2007 imac Broken Superdrive. Can I bootcamp install win7?

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58teeth Author

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2007 imac Broken Superdrive. Can I bootcamp install win7?

Hi there-

Here are my current specs:

OSX Yosemite 10.10.1

imac (24-inch Mid 2007)

2.4 GHZ Core 2 Duo

4GB 667 MHZ DDR2 SDRAM

ATI Radeon HD 2700 Pro 256MB

BROKEN iNTERNAL SUPERDRIVE

What I'm trying to do is install Windows 7 via Bootcamp, however my internal superdrive doesn't read anything (as most of this year's model does), and just spits out the disk. I can get bootcamp to "detect" the disk via external DVD/R drive, but when the system reboots, it never seems to find the drive. I've read that you CANNOT install Windows via Optical/External DVD drive for 2007 imacs, but, how else can I do it?

Thanks

Posted on Jan 25, 2015 7:55 PM

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Answer 1

Loner T

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Jan 25, 2015 8:15 PM in response to 58teeth

Can you get the internal Optical drive repaired?

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Answer 2

58teeth Author

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Jan 26, 2015 5:16 AM in response to Loner T

From what I can see, it would cost me roughly $300 or so dollars to get it repaired, and that's money I simply do not have right now 😢.

Is there another way to do it? I've seen posts online about installing Win7 from a USB stick for Macbooks that have no CD drive whatsoever, but, again, I hit a dead end on either 2 places:

1. The reboot doesn't pick up my external drive when I hit Option (My only choices are Macintosh HD & Recovery). I did install the rEFIT application, however when holding "option" during the reboot the new boot menu (rEFIT) doesn't show up...still the original two choices.

2. The initial bootcamp process tells me "no installer found" (if I try the USB route).

Any suggestions are appreciated.

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Answer 3

Loner T

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Jan 26, 2015 6:52 AM in response to 58teeth

Do you want to try building a USB using https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200124.aspx ?

Please also take a look at http://bleeptobleep.blogspot.ca/2013/02/mac-install-windows-7-or-8-on-external.h tml.

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Answer 4

58teeth Author

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Jan 26, 2015 6:59 AM in response to Loner T

First off, thanks for your replies LonerT! I appreciate them.

I tried going that route, using this process here:

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/9136/macbook-air-install-windows-7-with-boot-camp -without-an-external-dvd-drive/

I followed every step exactly. However, the Bootcamp process fails during the "Install Windows 7" option. It tells me "installer disk not found.". I have a bootable USB all set to go, installed rEFIT, but, it doesn't boot to the new rEFIT menu.

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Answer 5

58teeth Author

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Jan 26, 2015 7:16 AM in response to 58teeth

Quick update...I just re-read the bleeptobleep link you shared above. At first, I didn't quite understand what it was asking me to do...but I'll give this a shot tonight.

Thanks!

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Answer 6

58teeth Author

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Jan 26, 2015 6:11 PM in response to Loner T

Ok...I've tried the bleeptobleep link, and did everything exactly as written. However, when I reboot the mac to hold the option key down, it just gives me the options of Macintosh HD & Recovery 10.10.1. There is no Windows option.

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Answer 7

58teeth Author

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Jan 26, 2015 7:08 PM in response to Loner T

Update:

Did some research, and installed Refit. I used the following command in the terminal window:

cd /efi/refit

./enable.sh

Now, when I reboot I can see the Windows icons. However, when I select the Windows option it freaks out and pops up a black screen with a bunch of yellow lines that say "DeviceInstall" something.

I unplugged the drive, and it allowed me to boot back into Mac (phew!).

Not sure where to go...

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Answer 8

58teeth Author

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Jan 26, 2015 7:24 PM in response to 58teeth

I also then installed reFIND, and get the same errors:

Starting legacy loader

Using load option 'USB'

Error: Not Found returned from legacy loader

Error: Not found from LocateDevicePath

Error: Load error while (reopening) our installation volume.

The firmware refused to boot from the selected volume. Note that external hard drives are not well-supported by Apple's firmware for legacy OS booting.

Not sure what to do...

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