Brian Bowman1

Q: Cannot get restart with Boot Camp Windows 7 install

I am wanting to install Windows 7 on my MacBook Air 13" Early 2014, el Capitan.  I need windows 7 to work with one application I have for windows which is the only reason I need windows in the first place.

 

I created iso image, and placed 16GB USB Drive in place. I run Boot Camp, and it takes me through each step, and it gets to a window that says I need to download Windows 7 support drivers. I click on the button to go to the website, and I have downloaded

Support Software 5.1.5640

, and placed the uncompressed files on a separate thumb drive in a different USB slot.

This window does not have a "continue" button. It only has "cancel" and "open website".

 

According to the link How to install Windows using Boot Camp - Apple Support I should get a system restart, which doesn't happen.

Supposedly at step 4 "When you complete the assistant, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. When you're asked where you want to install Windows, select the BOOTCAMP partition, then click Format."

 

But this never happens.

When I check "About this Mac" I do not see a windows partition on the hard drive.

 

I have tried to restart holding "option" but the system doesn't complete a boot, and hangs, and I have to hard reset my computer.

 

I feel like I am in a state of limbo. What should I do next?

 

Brian

MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), 120 GB available

Posted on Nov 15, 2015 6:06 AM

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Q: Cannot get restart with Boot Camp Windows 7 install

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  • by Brian Bowman1,

    Brian Bowman1 Brian Bowman1 Nov 15, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Brian Bowman1
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Brian Bowman1

    Yes. It does show when I boot under alt/option. I can choose it, and it starts to load windows, and stalls at the screen that requires user input as the keyboard and trackpad do not respond.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 15, 2015 6:30 PM in response to Brian Bowman1
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Nov 15, 2015 6:30 PM in response to Brian Bowman1

    Are you choosing the Windows icon or the EFI boot icon? I assume you are using the built-in keyboard/trackpad.

  • by Brian Bowman1,

    Brian Bowman1 Brian Bowman1 Nov 15, 2015 6:39 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 6:39 PM in response to Loner T

    I only get the windows icon. I choose that:

     

    IMG_0443.JPG

     

    When it loads, it goes to a blue screen, which says it is booting from the USB drive. Then I get this page. This is where I am stuck because nothing works.

    IMG_0442.JPG

    I am indeed using the built in keyboard and trackpad on my Mac Air

     

    I hate to ask, because I don't want to spend more money on just one application I need, but would Parallels be easier?

     

    Brian

  • by Brian Bowman1,

    Brian Bowman1 Brian Bowman1 Nov 15, 2015 6:40 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 6:40 PM in response to Loner T

    I formatted the USB 3 drive, and moved over the bootcamp folder, the $WinPEDriver$ folder, and the auto unattend file to the root directory.  I restarted and got stuck in the same place.

     

    Brian

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 15, 2015 6:41 PM in response to Brian Bowman1
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Nov 15, 2015 6:41 PM in response to Brian Bowman1

    Yes, Parallels may be easier. Can you connect an external USB keyboard at this point and see if it works?

  • by Brian Bowman1,

    Brian Bowman1 Brian Bowman1 Nov 15, 2015 6:43 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 6:43 PM in response to Loner T

    I don't have a USB external keyboard, only a blue tooth one. and a bluetooth track pad. I figured that wouldn't be helpful since it is bluetooth, right?

     

    Brian

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 15, 2015 7:12 PM in response to Brian Bowman1
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Nov 15, 2015 7:12 PM in response to Brian Bowman1

    1. Please try a BT Keyboard/Mouse as a test.

    2. Can you show me what directories exist in the $WinPEDriver$ folder? There may be something missing.

    3. You can read the Bootcamp folder from the OS X side. Please look for logs named setuperr.log and setupact.log. It has a lot of personal information, so I do not recommend posting it but look for specific errors related to USB.

  • by Brian Bowman1,

    Brian Bowman1 Brian Bowman1 Nov 15, 2015 7:47 PM in response to Brian Bowman1
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 7:47 PM in response to Brian Bowman1

    So I downloaded a trial version of parallels. Within 20 minutes windows is installed, from the same USB drive.  I have installed printers on my network and I am ready to go.

    When it was installing, it interestingly was stuck at the same screen. But there was an alert to press "alt and control" to unlock the curser. "interesting" I thought, and I stopped the install, option-restarted the computer, chose the windows drive, got to the same screen, pressed "alt and control" and nothing happened.

     

    I do appreciate all of your help. Take home point ultimately is the opportunity cost of parallels was worth my time.

     

    Brian

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 16, 2015 5:42 AM in response to Brian Bowman1
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Nov 16, 2015 5:42 AM in response to Brian Bowman1

    Is Parallels+Windows now fully functional?

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