doug3684
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Q: Can you install Windows 7 with El Capitan?

Hi all

(Simple question "Can you install Windows7 via Bootcamp on El Capitan?)

 

More details:

I have a 2012 MacBook Pro which originally had OSX Mountain Lion and I've just upgraded it to El Capitan

Have a copy of Windows7 DVD's bought a couple of years ago and decided I may as well use it

I have read as much info as I can about this but still unsure if its possible

 

From the 64-bit DVD I made a disk image, ISO in Disk Utility and followed all the steps in BootCamp but when it re-starts I just get the error message

"No bootable device, insert disk and press any key"

 

I read somewhere that installing Windows7 is possible using VM software but I'm asking if it can be done via BootCamp in El Capitan

 

cheers

Doug

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Nov 5, 2015 9:43 PM

by Loner T,Solvedanswer
Loner T Loner T
Level 7 (23,633 points)
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A:

USB1 will work, but will be slow. USB2 is the preferred disk. It should be flash drive, not an external USB HDD. USB3 does not work.

 

Your 2012 MBP supports either USB or DVD+USB method. Please ensure that the Windows ISO is a single 64-bit Installer. A mixed installer does not work. You can download specific 64-bit versions from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home .

Posted on Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM

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doug3684

Q: Can you install Windows 7 with El Capitan?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Loner T,Helpful

    Loner T Loner T Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM in response to doug3684
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
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    Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM in response to doug3684

    Yes - Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support.

     

    ELC-2012MBP-W7.png

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 6, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Loner T
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    Nov 6, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Loner T

    Hi Loner T

     

    Thanks for reply

     

    Yes I followed all the steps provided in the link but its not working

    So I thought two things

    (1) Instructions are for previous Operating Systems or

    (2) Maybe I'm using a USB1 drive. I read somewhere that you need a USB2 or USB3 drive (and compatible USB input on computer)

     

    any thoughts?

  • by Loner T,Solvedanswer

    Loner T Loner T Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM in response to doug3684
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
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    Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM in response to doug3684

    USB1 will work, but will be slow. USB2 is the preferred disk. It should be flash drive, not an external USB HDD. USB3 does not work.

     

    Your 2012 MBP supports either USB or DVD+USB method. Please ensure that the Windows ISO is a single 64-bit Installer. A mixed installer does not work. You can download specific 64-bit versions from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home .

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 7, 2015 6:53 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 6:53 AM in response to Loner T

    I made the ISO from my DVD using Disk Utility following the steps shown in the Apple Support pages. So will that work? or should I download the ISO from Microsoft?

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 7, 2015 7:11 AM in response to doug3684
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 7:11 AM in response to doug3684

    I have a USB 2 now and giving that a go, and sorry another question

    There are Updates required for Windows. Should I put them onto the USB before Installing or after? I've tried it both ways. The instructions are unclear if you put them onto the same drive or another

     

    That might be what's going wrong here. It says when adding the Updates to the drive that you will be asked if you want to replace existing files. I do not get that message, there are no files with the same name

     

    JFTR I will be scouring the instructions to see if I've missed anything

     

    Cheers

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 7, 2015 8:21 AM in response to doug3684
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 8:21 AM in response to doug3684

    Please disregard recent questions, Windows is now Installing. I think it was the USB2 flash drive

    Thanks for your help

     

    cheers!

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 7, 2015 8:59 AM in response to doug3684
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 8:59 AM in response to doug3684

    Just a bit more information if it helps anyone

     

    When Bootcamp re-started the computer this time I still got the "No Bootable Device" message. But I tried re-starting holding the Option key to choose "Windows" and it worked. However I ran into a snag and switched off. I found the problem and re-started again and this time it went properly without needing to hold the Option key

     

    Now, the snag I ran into was "Cannot install on selected Partition" (It needs to be Formatted NTFS)

    After Googling I found that's what you do when at that stage. Click "Advanced options" (something like that) and click Format

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 7, 2015 4:24 PM in response to doug3684
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    Nov 7, 2015 4:24 PM in response to doug3684

    Is Windows properly installed and functional?

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 7, 2015 10:13 PM in response to Loner T
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    Nov 7, 2015 10:13 PM in response to Loner T

    Yes but I was curious about a couple of things

     

    I wanted to try the first USB drive again (didn't work) and

    I wanted to try installing straight from the DVD - and Yes it works!

     

    So why do the instructions say to make an ISO from the DVD?

    ...The latest Macs don't have an internal Optical Drive!

     

    So it seems half of all this work I've done has been unnecessary LOL!!!

  • by doug3684,

    doug3684 doug3684 Nov 7, 2015 11:19 PM in response to doug3684
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 11:19 PM in response to doug3684

    Bootcamp5 installed all fully functional

    Probably need Updates for Windows7

    Thanks for help

     

    cheers, Doug

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 8, 2015 5:28 AM in response to doug3684
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
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    Nov 8, 2015 5:28 AM in response to doug3684

    doug3684 wrote:

     

    Yes but I was curious about a couple of things

     

    I wanted to try the first USB drive again (didn't work) and

    I wanted to try installing straight from the DVD - and Yes it works!

     

    So why do the instructions say to make an ISO from the DVD?

    ...The latest Macs don't have an internal Optical Drive!

     

    So it seems half of all this work I've done has been unnecessary LOL!!!

    The method outlined several different Mac models.

     

    1. Models with built-in Optical drives.

    2. Models which can boot from an external Optical drive.

    3. Models which can boot from both, internal Optical drive and a USB installer.

     

    a. Users may have a physical retail DVD.

    b. Users may have access to ISOs that M$ makes available at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home .

     

    To allow for such combinations and older models from 2008-2015, the simpler method on newer Macs is using the ISO. If you still have legacy media installers (DVD/CD) and want to use them on newer models, create an ISO.

  • by Thomas Jude,

    Thomas Jude Thomas Jude Jul 2, 2016 4:11 PM in response to doug3684
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 2, 2016 4:11 PM in response to doug3684

    Hi Doug,

     

    I've been running through a few similar problems installing Win 7 64 bit on my MacBook Pro with Retina (13", late 2013 model).

     

    Can you, or anyone, please explain how exactly you installed it?

     

    Thanks in advance.

    ~Thomas

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 2, 2016 5:47 PM in response to Thomas Jude
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
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    Jul 2, 2016 5:47 PM in response to Thomas Jude

    Please start at Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support . If your BC Assistant UI looks different, please post a screen shot.