MacMini Lack of Optical Drive To Install Windows 8

I just purchased a new MacMini. No optical drive. How can I download Windows 8 and Parallels 8 so they can be installed on my hard drive? Thanks.

You don't need an optical drive. Post on the Parallels forums: http://forums.parallels.com

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Need Optical Drive To Install Windows 7 With Lion?

The latest support article regarding Boot Camp 4.0 states that only Windows 7 can be used for new installs using OS X Lion. Further on, the article states a "compatible external optical drive" must also be used. They don't mention exactly what compatible means or the general requirements of the optical drive. I was thinking of purchasing a new Mac Mini but I would also need to have something more for Windows 7 to run. Who could I ask about this "compatible external optical drive"?

Windows on Mac is never going to be 100%, close, and for many, the hardware today 2011 is powerful enough to use VirtualBox and whatever guest OS.
Some more items.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20086465-263/boot-camp-4-requires-windows-7 -or-later/
Boot Camp 4.0, OS X Lion: Frequently asked question
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4818
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_10.7.pdf
create a Windows support software (drivers) CD or USB storage media
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4407

Can i use imac's internal CD/DVD drive to install windows 8.1 pro on macbook via ethernet or firewire or other than purchasing an external drive??

can i use imac's internal CD/DVD drive to install windows 8.1 pro on macbook via ethernet or firewire or any method other than purchasing an external drive??

Note: These types of discs or activities are not supported by DVD or CD sharing:
DVD movies.
Audio CDs.
Copy protected discs such as game discs.
Install discs for an operating system such as Microsoft Windows (for use with Boot Camp), or Mac OS X.
Burn a CD or DVD

I want to triple boot Have Snow Leopard and XP on separate drives and I want Windows 7 on another drive, can it be done by temporarily removing the xp drive and installing windows 7 on another internal drive?

I want to triple boot my Mac Pro I have Snow Leopard and XP on separate drives (osx on drive 1, xp on drive 2) and I want Windows 7 on another drive (drive 4, drive 3 is used by osx for storage), can it be done by temporarily removing the xp drive and installing windows 7 on drive 4?
I realise bootcamp only allows 2 operating systems and refit could change the size of my current xp drive to accomodate W7, that is not an option here for various reasons one being the drive is pretty much at capacity with only about 30gig free (I work with video so that free space fluctautes quite a bit). I have a brand new drive 4 with 1TB set aside ready for W7 but I'm unsure how to go ahead?
any help or advice would be really appreciated, thanks

Boot Camp is used to support Windows on the same drive.
You can have a different OS on every drive.
You could have Windows 7, Vista, and XP all on one drive if you so choose.
I recommend not putting Windows and OS X on the same dirve when talking about Mac Pro - unless you just need something small and lite.
Remove all your other drives while you install Windows 7.
You could even relocate XP - if you need it even - or recover the hard drive space.
You should always keep 30% free for Mac OS; same for data/media drives.
Considering 1.5TB WD Black $110.... and you want OS X to be on a fast high performance drive as well.

I just purchased the Mac Mini Server with the intention of replacing Lion Server with Lion for the first hard drive while installing Windows 7 thru Bootcamp on the second hard drive. Is it possible for me to do this? Thanks.

I just purchased the Mac Mini Server with the intention of replacing Lion Server with Lion for the first hard drive while installing Windows 7 thru Bootcamp on the second hard drive. Is it possible for me to do this? Thanks.

I would use Parallels or VMWare and use the second drive to hold the virtual machine. That way the VM only uses the space that it needs and you can still use the remainder of the drive for other things, not to mention that you would not need to reboot to run windows.
Also Time Machine does not back up a boot camp partition.

Per Adobe website, a download for Acrobat 9 for Mac is "not available." What alternative does Adobe offer to those who have bought and paid for Acrobat and now have computers without optical drive to install that previously purchased software? Buy a PC? B

Per Adobe website, a download for Acrobat 9 for Mac is "not available." What alternative does Adobe offer to those who have bought and paid for Acrobat and now have computers without optical drive to install that previously purchased software? Buy a PC? Buy an external CD drive? Is the answer really "too bad"?

