lqfocus06
Level 1 (4 points)
Windows Software

Q: Boot Camp on MBP Early 2011 with no DVD drive

Hey y'all,

 

I had an original hard drive that came with my MBP Early 2011, which crashed last year. I got me a 256GB SSD, best upgrade ever.

 

I rely on storage drive, but the USB transfer rate sucked. Considering that we're phasing out the DVD technology, so I decided to swap out the DVD drive with a second harddrive to act as storage.

 

Now I want to install Windows 10 on my 256GB SSD for school purpose, to have the ability to use PuTTy among other stuff for my Network Admin major. I am having difficulty with Boot Camp and Windows 10. At this point, I am stuck where it says the installer disc could not be found.

 

What do I do at this point? I have the Windows 10 ISO file on my desktop, but it is exe file. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Everything on my MacBook is up to date.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 21, 2016 8:26 PM

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lqfocus06

Q: Boot Camp on MBP Early 2011 with no DVD drive

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 22, 2016 2:56 PM in response to lqfocus06
    Level 7 (23,493 points)
    Safari
    Mar 22, 2016 2:56 PM in response to lqfocus06

    1. 2011 Models with built-in Optical drives use it to install Windows. Please find your Optical drive and temporarily re-install it.

    2. Put the designated W10 destination disk in the main bay.

    3. The .exe file is a download manager. You can get an ISO file and burn it to a physical DVD from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home .

  • by lqfocus06,

    lqfocus06 lqfocus06 Mar 23, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 23, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Loner T

    Seriously? Optical drive is so obsoleted these days, is there no alternative way?

     

    Is it possible to install a newer version Boot Camp where it doesn't require DVD drive?

     

    I will have to find the DVD drive and hope I did not throw it away... I can't confirm this yet as I have busy schedule. I do have the Windows 10 ISO file on my desktop, and an external hard drive prepped for the process.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 23, 2016 12:17 PM in response to lqfocus06
    Level 7 (23,493 points)
    Safari
    Mar 23, 2016 12:17 PM in response to lqfocus06

    Your 2011 Mac came with a built-in Optical drive, so it was useful when you bought the Mac.

  • by Cunno,

    Cunno Cunno May 27, 2016 12:55 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 27, 2016 12:55 AM in response to Loner T

    I see where you are going with ' install original dvd'. However here is a scenario which makes it hard to do. I also have  removed optical drive. Installed a 500 gb SSD & also a 1 TB Sata drive. With the option of clever software i have created a 1.5 tb Fusion drive and can no longer use my Optical drive. The perfect scenario for me to would to be able to create a bootable win 7 installer (USB drive) and the instructions of how to install.

    BTW my 2011 Macbook Pro absolutely flies with a fusion drive and 8gb and i am so happy to keep it going.

     

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  • by Side_Step_Society,

    Side_Step_Society Side_Step_Society Sep 6, 2016 4:15 PM in response to Cunno
    Level 2 (378 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 6, 2016 4:15 PM in response to Cunno

    As suggested, temporarily "break" your Fusion drive, move your destination drive for Windows to the HDD bay if it isn't there already, reinstall the optical drive and then install Windows, or use a USB based optical drive.

     

    2011 models are limited in support with Windows OS and USB sticks due to EFI limitations. You'll spend more time pulling out your hair trying to get a USB stick to boot a Windows install than just re-installing your optical drive.