Getting Bootcamp (Windows 7) on Mac Mini Late 2014

This is an account of what it took to install Windows 7 on a brand new Mac Mini (Late 2014 model) as of March of 2016.

I started the process same day I purchased the basic $499 Mac Mini. I set up the Mac side and started Bootcamp Utility. After downloading the support files, the drive partitioned and the Mini rebooted. To a blank screen. I had no idea what was (not) happening. The SuperDrive made noises and it sounded like something was being loaded, but no display. I tried another display. Same thing. Reboot, reboot, reboot. Same thing. Monitors worked fine with my MBAir. On a lark, I swapped the VGA adapter to a DVI cable and adapter and voila, I get a picture.

Windows 7 starts loading the installer. Reformatted the Bootcamp partition to be NTFS no problem. Coped/extracted/installed files. Restart to continue. Windows starts and the animated logo displays, and then an error screen displays, Windows Boot Manager. A file's digital signature can't be verified. AppleSSD.sys. After looking on the innerwebs, I see that you can DL/install Paragon NTFS on the Mac side to gain access to the NTFS partition. Then you find the file (windows/system32/drivers/applessd.sys) and delete it.

Reboot. Launch Windows normally. Perfect. Starts the configuration process. Screen comes up to enter an account name and I can't enter a thing. There's no mouse and no keyboard whatsoever. Check cables and USB antenna for the wireless mouse. Nothing. Swap to a wired USB mouse. Nothing. Wait for like 20 minutes to see if it just takes a while to load. Nothing. Try PC keyboard, Mac keyboard, reboot to use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Nothing.Contacted Apple support; they advised reinstalling the Windows OS by recreating the Bootcamp partition, etc. Nothing; same behavior. Several accounts of using the Bootcamp Assistant through several iterative processes to get results. I can't make head or tails of them. I get one glimmer of a nugget on a post about an iMac or MBPro regarding USB 3. Someone tried to find a compatible hub or something.

USB 3. Yes, this late 2014 Mac Mini uses USB 3 for all four ports. Hmm. Innerwebs search: Windows 7 install usb 3... aHA!

Turns out that Windows 7 was created before USB 3 existed. Therefore, the install disc or iso hasn't got any drivers for USB3. Turns out Intel has a solution for that. You can add USB 3 drivers to a Windows 7 iso. Check this out: USB 3.0 Creator Utility.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utilit y

Follow the instructions on Intel's PDF for this tool. You will also need to use the Microsoft tool to create a USB flash drive installer. It's noted in the PDF.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

After updating the standard .iso with USB 3 drivers, I was able to complete my installation of Windows 7 on Bootcamp.