Installing windows from USB MBP3,1

Hey Everyone,
I have a MacBook Pro 3,1 running 10.8. Optical drive broke so I decided to put a second HDD in its place. I can see it fine but when I go into Boot Camp Assistant the second HDD is not there for me to select where to install Windows.
Also I've tried so many ways to install Windows on an USB so I can install if from there on my MBP but for some reason i can't boot to it or boot Camp Assitant can't recognize it.
I've tried Refit version and setting my MBP as a Target so I can install windows from my MacPro at work, but that didn't work either!! I'm going crazy!! Please some one help...
I'm thinking of taking the second HDD out and putting into my MacPro at work and installing windows that way.
Thanks
Steve

Hi Chaaker,
I can't comment on installing Windows 7 to the Boot Camp partition (or on a USB stick) but I can comment on the last part of your question.
EFI-based Mac computers can definitely boot to a USB volume, assuming the volume it's booting to is configured as a start up volume. I was at a Genius Bar several months ago and saw two MacBook Air computers getting support and both of them were running off USB-based external HDs.
The only potential point of failure I see in the equation is the EFI startup sequence being unable to read the USB drive that has Windows 7 on it.

Similar Messages

How do I install windows from USB on Macbook pro 3,1

How do I install windows from USB on Macbook pro 3,1 ?
My Superdrive is far from super anymore, So I managed to make an extern drive with both Snow Leopard Partition, Lion Partition (Since I thought Boot Camp 4,1 would bypass my problem), and Time Machine partition, Since I got 1. USB drive that works.
- My general issue is that Boot camp Refuse to see the USB drive - (Many "how to"´s though show how they install windows perfectly through the USB port, but they use airbooks!, and somehow the Macbook will not ?)
I fix that issue with >> rEFIt <<, that suddenly makes it possible for the Mac to see the USB drive, and partitions.
Which was very strange since I could use an extern HD with the whole installation to start up wipe the whole disk, and then use my extern drive with partitions to install Snow Leopard and get everything as before with timemachine. Very smart with timemachine, but very lucky that I have a extern drive that runs the whole system and that I made the partitionsdrive before. DVD-drives are the past!
Point: So the original system could see the Snow Leopard installation USB disk, but boot camp cannot find the USB drive ?????????
After rEFIt I booted and then I got this error:
Starting bootmgr.efi
Error: Unsupported while loading bootmgr.efi
I read it could be a problem with the Windows software, so I purchased an extern DVD drive, Used Disk Utility to make an image (.DMG), then used another program to convert the .dmg to .ISO.
Then downloaded a trialversion of vmWare fusion, and installed windows from the iso. Everything worked brilliant, except and that is why I want to use boot camp, Running windows in another program while running the mac system is a little hacky and slow.
Point: Nothing is wrong with the windows software, and windows runs fine.
I then downloaded the Windows DVD / USB Tool, reformatted a USB drive as Master Boot Partition, MS-Dos Fat partition, then after lots of struggling got Vmware, windows to recognise the USB drive. And installed the windows software on the USB drive, as all the walkthroughs recommend.
Then I tried for "fun"! to just install windows form the extern USB drive, and with rEFIt it will see the drive and start to do something, but then when it starts to boot, the screen just turns into black and nothing happens, and you can see the drive does NOTHING. (I think it is because I only have 1 USB drive and the Extern DVD drive does not get enough power, but again the mac refuse to see the USB drive unless it is a Snow Leopard installation USB-drive!
Well trying to install Windows Ultimate 64 Bit, which worked great in vmware, because that program installed from the .ISO file that I had on the desktop, but trying with Boot Camp did not get anywhere, what kind of **** program is this boot camp anyway!?, but then I try the new USB disk with windows made from windows, thorugh rEFIt, it sees the disk and then starts and then I get this ERROR:
rEFIt - Booting Legacy OS
Starting legacy loader
Using load option ´USB´
Error: Not found returned from legacy loader
Error: Not found from LocateDevicePath
(x 9 times)
Error: Load Error while (re)opening our installation volume
The firmware refused to boot from the selected volume. Note that external hard drives are not well-supported by Apple´s firmware for legacy OS booting
(Hey Apple please send out a updated firmware that fix this issue?!)
So how do I do it ? - or is the only option to fix the partition running the system from the extern disk. Format the whole drive in 2 from the "bottom" and install windows and then afterwards install Mac on the other partition ? Or just run windows on the mac and forget about mac software ? What a stupid solution...

There are strings in the pliist file to add other Macs so that you can use some USB-DVD drives.
This is 5 page thread, so a little more 'meat' to it:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3410900?start=60&tstart=0
And on PC booting Windows from a USB DVD to do the install is usually a piece of cake, sometimes you just need to specify that USB in the BIOS boot order and sometimes select via F12 (or another Fkey) and that is it.
What you have here seems to be everything and everyone is excluded unless there is a mac-model device ID string that specifies yes. An unnecessary hurdle.

