I have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) running El Capitan. I just installed a new hard drive and am trying to install Windows 7 using Boot Camp Assistant. On the Select Tasks window "Create a Windows 7 or later version install disk" does NOT show as an option. How do I create the install disk?
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)
I am using https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205016 for step by step instructions
I already created the disk image of the Windows DVD Install Disk following the instructions from https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203909
When I open Boot Camp Assistant I am unable to Create a Windows 7 install disk
Your 2011 Mac requires a physical DVD to install Windows. USB Installer is not supported on your specific model.
Thanks for the reply.
Do I still follow the following steps from HT205016:
These are the steps for W7, which is no longer supported on 2015 Macs. El Capitan no longer downloads W7 BC software. These are the manual steps to accomplish the same for Macs that support USB-based installations. 2012-2014 Models support USB-based installation.
Is there a link to view the manual steps for Boot Camp for Windows 7 on a 2011 Model?
Apple no longer publishes these. The first screen in your post is your guide. Check "Download..." and create a USB with Windows Support Software. Once you have the USB created, disconnect it. Insert the physical DVD, once it is recognized as valid (not the text in that option), check the box, and start the Windows partitioning and installation. Once it is finished, run setup.exe from Bootcamp folder on the USB drive to install BC drivers. Make sure the version is appropriate for your hardware.
So do I still follow steps 5-8 to get the Support Software 5 (listed in the Table for Macbook Pro Late 2011) or is the original download on the Select Task screen going to be the correct Support Software?
If you are running BC Assistant 6.x (from El Capitan), you will need to get the appropriate zip from Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support and unzip on the USB. The steps you are referring to are used in cases your Mac supports a USB Installer. This is not the case for a 2011 model. If you had a 2012-2014 model, you would have replaced folders as directed in step 8.
If you are using the BC Assistant 5.x (from Yosemite or older), your download from BCA should be correct.
In all cases, the appropriate software is Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5621, which has
Post Date: Feb 11, 2014
File Size: 924.9 MB
Thanks Loner T for all your help,
I was able to load Windows 7 using the install DVD in Boot Camp Assistant.
Once Windows 7 was installed I was able to install the Boot Camp drivers from the USB drive onto the Windows platform.
It sure was confusing trying to use the Apple Support information since it really did not apply to my MacBook Pro.
Sure wish Apple would have left a published page on this.
Very nice. Please back up OSX, Windows and create a Windows System Restore point. From BCA, if you click on help, it does take you to an older link - https://help.apple.com/bootcamp/mac/5.0/help/#/bcmp173b3bf2 . This is much closer to your case.
Install Windows on your Mac
With Boot Camp, you can use Windows on your Mac.
What you need
- The keyboard and mouse or trackpad that came with your Mac. (If they aren’t available, use a USB keyboard and mouse.)
- An external USB drive (a hard drive or a flash drive) that is 8 GB or larger, formatted as MS-DOS (FAT).To format an external USB drive as MS-DOS (FAT), use Disk Utility, located in the Other folder in Launchpad.
- A Windows ISO image (a disk image that contains the entire contents of a DVD) downloaded from Microsoft, or both a Windows full-install installation disc (not the upgrade version of Windows) and a built-in disc drive or compatible external optical drive.To download Windows ISO images, see Microsoft Software Downloads.To find out which versions of Windows your Mac supports, see the Apple Support article System requirements to install Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp.
- At least 32 GB of free space on an internal hard drive.
What if the DVD drive isn't working anymore or has been replaced by a SSD drive? There must be another solution, no?
You can look at possible VMware/Winclone solution. If you still have your old Optical drive, it may be the easiest solution to go back to the standard hardware configuration.
I found a better solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE8If6gabUI
Due to System Integrity Protection I had to copy the Boot Camp Assistant to the Desktop and replace the Info.plist file inside this copy. Incredible.
You have taken the first step on this road. Be prepared for issues. Do not use EFI Boot on your 2011 Mac. It does not work correctly.
You're right. I am bumping into this now: Black screen after partitioning disk
Why must this be so complicated.
"Create a Windows 7 or later version install disk" does not show up as an option in Select Tasks
