Guide: Windows 7 x64 Build 7000 on a Macbook Pro
Technology — By Yao Siang on January 11, 2009 at 8:20 PMMicrosoft released the Windows 7 Beta to the public on the 9th of January 2009. The ISO image of the DVD can be downloaded here.
A quick search in google showed that it is possible to install Windows 7 via Boot Camp on a Macbook Pro. I downloaded the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and burnt it into a DVD with Disk Utility. Basically, the installation process resembles Windows Vista a lot and the operating system itself is an improved version of Vista.
In this post, I will write how to get Windows 7 installed and fully working on a Macbook Pro.
UPDATED: You CAN use the normal Boot Camp installer located on the Leopard DVD. Trying to do that directly will probably give you error 2229 BUT you can just copy the “Boot Camp” folder on your hard drive and replace the BootCamp.msi and BootCamp64.msi packages with the ones from here (big thanks to limo79 for this!): http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=6908029&postcount=216
Credits to Atheos
1. Download and burn the ISO image into DVD.
2. Run Boot Camp Assistance (Applications -> Utilities).
(a) Follow the wizard to create a partition for installation of windows. At the end of the wizard, you will be asked to insert the Windows DVD and restart your Mac.
(b) If you have an existing copy of Windows installed via Boot Camp, you will either need to remove it and follow step 2(a), or choose “Start the Windows installer” and format the Windows partition later in the installation process.
3. Your Mac will restart and you will see “Press any key to boot from DVD…”. Press any key and the setup will load all the necessary files. You should see the Install Windows screen after the process.
4. Follow the Install Windows wizard. Choose “Custom (advanced)” and that will lead you to the partition screen.
5. In the partition table, there will be a list of partitions of your HDD. Select the “BOOT CAMP” partition, click on “Drive options (advanced)” and then “Format”.
6. Make sure that the Boot Camp partition is selected before clicking next.
7. The installation process will start.
8. You computer will restart several times during the installation. Remember not to hit any key when you are prompted to boot from the DVD.
9. After the installation is done, you will see the “Set up windows screen”. Again, follow the set up wizard till the end.
10. If everything is fine, you will be in the desktop screen now.
11. You will need to install the drivers now. Put in the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 and run the Boot Camp Utility setup.
12. Download the Boot Camp Update 2.1 for Windows Vista 64-bit here and install it. (You might want to set the compatibility under properties to Windows Vista and run as administrator.)
13. After all the installations, the custom F1 to F12 keys (eg. F10 to mute) and the eject key will work.
14. However, video and audio drivers need some update. For the video driver (nVidia 8600M), you can find it in the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 under Boot Camp -> Drivers -> NVidia -> NVidiaMobileSetup64.exe
15. As for the audio driver, you can download Vista_R209.zip here and run the setup.exe as admin and in Windows Vista compatibility mode. (credits to shannon here)
16. Run Windows Update and install all the updates.
17. You should have a fully working Windows 7 OS on your MacBook Pro! =)
Windows Media Player 12
Note: I take no responsibility for data lost or machine failure during the process. It is always wise to read through all the steps and download all the necessary files before starting the installations. Also, do not install Norton 360 Beta as it freezes up my Macbook Pro randomly!
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179 Comments
RWoSfV hi! how you doin?
I too get the CD Boot Type message when trying to install Windows 7 x64 on my Macbook Pro, 2.33Ghz. I tried burning the iso with toast 9, disk utility and burn under OS X, I then tried the iso using imgburn in a vmware version of windows xp, that got me past the boot type message but now i get a “cannot boot from cd error code 5″ message! I think it just cant be done!
mike: Hi, I’m doing fine. Thanks. =)
Grumpythedwarff: I found this page in apple.com stating Macs that work with Vista x64. Perhaps you guys with problem installing should take a look at it here. The last modified date is October 27, 2008. Cheers.
Grumpythedwarff: “now i get a “cannot boot from cd error code 5″ message!”
I have this same problem. if anyone finds the solution, please pass it along.
Bryan Blevins: Which model of MacBook Pro are you on?
Yao Siang: I’m on a macPro I bought in Sept. 2007. Here is my hardware overview,
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro2,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB
Memory: 16 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP21.007F.B06
To get Vista 64 sp1 in boot from CD i had to follow the steps to build a new disc as outlined on this site
http://jowie.com/blog/post/2008/02/24/Select-CD-ROM-Boot-Type-prompt-while-trying-to-boot-from-Vista-x64-DVD-burnt-from-iso-file.aspx
I got the same error when try to boot the win7 disk, but after doing the same method as above, I get the “cannot boot from cd error code 5″ like Grumpythedwarff
Found the solution to the problem.
For Windows 7, when following the steps at jowie.com. When you get to the part where you “set the sectors to load”, set it to 8.
Disk then burns, and boots fine.
I used the Coffeestops guide to install Windows 7 on my Mac Book Pro (2008 Unibody) 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo of Awesomeness. It also recognized my new 24″ LED Display too.
George Magdaleno´s last blog post was
Great thx. Nice tutorial, but I think that we can also skip Boot Camp Assistance step and load Windows 7 DVD using Option key
Am I right ?