HT1846 gtp error while installing windows from usb! how to solve it.

gtp error while installing windows from usb! how to solve it.

Hello mmarti,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Please ensure you are following the Boot Camp installation guide, as you should be selecting the partition named "BOOTCAMP" when you are at the Windows installer screen. See page 6 of the following PDF:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf
Take care,
Alex H.

How do I install Windows from USB?

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro. I replaced the optical drive with a second hard drive. I have tried the following methods to install Windows.
Installing from an external optical drive: I created a Windows 7 install disk. The windows installer does not start. All I see is a blinking cursor. The disk is recognized when I hold option/alt at startup, but when selected it hangs at the blinking cursor.
Installing from a flash drive: I burned the image to a USB flash drive. The windows installer does not start. The the disk is not recognized when I hold option/alt at startup.
Do I have to do something to enable USB startup? Is there another installation method available?
Thanks.

On MBPs that came with built-in Optical drives, BC Assistant modifies the NVRAM settings and sets the boot option to be the Optical drive. Removing the Optical drive breaks this logic and causes a lot of problems. Modifying the Bootcamp info.plist allows USB creation workaround, but does not allow the NVRAM modification. This is derived by BCA using the Model Identifier in System Profiler.
Your situation is similar to Need help installing Win8.1 from USB on MBP. or Unable to Install Windows 8 on secondary Hard Disk.
The only solution I know is to move the drive that needs Windows to the main SATA connector, install Windows and then move the drive back to the Optibay.
If you have two Macs, one of which have the original HW configuration, than using Winclone is another option by installing it on an "unmodified" MAC and then cloning it to the "modified" Mac.

How to install windows from usb??

Ok i am trying to install windows on a mid 2007 macbook. in some forums it says no and in other it says you can . What i dont understand is how to install it if you do not have the option to click when you are going thru boot camp. The mac is running Lion so i dont understand why it would be a problem. Do i Have to have a physical disk????? If so thats trrible because my disk drive is broke.. I had to replace my harddrive awhile back and when I went to the apple store they loaded snow leapard thru the usb port. Any ideas?? Thx as always.

Try this and see if it works (using UNetbootin):
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/install-windows-7-from-usb-drive-requi res-2-simple-steps/
If you already have the Windows 7 ISO, it's a two step process: Install UNetbootin and Burn the ISO.
I have not personally tried this (I have the DVD), but it looks promising. And UNetbootin works for Mac too.
If you DON'T have Windows 7 ISO, and your drive doesn't work, there's not a lot you can do. You have to have an ISO to make a disk or USB install.
If you bought Windows 7 online from Microsoft, you can download an ISO version from them. If you don't already have Windows purchased, that's probably your best bet.

Install windows from iso on older mac

Hi everybody
I have a mid 2010 MacBook Pro (15"), running Yosemite, and I want to install Windows on it using bootcamp.
Since my optical drive doesn't work properly, I hope for installing windows from an iso file.
The problem is the system's bootcamp assistant have not such option.
Is there a workaround for it?

You can modify the Bootcamp info.plist using Enable Bootcamp to install from usb for OSX 10.9**WORKS** , but for Macs with built-in Optical drives, BC Assistant sets the CSM-BIOS layer to boot from the Optical drive. There is no way for a user to change it. Some 2011/2012 Macs allow a USB/ISO combination, but older Macs will run into issues with Keyboard and Mouse drivers which may not work.

IMacs can boot Linux or Windows from usb stick

iMacs 21' can boot Linux or Windows from usb stick? from Firewire 400 or 800 hdd/ssd? from USB HDD/SSD?
May boot fromCD/DVD/DVDDL in internal DVD DRIVE, too?
Exist Blu-ray drives able connect on Thunderbolt slot on iMac 21'?

