Anyone loaded Windows 7 on a Mac?

[rp2000]

Looking to load it via Bootcamp or VMware fusion on a early 2008 MBP.

Anyone tried it yet and got any advice (on installation issues, not on the OS!)?


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Cool,

can anyone recommend advice about 64 bit? Last time I checked Apple released some updated BootCamp drivers for 64bit Vista, but only on new Mac pros, not for older devices.

I have previously installed Vista using BootCamp without issues (32 bit).

Also I read somewhere that you do not even need to use BootCamp assistant as the Windows 7 installer can load from EFI based systems (Macs)? Anyone know anything about this?


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Do you have an "Early 2008" MacBook Pro? If it's earlier then I'm not sure.

I did a lot of research when I put Vista 64 Ultimate on my Mac Pro and found that anything prior to "Early 2008" had problems with SP1 intergrated discs, but those after wouldn't batter an eyelid. Handy if you've got a later machine, but ANNOYING if you've got an early model (late 2007).

I'd suggest a search on the Apple support pages for true clarification. It's a bit of a mess tbh.

As for the EFI thing.. yes, I believe the same was said for Vista but I never got it to boot from the CD. The bootcamp wizard is a basic tool that will get your machine booting off the DVD, so it's entirely possible to use BootCamp to boot off the DVD then install Windows (and even delete OS X) once you're booted.

...that's how these people get rid of OS X and run Windows. Crazy fools.

Mine is deffo early 2008 (mult touch trackpad, Santa Rosa chipset that supports 64bit etc).

You are right about the EFI, now I recall I tried to load Vista to it natively and failed too, so this will be the same. I will use the Assistant tbh, just not sure where to get all the 64 bit drivers for.


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

The 32 & 64bit drivers are on the OSX DVD

Pop the Leopard disc in once you've installed Windows / when required and go from there.

If you want the latest graphics drivers you could always get them from the nVidia website, but the basic trackpad drivers are all installed by default from the OS X DVD. I had an issue with the Wi-Fi driver on my Mac Pro, but a simple reinstall of that driver from the DVD fixed it (must have been installed using a Windows generic driver somehow)

@Fillado.. I'm horrified when people say they want a Mac and have no intention of using OS X. As for using it for Linux?!

Triple booting, or even dual booting but a 17" for Linux. Wow.

Only the newer Mac Pro came with the 64bit drivers for BootCamp (on Leapord disc 2?). AFAIK they have not officially released drivers for any other models bar Mac Pro, and even then only on the disk.


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Really? That's a bummer, and would explain my confusion.

I found this guide which may be of some help though

That should sort me out

Might try it all out Tomorrow/Monday. (Just for fun really, Using OS X for almost a year now, I cannot think of any apps I NEED windows for, but I still keep a XP VM, which may now become a Windows 7 VM).


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Update:

Installed using Boot Camp Assistant. Windows 7 picked up most of all the drivers automatically during setup (including wifi so connected to WLAN during setup). A windows update gave me the Nvidia driver and 1 other hardware driver. Ran the Leopard disc and it loaded 64 bit drivers for everything else (even though everything I read says the 64bit drivers are not on there!), donwloaded and installed the 2.1 BC update from Apple (the 64bit Vista version) to "update" the drivers.

All works fine although my HDD gives a windows experience score of 2.9 The Boot Camp control Panel, keyboard, trackpad, eject etc all work as I would expect.

Did not check sound or iSight (although device manager shows everything installed OK). Will reboot into Windows 7 later and try those. Very easy and the whole install took about 35 minutes to desktop.


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Official MS download links for Windows 7 Beta...

32bit http://download.microsoft.com/downl...00_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

64bit http://download.microsoft.com/downl...0_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

I used this link for the 64 bit and it worked fine and fast. Even now I just started downloading in Safari on OS X and both are maxing out my connection (about 1.6 MB a sec).

By the way you will probably also have a problem with the audio drivers and will need to get them from the Realtek site.

Mine is a BootCamp install, but in VMware you can also launch the BC partition as a VM so I will do that later (someone mentioned you have to tell it is in Server 2008 mode).


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Thanks for the links, I'm looking forward to giving it a try, infact I just had to remove my bootcamp partition as it was far too small, I should have known that 40GB wouldn't be enough, I need to let it eat a good 80GB I think. So this is a good reason to try loading Windows 7 64bit sraight on there.

Mine is loaded fine in a 20GB BC partition. (have had to set the Pagefile manually though, Windows was setting something silly like 4Gb even though I already have 4GB physical RAM).

Do you enter your Vista serial key? Or were you meant to sign up for some beta-testing key?

10 minute installation time (virtual) is pretty good and it looks pretty nice too.

Key from the beta website. You can get them instantly this week (I think you have 3 days grace to activate it anyway).


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

Doesn't this beta expire in August?

For those looking to try it out, beware.. I don't believe there's a downgrade path from 7 to Vista (so you're looking at a reformat come August)

Just a heads up (I hear it's a stable beta).

Yeah but surely everyone in this thread is using it in VM or as a bootcamp partition, so hardly the end of the world when the Beta ends (Aug 01 IIRC).

I assume most people in this thread use Windows minimally or for certain task only (else why bother owning a Mac )


rp2000

 

[rp2000]

May be too slow but here's a link to the driver you need to enable right click i think, 2 finger right click also. It doesn't come up in the software update if you are running 64bit windows for some reason.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/Multi_Touch_Trackpad_Update_for_Windows_XP___Vista

------

EDIT - I have a vista 64bit partition on my new unibody and can't be fussed destroying that and loading windows 7 so i was wondering about putting 7 on my old 17" 2.33GHz beast. What version would be most appropriate? The 32bit version or the 64bit version, i know that the 2.33 chip is 64bit but the chipset is 32bit, just wondering.

Probably have to go for the 32bit version.

Is that update you linked to newer than the 2.1 Bootcamp update for Vista? I installed 2.1 and my multitouch works fine in Windows 7.

On your other question you have no choice, you need the 32bit one as your chipset is only 32bit. To be honest it is not very different from Vista, in terms of GUI etc. Performance is better but the rest is just very minor cosmetic changes, not really worth the hassle of loading to look at, unless you are going to use it.


rp2000