Trying to install Windows on a 2008 macbook

Question

Hi all, a friend of mine purchased a Windows 7 disk a few weeks ago for the purpose of dualbooting it with his apple computer (a late 2008 macbook). However, we've run into constant problems that we have no idea how to fix, and in the process have caused bootcamp to continually crash (fixed now) and half the hard drive suddenly disappearing (also fixed now). However, we're back to square one.
The first problem is that the mac's drive reads his windows disk as a blank CD, while his windows laptop reads it fine. So we downloaded an official Win7 ISO from Microsoft, and have played around with various things (such as mounting it with daemon tools) but everything has failed so far. Apparently, there is a third option on this screen https://www.dropbox.com/s/besyaxiqtgosfkr/Screenshot%202015-01-16%2023.20.37.png ?dl=0 that does not appear, which is creating a bootable Windows USB from an ISO. Since the drive is not working but we do have the ISO, this seems rather crucial, but it is not available, and we have no idea why.
We have tried some strange solutions we found online to make it appear, but that only made bootcamp continually crash until we restored from a backup, so I'm hesitant of any solutions that involve modifying files. It seems ridiculous that we can't use a simple thing like this while the drive doesn't work. This has been going on for a long time, and we have received no help so far.

Answer 1

Array71 wrote:
Hi all, a friend of mine purchased a Windows 7 disk a few weeks ago for the purpose of dualbooting it with his apple computer (a late 2008 macbook). However, we've run into constant problems that we have no idea how to fix, and in the process have caused bootcamp to continually crash (fixed now) and half the hard drive suddenly disappearing (also fixed now). However, we're back to square one.
What is the size of this DVD? Microsoft has sold DVDs which have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions on the same DVD, which cause problems for Bootcamp Assistant.
The first problem is that the mac's drive reads his windows disk as a blank CD, while his windows laptop reads it fine. So we downloaded an official Win7 ISO from Microsoft, and have played around with various things (such as mounting it with daemon tools) but everything has failed so far. Apparently, there is a third option on this screen
There may be an issue with the Mac Optical drive from 2008, in reading DVDs. Please check the capabilities of the Mac Optical drive.
Look at About This Mac -> (More Info) -> System Report -> Disc Burning. Do this with and without the DVD in question inserted in the Optical drive.
Also check the Tech specs of the Mac on what it supports, for example - MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) - Technical Specifications.
Apparently, there is a third option on this screen https://www.dropbox.com/s/besyaxiqtgosfkr/Screenshot%202015-01-16%2023.20.37.png ?dl=0 that does not appear, which is creating a bootable Windows USB from an ISO. Since the drive is not working but we do have the ISO, this seems rather crucial, but it is not available, and we have no idea why. We have tried some strange solutions we found online to make it appear, but that only made bootcamp continually crash until we restored from a backup, so I'm hesitant of any solutions that involve modifying files.
On Macs with built-in Optical drives, with very few exceptions from 2012, the Bootcamp option to create a USB installer from ISOs is not allowed. This is also related to the ability to boot from USBs. This information can be found in
ls -l /Applications/Utilities/Boot\ Camp\ Assistant.app/Contents/Info.plist
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  3219 Nov  3 21:06 /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents/Info.plist
Do not modify this file, because it will cause further problems. The reason BCA was failing was because the codesign command used, failed because of the use of incorrect qualifiers.
It seems ridiculous that we can't use a simple thing like this while the drive doesn't work. This has been going on for a long time, and we have received no help so far.
This is an issue that Apple does not (and cannot address) on older Macs, especially ones with failing/failed Optical drives. Apple would much rather sell you a new Mac.
Commercial, he bought it officially. And no, he doesn't have access to an external optical drive. There must be a way to do this with the ISO.
You either need to replace a faulty Optical drive, or use a different Mac, install Windows and move it using commercial software like Winclone. Please check sites like iFixit to buy a replacement.