HOWTO: Windows 7 on Unibody MacBook Takes All Afternoon
5:27 pm, January 17th, 2009, Pete Mortensen
Having read a few of the tutorials on how to install the new Windows 7 beta on a Mac with Boot Camp, I decided to take the plunge myself today on my still sparkling-new unibody MacBook 2.4 Ghz. (This post is actually being written in Firefox on Windows 7 — eww)
And what I learned is that you had really better be prepared to spend several hours to get it working properly. The link I’ve provided above is pretty handy, but it has some tricks to it that will not be immediately apparent without some trial and error. Read on to make the essential tweaks to the tutorial needed to make it work on MacBooks, not just MacBook Pros, read on!
Here’s what’s most important. The link above, to a guide on Our Coffee Stops, is mostly good, but it really leaves out how to handle a 64-Bit installation of the Windows Boot Camp drivers from Apple. In my experience, you can try to run the drivers off the DVD, but it will quit, claiming Apple doesn’t support x64 for this hardware configuration.
The key is to download this utility. Once it’s downloaded, open the Apple Boot Camp 2.1 folder and double-click the BootCamp64 file. This will require a restart. Once it’s back up, then insert your system software DVD, but don’t use the RunSetup file. Instead, browse the DVD to find the Boot Camp folder, then open the Drivers folder, then the Apple folder. Once there, again double-click the file named BootCamp64. This will finally run and install the drivers needed to make the Apple F-key shortcuts work right, enable the iSight, alternate video resolutions, audio, and all the rest.
But it’s still not over. To make your multi-touch trackpad work properly, you’ll need to then go here for one more software update. Another restart, and you’re golden.
My only complaint (other than the fact that it’s still Windows) is that I can’t find a way to remap the keyboard so my cmd key becomes control under Windows, swapping the fairly useless Windows key to the hard-to-reach control key. Thoughts, anyone?
Posted by Pete Mortensen in Apple, First impressions, Software, Windows on Mac | Comment on this article
Actually Windows 7 introduces a number of new uses for the Windows key, with the new Aero Peak feature (though I haven’t had a chance to try them myself – Win7-32 had troubles with Apple Wireless Keyboard/Mouse on my iMac). Lifehacker recently had an article detailing them. I’m going to use this method for Win7-64 tomorrow though, hopefully with better results.
Mike, on January 17th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
[...] …Read More [...]
HOWTO: Windows 7 on Unibody MacBook Takes All Afternoon | Cult of Mac | The Macbook Blog, on January 17th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
It takes 10 minutes to install Windows 7 on a MacBook Pro using VmWare Fusion. Why would anyone do it any other way?
Keith Thomas, on January 17th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
i had much less trouble installing 7 on my unibody MBP – first i bootcamped a spare XP disc i had lying around, installed Apple’s drivers, downloaded 7 in XP, installed it, and i was rocking. took a while to do it all, but most of the time was spent waiting for things to download/configure themselves.
Worth, on January 17th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I have installed the Windows 7 beta on my MacPro. It took a looooooong time. Firstly the download took nearly three hours. Then it took 3 DVDs before I got the iso disk format right. I tried Toast 9 and this was a coaster, then from the Finder another coaster, finally success with Disk Utility. Then the multi reboot Windows installation process gobbled up nearly another hour. Surprisingly it picked up my airport network with no fuss and also my Logitech blue tooth mouse. Windows 7 can see my Apple BT keyboard but cannot connect, the little blue donut just spins away doing nothing. It cannot see the numbers on the numeric keypad of my Apple USB keyboard but it can see all of the other keys surrounding the numbers!!!
I could not get Windows 7 to print using my Canon Pixma 4600 inkjet even after downloading Vista drivers and installing them. But you, dear reader will never guess how I got printing to work.
With a bit of Apple software!!!!!
I thought I would download the Windows versions of Safari and iTunes to compare with our versions. QuickTime is a necessary download to install iTunes and so I clicked on all of the downloads and when they finished installing, started them up. The usual licencing forms came up and then lo and behold, a little dialogue box came up, “Would you like to install Bonjour Printing for Windows” I clicked OK and yay I can now print from Windows 7.
They have still got a lot to learn.
Richard Dalziel-Sharpe, on January 17th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I did not try installing the 64-bit Windows 7 beta on my MacBook, I stuck with 32-bit. Getting it installed with BootCamp and having all drivers installed and all hardware working took less than an hour.
I don’t understand how people are struggling with this. Perhaps 64-bit gives people issues, but that’s Apple’s fault. And there is no good reason to use 64-bit Windows on a MacBook anyway. 32-bit installation is fast, flawless and requires no extra downloads from Apple or anyone else.
Holland, on January 18th, 2009 at 12:30 am
I installed Windows 7 using bootcamp without problems but I had to install the updated sound drivers from realtek. For the rest, it’s working perfect.
From what I’ve experienced in a few hours is that this OS could be a perfect alternative for OS X!
There’s no reason to be a fanatic apple fanboy
Istiklal, on January 18th, 2009 at 3:32 am
It always amazes how people waste so much time installing what they know to be the worlds biggest garbage on a top of the line piece of machinery. Some say for bragging rights? Bragging about Winshit? You must be a universal idiot to want to do that publicly. Winshit and Microshit belong in the trash or on some crappy PC; definitely not on a Mac! and certainly not when it takes all afternoon. Microshit isn’t worth 5 minutes of my time.
Jarod, on January 18th, 2009 at 4:01 am
Well done … now the fun begins!
Partners in Grime, on January 18th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I’d look into Autohotkey if I wanted to rebind keys. It’s what I use when I’m over in the windows world.
http://www.autohotkey.com/
Nikolaus, on January 18th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
@Jarod above.. i guess you already spent your 5 Appleshit minutes to write that comment down and thinking about it
MacPhobia, on January 19th, 2009 at 12:08 am
I use KeyTweak to remap things. It’s free.
http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/
Peter.
Peter, on January 19th, 2009 at 2:41 am
Hi Pete,
Can you post a full instruction on how to instead Windows 7 (x64 or x32) on an unibody MacBook. This is my first time, help!
Thanks a Lot,
Mike
Mike, on January 21st, 2009 at 7:08 pm
For everybody who’s bitching about this “needing more” or microsoft having “a lot to learn.” IT’S A BETA YOU IDIOTS. Of course there are going to be bugs and glitches and issues. That’s why they have forums for feedback on the website so they can fix any known issues. If you’re just installing it to mess around, have fun, but don’t bitch unless you’re going to be productive about it.
And Jerod, you’re the biggest tool of them all. Why did you bother to waste your time posting a rant about your own conceded, close minded opinions? Just to make your cock feel bigger? How about you learn what a real OS is and play around with a *nix distro. Macs are so good, but why is it the kernel is based of a Unix architecture? Grow up and then come back and try again.
And to Pete, thank you very much for an informative article and links. It’s always nice to see the good people assisting others with issues. This is what makes the computer world a great place. Helping others with issues you’ve already resolved. Very selfless and kind. Keep up the good work!
Thaddeus, on February 4th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I’m comfused.. I have Bootcamp 2.1 preinstalled on my MB. Do I still have to use the dvd or just install the x64 patch and go from there??
Ric, on February 13th, 2009 at 4:04 pm