Here is the memo of the steps I followed. Hope this helps.
<Create VHD image in temp folder at local drive>
diskpart
create vdisk file=C:\Temp\Win2go.vhd maximum=20480 type=fixed
select vdisk file=C:\Temp\Win2go.vhd
attach vdisk
exit
<Create partition in VHD, format in NTFS and assign drive letter "O">
diskpart
list disk
select disk n （n is a number of VHD）
clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick override
assign letter=o
active
attribute volume set NODEFAULTDRIVELETTER
exit
<Execute "DISM" utility in Windows DVD and extract installer image to VHD>
G:\sources\dism /apply-image /imagefile:G:\sources\install.wim /index:1 /applydir:O:\
** "G" is drive letter for Windows DVD
** "O" is drive letter for VHD partition
<Write boot program into VHD>
O:\windows\system32\bcdboot O:\windows /f ALL /s O:
** "O" is drive letter for VHD partition
<Detach VHD>
diskpart
select vdisk file=C:\Temp\Win2go.vhd
detach vdisk
exit
<Format USB thumb drive in NTFS>
diskpart
list disk
select disk n （n is a number of USB thumb drive）
clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick override
active
exit
** "E" is drive letter for USB thumb drive
<Write loader into boot sector>
G:\boot\bootsect /nt60 E:
** "G" is drive letter for Windows DVD
** "E" is drive letter for USB thumb drive
<Copy VHD file to USB thumb drive and mount>
copy C:\Temp\Win2go.vhd E:\
diskpart
select vdisk file=E:\Win2go.vhd
attach vdisk
exit
<Write boot info into USB thumb drive>
F:\Windows\system32\bcdboot F:\Windows /s E: /f ALL /v
** "E" is drive letter for USB thumb drive
** "F" is drive letter for VHD partition on USB thumb drive

Bootcamp is not showing install windows 7 usb option please help

bootcamp is not showing install windows 7 usb option please help

Tom von Mom wrote:
So MacBook Pros with DVD players doesn't support booting from USB stick?
They don't support booting Windows from a USB stick.

Install Windows from external dvd drive?

ok.there is my problem.
I have a Mac Pro here.Last week the dvd driver stopped work and I do not have time to fix it now and I need urgently install the windows xp because need to use a specific app for windows.
Is it possible to install windows xp on bootcamp using a external dvd drive (usb).
thank you.

I have the exact same problem - my internal SuperDrive died and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay over $500 to get a new one. It appears to be utterly impossible to install Windows from an external DVD drive. At least it seems to be that way for me and my machine.
I've tried my drive connected with USB and with Firewire. I've tried rEFIt. I've tried booting with the Option/Alt key. My Mac seems unable (or unwilling) to do this.
I've found many many people with the same problem and only a very small handful that seem to eventually get it to work.
I've even tried to use the 30 day trial of VMFusion (which is not a long term solution because it doesn't use/mimic sufficient video drivers to support the games I want to play) to install Windows to the partition and I can't get that to work either. The Windows installer seems to refuse to install an older version of the system when the boot version has already been updated to a new one.
Does anyone out there have a way to reliably install Windows on a BootCamp partition?
Cheers,
Fusilier

Re: How to install Windows from recovery media on a new hard drive?

Immediately after a Windows update, my computer would not restart. It said disk error.
I could not start it from the recovery media and F8 would not work. I bought and installed a new hard drive. Now when I put in the recovery media to install Windows on the new hard drive, it gives an error message.
What can this be? Should I be able to install Windows from the recovery media?
It is Windows 7 and the laptop is Satellite A500, 64 bit.

Hello
Generally speaking you can install recovery image on every compatible HDD so thee should not be any problem about it.
Please tell us what happen when you start recovery installation. Which error message is shown?
Is new HDD recognized in BIOS. Before you start recovery installation set BIOS to default settings.

What do I do if my Mac doesn't support installing Windows from an external USB drive or DVD?

I have connected now: an external hardrive with windows support software, and a disc with Windows 7 ISO files on it. I have tried to run bootcamp assistant, but when I am given the first dialogue box titled "select tasks", I am not given the first option which should be "create a windows 7 or later install disk". If I skip to the next screen anyway after checking the other options, bootcamp assistant tells me "the installer disc could not be found Insert your Windows installer disc and wait a few seconds for the disc to be recognized", even though my DVD with the windows ISO file is in the computer. How do I fix this? Do I need to get an actual copy of the Windows software DVD instead of a DVD with the ISO image on it? Because it seems like my system does not support the ISO DVD. Eeep!

Thanks Phil0124. I was able to mount the ISO onto the DVD from my disk utility but now I face another problem. Bootcamp recognized the disc and started to install Windows, but stopped and gave me the following error message: "your disc could not be partitioned An error occurred while partitioning the disk".

