Can you install Windows 7 with El Capitan?

Question

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

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM in response to Community User

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

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Answer 2

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?

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 7, 2015 7:09 AM in response to Community User

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 .

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Answer 4

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?

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Answer 5

Nov 7, 2015 7:11 AM in response to Community User

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

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Answer 6

Nov 7, 2015 8:21 AM in response to Community User

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

Thanks for your help

cheers!

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Answer 7

Nov 7, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Community User

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

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 7, 2015 4:24 PM in response to Community User

Is Windows properly installed and functional?

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Answer 9

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!!!

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Answer 10

Nov 7, 2015 11:19 PM in response to Community User

Bootcamp5 installed all fully functional

Probably need Updates for Windows7

Thanks for help

cheers, Doug

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Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 8, 2015 5:28 AM in response to Community User

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.

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Answer 12

Jul 2, 2016 4:11 PM in response to Community User

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

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Answer 13

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

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.

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