Boot Camp Alternatives for Users Without a Superdrive?

I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro, and want to install Windows. However, my optical drive quit on me months back (I since replaced it with an SSD), and I've tried installing with an external optical drive, and that didn't work, either. (For kicks, I made a USB boot drive as well, though I knew it wouldn't work.) Is there any way around this restriction? Two things come to mind:
Creating an MS-DOS formatted partition on my hard drive without the Boot Camp tool, and installing it in that fashion. (I'm not sure if this would change the issue with my MBP not recognizing the boot drive at all, however; holding down Option did not reveal the drive.) I could then install the Boot Camp tools.
Creating a partition through Boot Camp, then removing the hard drive, hooking it up to a PC, and installing Windows to the drive on that PC, then replacing the HDD.
If I go with #1 (assuming it is possible), are there any downsides to installing without Boot Camp and then installing the tools later? I am supposing that you won't be able to interact with the Boot Camp drive in the same fashion on the OS X partition (for example, having the selection tool in the menu bar for choosing to boot into the Windows partition), but do you miss out on anything drivers–wise doing it that way? I seriously doubt #2 is possible, and I'd like to avoid it just because of the drag of opening up my machine.
Exactly what does the Boot Camp helper do to the OS X boot sequence? I've found that once I started Boot Camp, I have to hold Option or go back to the tool and delete the partition, eslewise my computer keeps on trying to boot to installation media that is not there. (As far as it is concerned, that is.) I am guessing there is no way to make my firmware act as if the computer had never had an optical drive, either.
Edited to Add: I should note that both the DVD and the USB drive were created on a PC using the Windows 7 Download Tool.

if you don't need to play games then
virtualbox, wmware and other virtual machines will let you install windows and linux for that matter
and run it in a window or fullscreen

Similar Messages

Alternative for HLS HTML streaming trough JW player for users without Flash?

Hello!
I am using HLS TS Streaming trough JW player for the largest group of users that have flash for streaming video's.
Is there an alternative for users without flash?
Best regards

I will just summarize myself...
Adobe media server supports rtmp and HTTP(HLS and HDS)..
for rtmp streaming the swf running in a Flash player is the standard interface...that flash player may be an activeX control/plugin in your browser or may be a standalone player downloaded from adobe website...Chrome web browser however users a slightly different( PPAPI based) flash player(which is different from Adobe flash player) and is developed and maintained by google.
For HLS and HDS, you can either use special players(i.e swfs)(Flash based) developed Adobe by Adobe e.g Strobe meida player(Open Source Media Framework Blog | Adobe’s free and open source media playback system) or you can use players like jwplayer(Video Player Download | JW Player Online Video Player)... Incidentally jwplayer has added simultaneous support for playing rtmp streams too(which is reallly good), but i do not have much insight into workings of jwplayer...

I'v got the latest macbook pro 13" and it dose not come with the lion os disk so how do i get the boot camp drivers for windows 7 without an os disk

i'v got the latest macbook pro 13" and it dose not come with the lion os disk so how do i get the boot camp drivers for windows 7 without an os disk

Page 5, step 2, #2, 2nd bullet.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/Boot_Camp_Install-Setup_10.7.pdf

Boot Camp drivers for windows (download)

I am trying to instal windows 7 on my MacBook Pro thru Boot Camp. Does anyone know where I can download the Boot Camp drivers for windows. I can't find them on the apple website and I don't have my Mac OS X instal DVD with me.
Thank you

Nick Px360 wrote:
Are they essential or can I run windows 7 on my Macbook Pro without the bootcamp drives
Only if you don't mind a Windows system lacking most features and thus beaing nearly unuseable.
Applying the appropriate drivers for hardware support is a must for all operating systems.
Stefan

Boot Camp error: The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition. The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Jounraled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.

Hi!
I am getting the error:
"The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition. The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Jounraled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows."
I read up some on google, but all of them says that they have crated a partition and that is the problem, I only have the standard "Macintosh HD".
I tried to create a partition manually in disk utility but then the error message: "Partition failed with error message: Could not unmount disk."
Can anyone help me? It's driving me crazy.
Thanks.