Acrobat 9 for Mac can be downloaded from
Download Adobe CS5 Free Trials – All Direct Links without Akamai | ProDesignTools
Follow the Very Important Instructions on that page first BEFORE you click the download link.

How do I install 10.5 on 12" PB lacking an optical drive

Is there a way to install OS 10.5 on a 12" Powerbook without a functioning CD/DVD drive? I have an OS 10.5 retail install DVD and several firewire external drives I could use.

Backup your data*.
Ensure all your software and hardware has been tested with 10.5 and you are able to get relevant drivers for it.
Make sure your Powerbook has at least 512 MB of RAM.
Get a Firewire DVD drive able to boot the 10.5 retail installer which looks like * and does not say Update, DropIn, or OEM on it.
Firewire DVD drives that support booting Mac OS X include ones by http://www.macsales.com/ and http://www.lacie.com/
Once you are able to install 10.5 on your machine, make sure all but the optical drive in question are disconnected from the machine.
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

Using osx snow leopard with boot camp, optical drive keeps ejecting windows 7 disc

Upgraded my late 2008 macbook pro from leopard to snow leopard. Added the max 4GB of RAM and replaced the working 250GB hard drive with a new 1TB hard drive. Rebooted with time machine from external hard drive. Now tried setting up Bootcamp to add a Windows 7 partition, but the optical drive keeps ejecting the Windows 7 disc after it spins for a few moments. The optical drive will read other discs, just not the Windows 7 disc. How do I fix this problem?

you need to install the new bootcamp drivers from windows. boot into windows, insert the snow leopard DVD, open it and follow the instructions.

2011 iMac Optical Drive Disconnecting in Windows 8

I recently installed a copy of Windows 8 using the 14 March 2013 version of Bootcamp. Everything installed correctly, at least to the best of my knowledge. However, after two boots without any issues, my optical drive stopped reading disks. Power still goes to it, and It works perfectly in OSX. In Windows, however, it has ceased reading and ejecting any CD/DVD that I attempt to play, forcing me to restart into OSX to eject the disk. I went into Device Manager, and the driver appears to be intact, but shows the error:
Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)
To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer.
Obviously this is not a Hardware issue, as I retain full functionality in OSX, and the Optical Drive was working the first two boots. I am at a loss how to proceed from here, though. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

So I managed to at least making it work properly. by installing the power management driver- dependency package - lenovo settings win8 store app.... now my question is: I would like to keep this functionality of turning my optical drive on and off... but i dont really need all that software around.. which of these 3 can i uninstall and keep this functionality?

Cannot Find Drivers on USB Drive While Installing Windows 7

I'm so annoyed by this whole process. I have a Macbook Pro Retina, brand new, and I need Windows 7 installed pronto on bootcamp. Obviously I don't have an optical drive. I did install Parallels with a Windows 7 ISO downloaded directly from the microsoft website that installed perfectly and works perfectly, but it doesn't run smoothly with the apps I need to use so I need Bootcamp.
I've researched on here. I've tried both a Sandisk Cruzer USB2.0 thumb drive as well as the Sandisk Ultra USB3.0 drive. I've tried downloading, unzipping and putting the Bootcamp Support files directly on the USB with the windows iso called "WININSTALL" as well as a different USB thumbdrive that I formated to MS-DOS (FAT32). I cannot find the issue, but once I boot in to install windows, it says it can't find the drivers. Earlier I could get the keyboard and trackpad work, so using the Bootcamp Assistant I deleted everything and the partition and started over allowing the assistant to do everything (the 3 radio boxes were checked) but then it still doesnt find the frigging drivers. HELP me please! Thanks in advance.

Hey djbolt,
Success! Finally got it working.
I was told by Apple support that new Macs that don't have built in DVD drives cannot complete Windows installation from the DVD directly. One must first create a disk image of the Windows install DVD (in Disk Utility), then merge this disc image with the boot camp drivers (done in Bootcamp) onto a USB flash drive.
These instructions refer to Windows 8, but the process is the same for Windows 7.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5373
Hope this helps.

