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SUCCESS: Imac 27" Late-2013 Bootcamp to Windows 7

After one grueling day fighting with possibly every Bootcamp-related issue there is, I have finally installed Windows 7 on my brand new shiny iMac 27".

I have these threads to thank:

Boot Camp - Setup was unable to create a new system partition....from Windows install

1 Billion Other Threads on "Downloading Support Software"

Here's the story so far:

The first problem was Bootcamp hanging forever on 'Downloading Support Software'. This could either mean my USB wasn't formatted right, or my connection was slow period (it wasn't). Many threads advised to manually download Bootcamp 5 software instead, but they failed to explain what should I use it for. How am I supposed to run and install this, when Bootcamp Assistant can't even install Windows in the first place? I was an octopus flailing in the dark, with so many questions but so few answers, some which were clearly over-tech for me to implement.

Then, at the stroke of midnight, after combining solutions I read in many threads, I have came up with a single dummy guide which I hope is useful to everyone who's hating Bootcamp right now.


Note: This is for iMac 27" Late-2013 (Low end Spec), Yosemite OSX.

Things You Need:

1. BootCamp5.1.5640 (If you're using a different model, refer to table here.)

The idea is to "manually" download the files that Bootcamp Assistant couldn't, which is possibly why it was forever stuck on 'Downloading Support Software'. The manual part, I understood - what nobody explained, was what to do with this file after. So here was what I did:


After unzipping all the files into a single folder, I compressed them again into a DMG file, using Disk Utility. (New > Disk Image from Folder)


The file is then renamed as 'WindowsSupport.dmg". After this, go to YourMac/Library/Application Support/Bootcamp/ and drop the DMG file there. Make a backup of the Bootcamp files, as you don't want to download it again. (Thank you, Loner T, I see you everywhere, you were my saviour in this one).


2. A 8GB USB Stick or Ext Hard Drive

Here's something you should know before installing:


Windows 7: A 2.0 USB Flash Drive or HD, 2007 or earlier model. (The reason is because Windows 7 is not compatible with 3.0 USB sticks, which came out post 2008.) 8GB or higher.


Windows 8: Any 2.0/3.0 USB Flash Drive or HD, 8GB or higher. (Based on sources).


I wish someone had pointed this out to me earlier before I rushed out and bought a Kingston Traveler 3.0 USB. Le sigh. Well, now that you know, you can breathe a little easier knowing that you just saved yourself a potential issue + 4 hours of frustration. In the end, I managed to locate my sister's old HD (I used an old ext HD, 2006 model), deleted everything and will naturally apologize later.


1. REMOVE ALL USB/HD except for the one you're gonna install Windows on. Apparently, this is important as it'll avoid some glitch.


2. Open up Disk Utility, and erase/format your USB to FAT.


3. Open up Bootcamp Assistant, and check all three options. You can never skip 'Downloading Support Software' anyway.


4. BA will load, and when it hits 'DSS', it will prompt you for a confirmation to enter password. This will trigger that "WindowsSupport.dmg" file you just placed in the folder (it will disappear, and until now, I have no idea why. But apparently, it works, because for the first time, there was progress.) It sped up my download bar, although I still had to wait a bit. After a long while, it will proceed with SAVING SUPPORT SOFTWARE, and this is where you celebrate.


5. Go through the rest of the steps, and Mac will reboot, this time, with Windows Installation.


Windows Installation (Windows 7)


1. Click Install Windows Now.

2. You have the option of Upgrading Windows or Custom (Advanced) Install. Click Custom Advanced, then format Partition : Bootcamp.

3. This is where you pray : You either proceed with the rest of the installation, OR, you get stuck with 'Unable to create system partition...' Have a look at the thread above for solutions. I didn't run into any problems whatsoever.


You should be able to take it from here.


Considering that this whole process nearly made me vomit blood, I am so so happy at installing this, I think I may have been channeling my inner geek girl. HOORAY!!!


EPILOGUE: I have also successfully installed my PS3 Dual Shock Controller, and now, I'm playing a heck lot of Windows games on my Mac like a happy fangirl. It's ON!

Posted on Mar 17, 2015 11:54 PM

Reply
25 replies

Feb 20, 2017 5:34 PM in response to Loner T

Loner T, I've read this documentation from Apple (what you said) to drag the BCA drivers from the unzipped folder to the wininstall disk and replace files when prompted. Makes sense that you're replacing BCA 6 USB drivers. However, when I drag these files over to the root level they don't replace anything. They were never there to begin with. This is after using BCA from 10.12.3 and a windows 7 home x64 .iso from Microsoft on a late 2013 27-inch iMac. The end problem is after booting into the Windows 7 installer (off a USB 3.0 flash disk, which does work from startup manager - only) the apple usb mouse and keyboard don't work. So what's up with that? Windows 7 installer loads from a USB 3.0 disk and the USB 3.0 ports on the iMac, but mouse and keyboard are non-functional in windows installer. I'm stumped.

