Need advice on running Windows 7 under El Capitan on an iMac 27".

Windows 7 is possibly the most stable release of windows in the history of Windows, I'd give it props over 10.6.8, yes, it's that good, suck it fanboys.

Windows 10 is a monkey demon that was released from the bowels of **** to disrupt its legacy.

that being said as Windows 7 is no longer supported by MS it is not longer supported under BootCamp (in 10.11) and you will need a previous instance grandfathered in when OS X allowed it's installation or you will need to use something other than BootCamp to install Win 7

If you only have to run one application, it seems like overkill to me to use BootCamp. Before you do that, I'd give another virtualization package, like VirtualBox, which is free, a try. I've been using it for quite a while and have no real complaints. It doesn't integrate with OS X as well as Parallels or VMWare Fusion, but the price is definitely right, and BootCamp doesn't integrate with OS X at all...

Also I haven't found this yet in the documentation, but it's probably there. I need to be able to access the same files in both Windows and OSX. I assume that is not a problem. Do I need to something special to make the files accessible to both operating systems? I believe they are all accessible no matter which system in control.

OS X can read NTFS files, but not write by default. Windows can read files, but not write, provided OS X is using a JHFS+ partition. Yosemite and higher versions use CoreStorage volumes, which are unreadable from Windows side. You should not repartition the disk, once Windows is installed. On a 2014 iMac, Windows can be installed using a non-legacy installation (aka EFI Boot), but W7 is very unstable and buggy in such an installation. Sleep/Hibernate are very problematic on W7 and W8+.

"Windows 7 is no longer supported by MS it is not longer supported under BootCamp (in 10.11) and you will need a previous instance grandfathered in when OS X allowed it's installation or you will need to use something other than BootCamp to install Win 7 "

So it is simply not possible to use Bootcamp Assistant 6.0.1 to install Windows 7? Why is this not made clear in Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support

ShiningBlueCircle wrote:

"Windows 7 is no longer supported by MS it is not longer supported under BootCamp (in 10.11) and you will need a previous instance grandfathered in when OS X allowed it's installation or you will need to use something other than BootCamp to install Win 7 "

This is incorrect. MS no longer sells W7. I have installed W7 under El Capitan on Macs whose Model Identifier allows W7. 2015 Macs do not support W7. 2014 Macs do. The Bootcamp Info.plist under El Capitan has the following entry.

<key>Win7OnlyModels</key>

<array>

<string>MacBook7,1</string>

<string>MacBookAir3,2</string>

<string>MacBookPro5,5</string>

<string>MacPro2,1</string>

<string>Macmini4,1</string>

<string>iMac10,1</string>

</array>

Under Mavericks, the same list is

<key>Win7OnlyModels</key>

<array>

<string>MacBook7,1</string>

<string>MacBookAir3,2</string>

<string>MacBookPro5,5</string>

<string>MacPro2,1</string>

<string>Macmini4,1</string>

<string>iMac10,1</string>

</array>

In other words, they are exactly identical.

In fact Microsoft, proudly, offers downloads of W7 (provided you have a valid license key) from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home.

There are many other ways.

1. How to install OS X on an external drive connected to your Mac - Apple Support

2. From OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support,

Which version of OS X is installed by OS X Recovery?

• If you use the Recovery System stored on your startup drive to reinstall OS X, it installs the most recent version of OS X previously installed on this computer.
• If you use Internet Recovery to reinstall OS X, it installs the version of OS X that originally came with your computer. After installation is finished, use the Mac App Store to install related updates or later versions of OS X that you have previously purchased.

If you upgraded to El Capitan from any previous version, you can go back to the originally shipped version of OS X for that Mac and install Windows versions supported in that specific version of OS X. You must ensure that your disk structures are appropriate for such an installation. For example, older OS X versions may not support CoreStorage, so your volumes must be reverted back to JHFS+, if possible, to be compatible.

Personally, I consider El Capitan immature and not fit for business critical machines. Users who upgrade to El Capitan, do so at their own risk. El Capitan is buggy, BC Assistant 6 is error-prone and causes a lot of problems. Some of the same issues also afflict iOS. In case of Macs. I can revert back to original OS X versions. This is impossible on an iOS device. El Capitan must prove itself in the field for at least 24-36 months before I will deploy it on any business critical Macs.

I am still on Mavericks and Snow Leopard for stability and business critical needs. There is not a single feature in El Capitan that I personally want, for me to give up stability and performance.

I was quoting from a previous poster but still a helpful reply Loner T

My Model Identifier is iMac11,3 which does not appear on that list. Would this make any difference? In fact iMac11,3 appears in none of the lists of BCA's .plists

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

Thank you for the reference Loner T - I have probably memorised that document it has been my overarching companion in this horrific process. It is wrong on two counts : (a) it says that an install can be made using a downloaded ISO - my bitter experience tells me this is wrong (b) the screen shot of BCA shows the install procedure for Windows 8 (!?!) though clearly the heading says Windows 7. That screen shot bears no relationship to what BCA presents me with which is only two options - create a usb of the drivers and install Windows 7.

Based on your Mac Model identifier, you can get the following combinations (I will ignore 2015 models since they do not support W7).

1. Models prior to 2012 (and except some 2011 models) with built-in Optical drives provide two options - Download Support Software and Install/Remove Windows. Download sends zip files to a USB. Install requires a physical DVD. If you have an ISO, burn it to a DVD.

2. Models later than 2012 without built-in Optical drives will support USB installation.

3. Macbook Airs wil use an external SuperDrive or a USB Installer. If you do not see an option for USB Installer, do not force it by editing Bootcamp info.plist.

If the Optical drive has been replaced by a regular disk, it cause further grief and pain. Apple may not admit this, but some Optical drives fail due to hardware issues or embedded certificates expiring. This causes PTSD in most cases.

Thank you again Loner T. The problem for me has been in those few words : "if you have an ISO burn it to a DVD". i have come to the conclusion that this is not possible under El Capitan or with the present version of Disk (f)Utility. At least none of my attempts have resulted in a disc recognisable by Boot Camp Assistant as an installation disc. Thank you for your efforts 🙂

Can I have you look at https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/mac/documentation/Darwin/Referenc e/ManPages/man1/hdiutil.1.html ?

Yes that certainly looks possible. I also found this http://www.online-tech-tips.com/mac-os-x/burn-an-iso-file-using-mac-os-x/ which outlines each of the burn techniques. I will give it a try. Time constraints mean I have re-installed Windows 7 from a new installer disk (bought from Amazon) so I'm not sure how to test whether bootcamp assistant will accept the burned disc.

Since you have W7 in place using a commercial DVD, one way to test your burned DVD is

1. Insert your burned DVD.

2. In OSX System Preferences -> Start Up Disk, select your internal Bootcamp installation (not the DVD icon).

3. Click on Restart.

4. If the Windows Installer starts up, the disc can is a valid Installer disc and can be used in the future.

Thank you Loner T I shall try that and report results