Yes that works like a charm!
Thanks for the tips about the apple shortcuts that really enoyed me!
I just can’t update bootcamp to version 2.1 no mather how I set the campatibility settings and run as admin. I even removed all the UAC interference!
anyone got ths figured out? do I need a special installer? I used apples 64x vista version from the link above.
David: Is there any error when you attempt to install the update? Do you have the Boot Camp 2.0 from the Mac OS X Install DVD installed?
I could not find that article at Jowie.com. I am getting the same error “cannot boot from disc” and I have no idea what to do. This probably means I did something wrong. Could someone post a link of an idle on exactly how to create the DVD?
If you are having problems booting the Windows 7 x64 DVD and you get:
————-
1.
2.
Select boot type:
————-
with the keyboard frozen, try installing rEFIt from refit.sourceforge.net and boot off the disc using the second option. Worked for me.
Alex bates: The URL to the article in Jowie.com was posted somewhere in the older comments. You can find it by clicking “Older Comments”.. Cheers. =)
Thanks! I found the article but it looks like that is only for the Windows 7 x64 version. Since I have an older Mac, I am going to use the x32 version. Also, those instructions are for Windows. Is there an easier way for format the DVD from a Mac?
I’ve installed the refit before boot I choosed windows, but still frozen keyboard with
1.
2.
Select boot type:
any idea what can I do ?
There is no windows installed previusly only a simple bootcam partition…
alexander: Do you mean that you cannot boot from the 32-bit Windows 7 DVD?
No, I can’t boot from the 64-bit version.
alexander: Try the 32-bit version instead, you should face no problem. Look back into the comments. I posted a link to apple.com about Macs that support 64-bit.
Yao: Do you know of an article for beginners on creating a bootable disc? I have never done anything like this before and have no idea where to start. So far I have downloaded the 32-bit version and created a partition with Bootcamp assistant. When I tried to make the starup disc, all I did was drag the .ISO file to a blank DVD and I clicked burn. I’m sure there are a bunch more steps besides just clicking burn.
Another problem I ran into was, when I downloaded the 32-bit version from Microsoft, it saved as a .dlm file. I then changed it to an .ISO file like the one shown in the tutorial. I’m not sure if this would affect it at all.
Thanks!
Alex Bates´s last blog post was iLife ’09 Available for purchase
I ran into the same problems some people are getting into trying to install via creating a install disk and getting the keyboard frozen but i think i found an alternate solution…
I downloaded the trial version of VMWare’s Parallels and selected to boot from the dowloaded image itself from Microsoft, its installing as i’m writing this, it had no problems loading the image and recognized it was a Windows 7 (experimental) version. I think that this is much easier, considering that i don’t have any version of windows installed on any computer yet…
Uhhh i ran into a problem but i found the solution:
Parallels (obvious to some, but this is the first time I’m getting parallels and windows so bear with me here please) creates the os in their own form… Disabling a way to boot the computer from a os installed via parallels. So, what I’m going to do is this…
Continue with the new os via parallels then use the “how to” to create a working installation disk to boot into windows 7 and then install it on there and that will eliminate the parallels thing and I’ll a bootable version of windows 7… FINALLY!!! hoping this will work well…
I finally go Windows 7 installed! I decided to forget about using Bootcamp and tried it with VMware Fusion. It took about 5 minutes to get into the Windows 7 installer and then about 30 minutes to complete the installation. It works great and is very easy to use- for anyone that just wants to get it the easiest way possible. First, I downloaded the Fusion free trial. Then, I followed this great online tutorial:
http://www.downloadsquad.com/photos/windows-7-in-vmware-fusion-2/1314037/
I would go ahead and try this out if you still can’t get it installed with Bootcamp.
Alex Bates´s last blog post was Apple sued over 3G connectivity
For those with cd boot type messages and frozen keyboards I found this and followed the instructions and got it working.
http://www.jowie.com/blog/post/2008/02/24/Select-CD-ROM-Boot-Type-prompt-while-trying-to-boot-from-Vista-x64-DVD-burnt-from-iso-file.aspx
Pay special attention to the Windows 7 comment about picking 8 sectors instead of 4.
I have the same problem with 2.1 not installing. I have the 2.1 update in my downloads folder and have set compatibility to windows vista and run as administrator. Still when i double click on it to run it the working mouse pointer comes up for a couple seconds, then it goes away and nothing happens, the update never really starts up. Boot Camp 2.0 is already installed as well.
I have installed a working 32 bit version of windows 7 on my new mac book pro but I can’t for the life of my install the correct video driver. It gives me an error for every type of installation of the driver that the hardware is incorrect or that I don’t need to install it. Can anybody help me out here?
Brandon: Have you tried looking for the driver in the Mac OS X Install Disc 1?