Can I use an external hard drive to install Windows 7 on a macbook

Hi!
I currently have a 13" retina macbook pro and want to install windows 7 home premium to use on bootcamp. The problem is that my computer does not have a disk drive. So can I use a desktop to put in the windows disk and download it to an external HDD, then install it on my macbook with the external HDD? Or do I have to use a USB. Also, does anyone know of a place I can just download Windows 7 Home premium 64bit?
Thanks

Hi! If your macbook doesn't have a cd drive you need to have Windows 7 but an ISO image, you can't just copy the contents of the copy into a USB and expect it to work. There are many tutorials on internet on how to obtain an ISO image from an installation disc, for example: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/software-tools/a/create-iso-image-file.htm As for "just download Windows 7" (i suppose you mean free download) this is not the right place to ask, believe me. Try searching Windows 7 ISO on google, but be careful with what you download and form where, also you are going to download the Windows drivers from the Bootcamp program, try reading this manual to give yourself a better idea: http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf

How many usb drives to install windows 8.1

Hi!
I hope that someone can help answer my question.
I need to install windows on my laptop. It is an Air with 4gb ram and 256g drive from 2011.
So, I tried to download windows to my mac but that didn't work. The windows store only allows downloading to a windows machine!
Ok, so I erased my usb flash drive and installed a copy of the software on the usb drive (it is formatted as exFat, I think).
Good, take this to my Air and start Bootcamp assistant. Now it tells me that it will erase that usb drive to put the support software on there.
What the heck? Wouldn't it have told me I needed two usb drives? Is that possibly true? Can't both files be on one 32gb flash drive?
Am I missing something? I've done a ton of stuff on mac over the years but this does seem difficult.
Peter

You can install Windows using Boot Camp Assistant, instructions located here: http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
Or, you can install Windows using a virtual machine like Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox. Instructions located on their respective sites.

No bootable drive after installing windows successfully

I am trying to install Windows XP/Vista 32 Bit On Intel Mac Notebook through BootCamp.But after installing windows successfully,when it reboot?resatrt,It gives me error message that NO bootable Drive ,Press any to key to continue.......
I have Downloaded Windows XP/Vista 32 Bit ISO format and burned it on my DVD through Disk utility.I can install windows successfully but when it restarted then it gives that message.However I am able to locate windows hard drive after holding the Option Key and when I choose the windows HDD (BootCamp),It gives me same error.
I started the installation in osx using boot camp, and the windows was completely installed, even the boot camp driver for windows was installed and there are options to restart into either windows or mac osx.
But when I restart the machine and choose to go into windows, it just can not boot, saying no bootable device. If I insert the installation disc into the drive, then I restart and go to windows, it can boot successfully.
Please Help.
Much appriciated.

While we all have MacBooks in this forum not all of us use BootCamp. There's a BootCamp Support Community where everybody uses BootCamp. You should also post this question there to increase your chances of getting an answer.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/windows_software/boot_camp

Tutorial: Clone/Installing new hard drive (hdd) & install windows(FAT NTFS)

