in response to c_arslan

You cannot install Windows with a USB drive in Macs with a built-in SuperDrive. The problem is even worse if you have replaced the SuperDrive with a second hard disk, because you need the internal SuperDrive to install Windows.


Apart from that, you are getting that error because Boot Camp (a system which allows you to install Windows on a Mac) simulates a BIOS to install Windows properly, and you have started the Windows installer in EFI mode, so you cannot install Windows. Unfortunately, the only solution is to install the SuperDrive again and use it to install Windows.

Dec 29, 2014 8:38 AM in response to c_arslan

c_arslan wrote:


OMG 😮 so, there is no superdrive, there is no windows right?

As mende1 says, you can't install Windows the way you're trying to do it. But you can install Windows as a virtual machine using VMware Fusion, Parallels or Virtual Box and you can install the VM on your internal or external drives using a lot less space than a hardware installation requires.

Dec 29, 2014 11:26 AM in response to c_arslan

c_arslan wrote:


But when i choose the EFI BOOT at startup, the mac stuck.

According to Bootcamp Assistant (info.plist), all MBPs prior to Late 2013 models (as listed in How to identify MacBook Pro models - Apple Support) are considered preUEFI models and do not support EFI boot "fully".

<key>PreUEFIModels</key>
<array>
<string>MacBook7</string>
<string>MacBookAir5</string>
<string>MacBookPro10</string>
<string>MacPro5</string>
<string>Macmini6</string>
<string>iMac13</string>
</array>


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Unable to Install Windows 7 2nd HDD MBP

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