This message, and threads like yours got asked daily for over two years, now it is only a couple times a week!!
Is it so hard to follow through? you were to have backup already, clones are best, then erase/format and restore.
Then partition.
Some have been able to use Disk Utility booted from OS X DVD or another drive, and repair the drive.
You have to use Boot Camp Assistant (99.9% anyway) to create and achieve a proper Windows Master Boot Record partition.

Can i just partition my HD by using boot camp 4.0.1 without install window?

Can i just partition my HD by using boot camp 4.0.1 without install windows?
cox i want to use rEFIt to boot up my pendrive to install windows.
Due to some reason the boot camp 4.0.1 cannnot detect my usb drive (that contained windows 7), so thats why i use the rEFIt to boot from my usb drive

Yes, you can.
Let the BootCamp Assistant just make the partition and do not click on "Install Windows"-button.
The result is a preformatted FAT32-partition on your Mac.
Stefan

Unable to install Boot Camp Drivers for Windows

Mac Pro (2) 3.2 Xeon quads
Mac OS 10.5.2
Boot Camp side - Windows XP pro x64 w/SP2
Step 3 listed in the instructions for setting up Boot Camp is to Install the Boot Camp drivers for Windows. At this point Windows recognizes my Mac Install disk 1. I get the following message: "the installer encountered errors before Boot Camp could be configured. To retry these operations at a later time, please run the installer again." I am not sure if I needed to do something to install the Service Pack 2? My firmware is at MP31.006C.B02 and 1.25f4. When I checked for the latest firmware, it returned a message that it was not necessary.
Maybe the XP pro x64 is not compatible?
Barry in St. Louis

I did install windows xp sp2 32 bit on my macbook pro 2.2 GB and I'm getting the same ...
When trying to install boot camp drivers, a message came up saying:
Boot Camp requires that your computer is running Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista.
The only option it gave me was to click the "OK" button. When I clicked OK , another message came up saying:
Boot Camp Installer completed. The install encountered errors before Boot Camp could be configured. To retry these operations at a later time, please run the installer again. Click "finish" to exit installer. I am running a brand new full retail version of windows xp service pack 2. Applecare will not help blaming Microsoft and of course Microsoft is blaming Apple. What a bunch of useless crap!! Can anyone help??

Designing Java Apps for Users Without a JRE Installed Yet

Hi, sorry if this post is in the wrong place, but here goes:
I'm designing a Swing Java application for a client. My client intends to distribute/sell this application.
I'm concerned because, chances are that at least one of the people he distributes this application to will not have the JRE installed and will thus be unable to run the application.
Can anyone give me some suggestions on ways I can make my application more convenient for users without the JRE currently installed? Even some kind of error message that would direct the user to the JRE download site would be okay.
kwikness
Edited by: kwikness on Dec 2, 2009 5:56 PM

Use NSIS and package your application with JRE.
Add your jar files to lib/ext of the JRE package.
NSIS can create a short cut (desktop/start menu) to launch java class/jar file
I would not use webstart unless you are sure that clients will have access to the internet, the bandwidth is not an issue and installing the new JRE is allowed (permissions, SLA, etc.)
Best regards.

Do open fonts work in Word for users without the font on their machine?

Our team creates documents in Word and we would like to use an Open Font (Adobe Jenson Pro)--there is quite a bit of internal file-sharing and I don't want the font to switch to something ugly when it is reviewed in Word (because Word users do not have this font installed by default). I know that there is some cross-compatibility. We would like to apply this font to the template and don't want to introduce a font issue. anyone with experience know how if this works with the Open Font in word documents for users without it installed?
thanks!!
Anne

annecroft wrote:
Thanks for your expertise. You are a little snarky, aren't you?
The coffee hasn't kicked in yet.
Open TYPE fonts are Adobe fonts
Nope. OTF's are made by many different companies. Adobe DOES have many of them yes but they don't rule the market on them.

Best Boot Camp version for my MacBook Pro?