How to install Windows without USB or DVD drive on 2009 MacBook

Problem
I have a MacBook Pro mid 2009 fitted with both an HDD and SSD.
Obviously I had to remove the DVD SuperDrive to fit in the HDD into the Optical Bay.
This is awesome big and quick storage, but you can't use it for BootCamp anymore, BootCamp Assistant says. Because it needs the optical drive for installing Windows and it won't accept it via USB.
The good thing is, that you don't need the Bootcamp Assistant for installing Windows.
So:
I have Mac Os:X Mavericks working from my SSD (which I fitted to the HDD bay for increased speed)
The HDD is installed in the former optical drive bay, with one MacOS Ext partition for Mac storage and the other one being NTFS with Windows.
Solution
The solution is a little bit tricky, needs either a virtual Windows machine or a real one and it involves removing and refitting your hard drive, but on an older MacBook Pro like 2009s that originally came with an Optical Drive there is no other way. afaik.
Step 0.5
Backup your Data
Step 1
Partitioning your desired drive
You can do this using Apples Disk Utility if you have installed either Tuxera NTFS or NTFS 3G. Or you do that in step 3 in Windows.
I'd recommend a size of at least 30 GB, Windows 7 alone takes up around 20 GB
Step 2
Remove the hard drive and connect it to a windows machine
Afaik the next step has to happen in Windows with full hardware access. If you want to use a virtual machine i.e. VM Ware or Parallels you need to connect it via USB as an external device, otherwise it won't have full access to the partitions. Obviously you can use a real Windows computer too. Still you're gonna need to remove the drive from your Mac.
Step 3
Re-format and set "active" partition state
Format desired partition with NTFS, quick format works fine. (just in case)
Open your Windows 7 Image (or Disk) and Copy the directories "Boot" and "Sources" as well as "Bootmgr" onto the partition
Make the Partition bootable:
Using Windows XP, Vista, or 7, open CMD as Admin (Windows key + R, type CMD, hit Enter)
Enter the following commands, (replace X with what applies to your hard drive):
diskpart
list disk
select disk X
list partition
select partition X
active
exit
X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X:
Exit and shut down
(Source and additional images: http://www.instructables.com/id/Install-Windows-7-without-USB-or-DVD-without-upg ra/)
(If this is somehow possible using Mac Tools, please let us know!)
Step 4
Fit the HDD back into your mac
Just that.
Step 5
Install windows
Start your Mac and immediately press and hold the alt (option) key until you can select the other drive to boot windows.
Install using advanced installation to select the same partition.
Step 6
Clean up
After the installation press cmd + r (in windows) and type and run msconfig
Click to the Boot tab.
Click 'Windows Setup (\windows)', and hit Delete.
Click OK.
Click 'Exit without restart'.
And lastly, delete the ‘Sources’ folder from your hard drive root (this will free up 2-3gb).
Final Step:
Install the Mac drivers (Get the right version here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634 )
Recommendation: Use Winclone Pro to backup your precious installation.
On a footnote: This article was a big help to me: http://www.instructables.com/id/Install-Windows-7-without-USB-or-DVD-without-upg ra/)

Have you tried resetting the PRAM? http://gigaom.com/2011/07/26/when-to-reset-your-macs-pram-and-smc/
Which Windows version are you trying to install? If I remember right, you can't use windows 8 on these older machines.
Other than that it's hard to say what could have gone wrong. I can only suggest going through the steps again carefully and making sure everything worked the way it should.
Have a look at this article too for a slighly more verbose instruction on making a drive bootable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Install-Windows-7-without-USB-or-DVD-without-upg ra/

Install windows from pen drive, is it possible?

hi. i have a usb 2.0 4gb pendrive. is it possible to install windows on a macbook using it?
if yes does it have to be an image file or just a copy of the files and folders. please advice.
Neerav

AceNeerav:
Not possible via USB or any external drive. Boot Camp does not support installation from other than the system's CD/DVD drive.
Axel F.

IMac 27' (Late 2009) Installing Windows w/USB: NO BOOTABLE DEVICE

Hi everyone!
First of all, sorry about my english. I've been reading a long time before a write this post on the forum, but... here we go.
I have an iMac 27' (Late 2009 with Mountain Lion) without Superdrive (there's an SD card stucked. I tried to pick it back but it useless). I need Windows Vista/Seven to work with some software and Parallels don't work properly. So, I managed to make some USB Windows bootable ISO (a lot of them), but after trying with bootcamp the partition on Mountain Lion there's a message on a black screen (after rebooting for the first time) that says "NO BOOTABLE DEVICE- PLEASE INSERT ANY KEY TO CONTINUE".
I tried with a few USB devices, and some .iso of windows extract from a few DVDs, and i'm getting always the same message.
When I had Snow Leopard and Lion (and SUPERDRIVE available) I was able to install Windows, but always with DVD. I didn't try it to boot Windows with a usb device. I already downgraded to Lion and try it again with no luck.
Anyone please can help? I'm really stucked at this point .

Same for me... And the funny thing is that I was trying the same bootable device with which I installed Windows 7 in a mid 2009 MacBook. Completely absurd. Please, we need some solutions for this!

Install Windows from a virtual drive?

I'm trying to install windows in a partition of my hard drive, but i can't burn the ISO for some reason and I don't have a USB flash
Is it posible to do it from a firewire external drive?
and what about a virtual drive with Daemon Tools?
Thank you
PD: im working on an Intel Core 2 Duo OS 10.9.2

I didn't know the process, I kind of get it now
Any clue of how would it be done with the firewire drive?
Thanks

Installing windows from USB MBP3,1

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