Hi all, nice post. I followed your directions on a unibody macbook pro 15″, but I am having a couple of problems. Keyboard backlight stays on for one thing. Also, the eject button does not work, nor do the fn-keys. I downloaded the BootCamp64.msi patch and ran the boot camp install that way. Sound got fixed with the RealTek download. Nvidia wouldn’t install off of the Boot Camp disks, however Windows update installed a driver that seems fine. BTW, my idiot IT department threw away the restore disks that came with the MBP. I used Disk 1 from a Mac Mini to load boot camp. Could that be my problem? TIA!
how i cane activate the win.7
I’ve read on many blogs that the install process of win 7 would have been faster, but I didn’t really noticed any improvement on it; especially if compared to vista. It takes 35minutes on fast machines and 1hour in slow ones.
HAHAHAHA
Cold Play…
does that come with Windows 7 or is that your collection.
I can’t remember where this is from but I say it a lot
“You know how I know you are gay? Your favorite band is Cold Play.”
Hi
I have an pre-leopard mac and out of the box windows 7 just works with the exception of one USB port, sound and of course the multi touch features of the track pad. I had to install graphics drivers manually.
Using the Vista64 bootcamp package hasn’t worked for me. Even running in compatability mode as Admin the bootcamp package fails silently. Does anyone have any advice on how to get around these issues? I don’t have a leopard disc so I can’t get the drivers from there.
Thanks
I should point out that installing the audio drivers linked to in this article also did not work for me
after installation it askes to reboot windows, however after that the sound still doesnt work. oh well
I ran into a problem when I tried to install the drivers. (Error 2229)
SOLUTION: http://snajd-it.blogspot.com/2009/03/error-2229-when-installing-bootcamp-on.html
Hey folks,
has anyone had trouble with secondary external displays, i.e try to use a InFoucs projector and the max resolution is 640×480 – I have tried the latest video drivers but no luck. When booted in the Mac OS its works fine, and external monitors can go higher.
Thanks
Tom
TomC,
I tested with a LCD TV and the resolution can go up till the maximum that the TV can support. No problem. Best part is that the secondary external display is auto-detected once connected through DVI-to-VGA and resolution is auto-set to optimum resolution. (Clone mode, laptop display set to fit secondary display, just like OS X)
MBP, 8600M-GT, driver from Leopard Install DVD, Windows 7 Build 7000.
Hi Yao, thanks for the advice. with external montiors I can get to 1280 x 800, but the projectors I can only do 640 x 480. And I know the project can support higher resolution because I am tested it with other computers (even when I boot into the Mac OSX).
i mount the ” mac os x install disc 1″ but there’s no folder on it called bootcamp, and if i find it eventually, what driver will i want to isntall? running windows 7 ultimate 32bit on the newest 13″ macbookpro
one morething, i installed this on this laptop and on my iMac, on my iMac however (which is older has worse graphics proccesor and RAM) everything worked great with the video drivers perfectly working to play games like TM and Assassins Creed. Here Im far from it, done the exact same thing?! wtf
And is there anyway i can get the touchpad to work like on the mac?
Ludvig F,
You should read the disc in Windows and not mount it in OS X.
I’ve got 2-finger scroll to work in windows, not the multitouch though.
Hi
I’ve installed the BETA release of Win 7 previously with my old flat mate (windows wiz). I have recently tried to reinstall the OS (build 7600) on my macbook pro after a format of the drive, but keep running into a ‘no bootable device’ error when I hold option and boot from Windows disc! I have an old MBP (early 2006 I believe) which has a 2 GHz Intel Core Duo processor (not Core 2 Duo)!
I can’t understand what I’m doing wrong, considering I got it working before? I am using at the moment an external firewire disc drive to run the disc, this is due to my superdrive running into errors in the past. Can’t see how this would make a difference as it sees the windows disc to boot from. The copy (which I have burned as an iso using toast 10) is called ’7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD.iso’. Am I using the correct version of Win 7? I don’t understand the meaning of 32bit/64bit x86/x64, I have tried google and wiki to try and get my head round it with no luck. I am guessing it is the 32bit version I need but is that X86 or X64?
Any help would be much appreciated since I need it for work. Not being able to open DRM powerpoint files is making my boss very angry! Also would be nice to play games away from home like I used to last year!
Many Thanks
Red
Hi.i would like to know if a crack windows 7 can be installed on a snow leopard macbook pro anot ?
Now i need to get one of those macbooks with customized skin covering! Hooray for the mac and the 7!
I’ve been successful at installing Windows 7 x86 on my Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo (mid 2006) using Apple’s Bootcamp, but shortly after the OS and driver installation the system becomes unstable and crashes often (Windows), which lead me to believe that it wasn’t really supported on these Macs. Some may have had luck getting theirs to work, but I’m not sure why my installs lock-up after they are complete.
I will perhaps try again in the near future.
Thanks for your article!
[..] A bit unrelated, but I absolutely liked this blog post [..]
after installing window7 on my macbook i am unable to open my partition drive other then window drive?what i should i do now?
I upgrade my Macbook Pro to 500G HD, now I am running windows 7 & OS X with 250 G Space each, just like 2 machines in one.
good idea, having a taste of windows 7 on apple machine is great.
thanks for sharing your ideas.
I like windows 7 though.
I like Steve’s idea to have the hard drive partitioned into two separate drives and running Windows 7 operating system off of one and OS X on the other, but you probably do want to get the new macbook pro with a sufficient hard drive capacity to handle the multiple operating system installations.