Feb 20, 2017 6:07 PM in response to simtimpson

simtimpson wrote:


The end problem is after booting into the Windows 7 installer (off a USB 3.0 flash disk, which does work from startup manager - only) the apple usb mouse and keyboard don't work. So what's up with that? Windows 7 installer loads from a USB 3.0 disk and the USB 3.0 ports on the iMac, but mouse and keyboard are non-functional in windows installer. I'm stumped.

This is a known and expected problem. The physical ports on Macs will support USB2 and USB3. Till Windows7 boots, the Apple Bootmanager and OS X provide USB3 support. The W7 installer has no USB3 drivers, so once it is in control, it can no longer read $WinPEDriver$ files, which contain the drivers to support BT and USB. You will either need USB2 flash drive, or 'slip-stream' USB3 drivers from IntelXHCI directory into install.wim/boot.wim to make it work.


Sierra 10.12.3 detects that you are using W7 and it will not download BC6 drivers, unlike older OS X versions, which blindly download what your Mac model wants. Just a bit of optimization which occurred in an epiphany somewhere within the Infinite Loop. This is not universal, yet!


What is you preference - a USB2 flash drive or a 'slip-stream' USB3 driver?

Feb 21, 2017 12:29 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks for the reply. That answers why the items aren't replaced per the documentation. Looks like Apple needs to do some article updating.


Interestingly, Windows installer finally decided to detect the mouse and keyboard. All I did was just reproduce the process as laid out in the Apple support documentation a few more times (creating installer, partition, removing partition, starting over with a usb disk reformat, etc...). The last time I tried the auto-restart BCA does after creating the partition picked up the Windows installer on it's own and the mouse and keyboard work... But I'm guessing if I boot into the Windows Installer from the Startup Manager the mouse and keyboard won't work (as it hadn't when I had tried before). Ugh, who knows.

Feb 21, 2017 5:01 AM in response to simtimpson

Once Windows is installed, and the BC drivers are installed, USB3 support is installed as part of the BC drivers, as is BT and Wireless. If you see any unknown devices in Device Manager, you may be missing BC drivers. After Windows is fully installed, please backup OS X, Windows and create a Windows System Restore point. Run Apple Software Update on the Windows side, to get the latest Apple drivers and verify.

Feb 7, 2016 8:47 PM in response to Anabelle lau

I also have a late 2013 iMac with yosemite and I'm trying to install windows 7. I am having a very hard time getting bootcamp to work for me, and no matter what tutorial or walkthrough I try I keep getting a non-system disk error. I also have a long hang time on downloading support software and really hoped that this post would help but im still at the same problem of the error happening with the non system disk. I made sure to get a usb 2.0 and it is 32gb in space. I have hit a wall on my attemps and dont know what to do now.

Feb 7, 2016 10:02 PM in response to Aspyluff

1. Use an wired connection when building the USB installer. Wireless is very slow.

2. Apart from the USB2 parts, after BCA builds the USB installer, you need to download the drivers appropriate for your Mac model from the link (or Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support ) to a known location. Unzip it, put the $WinPEDriver$, AutoUnattend.xml and Bootcamp folder in the root folder of the USB. The goal is to replace BC6 drivers that El Capitan downloads, with BC5 drivers which support W7. BC6 drivers only support W8.1/W10.

3. Disconnect all external storage and run SMC/NVRAM reset before you attempt to install W7. You can connect the USB Installer after the SMC/NVRAM reset and use BCA's Install Windows option. If you use the Alt/Option manual method, please ensure you choose the internal windows installation for every reboot that is part of the installation process till you see the Windows account creation screen. There should be at least 4 reboots.

Feb 9, 2016 11:10 AM in response to Loner T

I built the USB and the bootcamp.xml is version 5.1.5640 which looks to be the correct version for my late 2013 27 inch iMac according to the table. From there I unplugged the USB stick, ran both resets and then plugged it back in and created the partition. It automatically restarted and had a non-system disk error, so I restarted and held down option on restart and the only two drives to appear are the Macintosh HD and a Recovery-10.10.3 drive. No Windows partition is shown.

Feb 10, 2016 5:17 AM in response to Aspyluff

Run a SMC/NVRAM Reset after you try each of these tests. Connect USB to first USB port, power up iMac and hold Alt/Option key. Do any entries from the USB show up in the Boot Selection screen? Repeat for each USB port in the back of your iMac? It is painful, but eliminates port issues.


I have used Lexar (8GB) and SanDisk Cruzer (8, 16GB) in the past without any issues, but not a 32Gb Lexar specifically.


On the OS X side, for clarification purposes, can you check for USB2 vs USB3?


User uploaded file

SUCCESS: Imac 27" Late-2013 Bootcamp to Windows 7

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