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Will Windows 7 install using Bootcamp in OS Sierra

Will Windows 7 install using Bootcamp in OS Sierra?

Safari Browser-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 7:24 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 27, 2017 7:46 AM

dallek1 wrote:


sierra specifically rejects windows 7? it states windows 8 or later? I follow your instructions but the issue is apple states windows 7 is not supported on sierra, 10.12.3 is the current ver.

No. This bug has been fixed in 10.12.2 and higher. See Download macOS Sierra 10.12.2 Combo Update for reference. If your Mac does not support W7, Sierra will not either. W7 is supported on Macs listed in Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support .

23 replies

Sep 27, 2016 11:17 AM in response to Loner T

I was able to solve my problem, and maintain my clean OS Sierra install.

DO NOT USE BootCamp for the install.

Formatting a new (2nd) partition with disk utility to FAT and booting directly to the installer on my Windows7 CD.

I was able to use the advanced options on the CD to format the FAT partition into NTFS and proceed with the install.

My MacBook Pro is a mid 2010, so I then installed the driver software (from external USB drive) that was recommended on Apple's site.

This might help to get any version of Windows installed and running natively beside the latest Apple operating systems.

Oct 5, 2016 1:29 PM in response to partman1969

I have a Mac Mini Late 2014 with MacOS Sierra, and I had to do the following:


1) Using an El Capitan Mac, use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Boot Camp Installation USB stick by pointing it to a Windows 7 ISO file, it will be named "WININSTALL"

2) I went to this to find the correct Boot Camp files: Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support

3) In my case, I downloaded the zip for the Mac Mini using this: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1837?locale=en_US

4) The instructions tell you to copy the contents of that zip file to the USB stick. However, DO NOT COPY the AutoUnattend.xml file; in my case that XML file would not let me perform an install. I only copied the $WinPEDriver$ directory onto the stick.

5) On the Sierra Mac, use Boot Camp Assistant to partition the Windows area (first delete any pre-existing windows partitions).

6) From this point on, it should be a smooth install. For me, without the $WinPEDriver$ directory on the USB stick, Windows 7 did not have the USB 3 drivers necessary for me to use the keyboard/mouse during the installation.

7) Once fully loaded into Windows 7, then install the drivers for Boot Camp using the Setup.exe found in the "bootcamp" directory of the zip file from step 3.

Will Windows 7 install using Bootcamp in OS Sierra

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