Hi guys!
So, I've got a 17" MacBook Pro from 2007. It's listed as "macbookpro2,1" in System Profiler, if that helps. I've got the Windows 7 Release Candidate installed on a Boot Camp partition running BC version 2.0. I guess I'm a bit confused - what is the "correct" version of the Boot Camp drivers for this machine?
I bought Star Trek Online today, and I just want to make sure I'm getting the best performance this trusty old Mac is capable of!
Thanks,
Huxley

Hi Huxley,
Windows 7 BootCamp Driver support requires both the Snow Leopard install DVD, which contains the 3.0 version of the Drivers, and the 3.1 driver update which can be download from Apples download site.
The version number of the BootCamp Assistant in OSX is either 3.0 when you use OSX Snow Leopard or 2.0 if you use OSX Leopard.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3986
To my knowledge the Windows 7 Release Candidate is only valid for use till the end of March, so it might be time to buy the full version.
Regards
Stefan

Boot camp drivers for Windows XP

Where do I get the Boot Camp Drivers for Windows XP after installing Windows XP again

Regarding my query, the following are attached:
1. Proof of Purchase (Bill dated 26/12/2008)
2. The Serial Number as noted from the Mac screen is as follows:
Serial Number (system): YM******ZE4
Hardware UUID: ****
<Edited By Host>

Where do I find the boot camp driver for my MacBookPro3,1

I have an older model intel macbook. The model identifier is MacBookPro3,1. Can anyone provide me with a link to download the correct boot camp assistant and drivers? I don't have the old installation cds that it normally comes with. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, I'm also doing the same thing on an intel MacPro. It isn't the latest model but the model just before that.

Apple makes it so you need OS X DVD to get Boot Camp 3.0 first before you can install or download updates.
Call and request replacement DVD, or just buy SL 10.6.x DVD $29.
That would be newer and your OEM didn't come with 10.6.
I assume you have the original discs for 2009 Mac Pro.
Any 10.6 DVD will provide Boot Camp driver for any Mac.

Cannot get Boot Camp drivers (for Windows XP) installed

I've partitioned my Time Machine HD for the 32GB/FAT format of Windows XP/Home Edition w/SP2. The installation of Windows proceeded OK. However, after installing Windows, ejecting the W-Install disc, and inserting my MAC OS X Leopard disc, the "setup.exe" file does not open. If I start up in Windows, I cannot open the Opt. Disc drawer since the BC drivers are not installed; if I insert the OS X disc in the drawer, then restart in Windows, the "setup.exe." file does not open.
Where do I go from here to install the Boot Camp drivers for Windows? These drivers are needed for 'normal' Windows operation, and are required in order to install the Boot Camp update. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi David,
while you are in Windows and have the Leopard DVD inserted, can you access the content of it using the Windows Explorer ?
or maybe this hint on MacOSXHints can help you access the Windows Content of your Leopard DVD while in OSX http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080708145453136
If so, you can try to copy the Windows Content onto a USB Memory Stick and use it to install the drivers.
Good Luck
Stefan

The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.

The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.

nikasv wrote:
The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.
That's essentially what Solving Boot Camp partition creation problems says. What is your question?

I thought apple is user friendly. That is why I bought it. I do not have a use to download my boot camp assistant for a compatible to microsoft words, excel, powerpoint. They told me I have iWork's for all of this products but mine is not working.

To whom it may concern.
I bought an apple product which is MacBook Air about 7 mths. ago . Anyway I would like to download a compatible words, excel, powerpoint. they told me that I do not need it since IWORKS is all I needed. I tried my keynote , numbers does not worked. Somebody emailed me sending me this mumbo jumbo for it to work. Well, if I was a computer wiz, I probably will not be asking for help.
I followed the tutorials for windows for mac, followed every instructions, hold and behold another problem. I have to have a usb, when I bought this at Best Buy, I asked them what do I need , they said that I do not need anything else because it is all in there. So to make a long story short. I am just so frustrated .
How can I download the windows for mac, I know I have to start in utilities , boot camp assistant, then the usb problem. Please I need help, it is much needed for my job. Ipages does not saved anything, I mean nothing it just disappeared , and you do not have any idea how much I have the long hrs. I have put in.
Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate this .

You can buy Microsoft Office for Mac, it includes Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Or you can download a free copy of LibreOffice which contains substitutes (good ones) for the Microsoft Office programs.
Do not even think of using Boot Camp unless you have a complete and current TM backup or a clone to restore if it goes wrong. You will also need to buy Windows and Microsoft Office for it. And you MUST read the directions very carefully.

Boot Camp Alternatives for Users Without a Superdrive?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for