This is a tutorial for people looking to clone their internal hard drive and install it into their macbook (usually because you've upgraded to a larger hdd). I have also included an installation of windows vis a vis boot camp style. Ive been battling this for the past 3 days, so hopefully this tutorial will answer some questions and save you some time.
1. Firstly get your external drive (clone) ready. Go to applications---->utilities---->disk utility. Click on your external drive and then partition it. I used 2 partitions, one for mac (200 GB) and one for windows (40 GB). For now partition in GUID partition format (found in options). This is important. You can check whether it actually as in GUID at the end of the format when you click on the drive and on the bottom part of the screen it will give you all the drive information. (NOTE: if you have a standard windows installation you can have 1 partition at this stage and then later let boot camp create a partition for you. Boot camp will only format in FAT, so all windows using NTFS are out of luck).
2. if you ve decided to go for 2 partitions, format the windows partition into FAT or NTFS. If you are using windows 7 (which by the way, is a pretty good effort by microsoft and WAS free to download on beta), anyways if your using a windows which requires NTFS obviously format so. WINXP runs just fine on FAT and is probably the easier option. (This is a note for those formatting on NTFS; sometimes OSX with have some error in formatting NTFS at this stage, God knows why, dont download NTFS 3G or Disk Warrior, nothing will fix it. Just leave it for now and when your finished cloning and ready to install windows, use the XP CD to boot from and then you will be presented with the option of formatting in NTFS. I did this then exited before the actual XP install to get my windows 7 in there. (NOTE: you cannot clone windows installations, ntfs partitions, etc)
3. With your external drive ready. Download carbon copy cloner or super duper. I used super duper. So just choose your internal drive and 'backup all files' to your external. This disk will be bootable. It will not be necessary to use a third hdd to restore to. infact i tried both ways of doing it and both worked just as well as each other. No need for a third drive as some have suggested.
4. Once finished, check out the clone. Restart, just when the mac is starting HOLD down the 'option' key....you will be presented with a list of devices to boot from, choose your external (usb or firewire------> note usb only works for INTEL macs, if your not sure if you have an intel mac. In OSX click on the small black apple on the upper left hand corner of the screen and 'about this mac'....it should say whether its intel or not. Also if your pressing option and you get a padlock wanting a password (like i did), but you dont know the password. Dont worry. Get your OSX installation discs, reboot from those (it will do so automatically). Go to Utilities drop down menu and choose reset firmware password. The other 'reset password' resets the password which would come right before entering into OSX at startup.
5. Anyways, assuming your all good booting from your external drive, check out drive, whether everything is where it should be. if it check outs your good to go.
6. Disassemble macbook to install your clone (not that difficult, get a good youtube tutorial for this like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXqJn465lxs and be careful with disengaging your keyboard cable, otherwise its fairly straight forward. I did this about 6 times trying to get everything right and experimenting with installations. So im pretty blase about it
7. Start up your machine hold OPTION at startup, choose your now internal hdd. Your in. (NOTE: if you reset your firmware password the first time, you will have to do this again with your OSX discs)
8. If you have a standard windows installation you can download boot camp assistant or alternatively it will already be in applications---->utilities---> boot camp assistant. Boot camp will create you a partition and then ask you to put in the windows installation disc, is fairly automated.
9. If you decide to do it manually because you have 2 partitions already. Just restart with your windows cd in there and wait for it to boot, if it doesnt, restart, hold option key. Then just go through the usual windows installation, choose the partition with FAT or NTFS.
10. After all this you will have a working copy of OSX and Windows. I use VMWARE to use windows inside OSX, like a virtual drive. VMWARE has a more straight forward installation then Parallels Desktop (which is apparently faster).... but choose whatever works for you. To look at OSX files through Windows install MACDRIVE and you will be able to view and alter all files as you see fit.
Hopefully this tutorial was of some help. I don t generally read any mac forums so i cant really reply to any questions. I just wanted to post my experience so if someone else out there is searching for answers like i was, then these words will be guide and save you time trawling through numberless webpages......Good luck.

I would approach the situation as follows;
install Acronis, if your new HDD is from Seagate or Western Digital I believe you can download this free from their support sites.
create an Acronis Rescue Disc and when it's created uninstall Acronis as you don't need it any more.
attach external HDD and ODD and boot from the Acronis Rescue Disc
create an image of the current main HDD to the external HDD
remove current HDD from your X61 and insert the new HDD in it's place - this is very important.
boot from Acronis Rescue Disc and recover the image you created to it.
Enjoy your new hard drive.
Alternatively, if you can put your original HDD in the external HDD caddy (connectors are the same) or purchase a 2.5" caddy, you could clone after creating the Acronis Rescue Disc, step by step instructions for cloning can be found here.
Andy ______________________________________
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How do I create a bootable USB Drive to install Windows 7 on a MBP Retina

I'm trying to install Windows 7 on a MBP Retina.(I'm running Mountain Lion) I followed BootCamp's directions to create a bootable copy of Windows on a USB Flash Drive. When I go to install, Boot Camp creates the partition, but I get a Windows black screen that says that "there is no bootable drive - hit any key". I have to force shut down, because hitting any key does nothing. I tried the Bootcamp directions at least 3 times, but have been unable to get the USB Drive to start up the Install program. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Joe

Disconnect all external drives. Only have the the USB flash drive connected.

MacMini Lack of Optical Drive To Install Windows 8

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