Windows Support Software

I successfully ran Boot Camp and installed WinXP SP3 on my son's 2009 MBP, which is currently running OSX 10.6.8. We were prompted to download the Windows support software, and said 'yes', but it would not allow us to download anything.
Is there a website we could download the 'Windows support software' directly from?
As a result--I think this is due to lack of 'support software'--we are unable to connect to our wireless network for internet while on the WinXP partition.
At this point he cannot locate the original disk that came with his MBP. I'm wondering if that original disk would even be appropriate, since his MBP came with 10.5 originally. He is on his 3d hard drive (Applecare!) and they loaded 10.6.8 this last time.
Thanks,
Greg
<Edited by Host>

GregPAM wrote:
I successfully ran Boot Camp and installed WinXP SP3 on my son's 2009 MBP, which is currently running OSX 10.6.8. We were prompted to download the Windows support software, and said 'yes', but it would not allow us to download anything.
Is there a website we could download the 'Windows support software' directly from?
As a result--I think this is due to lack of 'support software'--we are unable to connect to our wireless network for internet while on the WinXP partition.
At this point he cannot locate the original disk that came with his MBP. I'm wondering if that original disk would even be appropriate, since his MBP came with 10.5 originally. He is on his 3d hard drive (Applecare!) and they loaded 10.6.8 this last time.
Thanks,
Greg
<Edited by Host>
The drivers you need are on the Snow Leopard installtion disc.

Similar Messages

Boot camp does not give me the option to make a partition, instead it just gives me the options to download windows support software, install windows 7, etc. I do not want any of these, I want to set aside the space on my hard drive!

Hello, I wish to install Linux Ubuntu on my macbook pro by using boot camp to set aside space. Whenever I load the Boot Camp Assistant application out of the utilities folder in applications, it only gives me the options to download windows support software and install windows 7. I do not want this, I just want to be able to slide that little bar to set aside the space on my hard drive that i can use for Linux. I tried just downloading the windows support software but my internet is immensely slow and it has been an hour or so since it started and it's not even half way done. When this download is finished will i get the option to partition or will i just be faced with those same options?
I am on a 13" macbook pro, with apple OS X snow leopard version 10.7.2
A lot of the data on this macbook was transferred over from my old macbook i had.
Any ideas on how to fix this problem?
Thank you for reading.

Well thank you for your honesty. Apple requires you have to have a Mac to develop iPhone apps, ergo my foray into OS-Xland. No way around it that one except for running OSX in a VM, which would have probably saved me some quid, true enough.
BUT for those interested parties: VirtualBox has a startup script in /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox that will prevent OSX from fully booting on the initial (and required) rEFIt boot cycle. Once I temporarily moved that out of the StartupItems rEFIt went in as expected.
FYI, the openSUSE desktop running native is a little peppier than OSX native which was a nice surprise. Now if the Mac just had more open source software we would have a deal. (:

I am trying to install windows on my mac via bootcamp, and it says I need to download Windows Support Software. I tried, but it says "Download can not continue. The Windows Support Software is not available.

I am running OSX 10.6.8 Snow lepard I am trying to install windows on my intel imac 20in late 2006 via bootcamp, and it says I need to download Windows Support Software. I tried, but it says "Download can not continue. The Windows Support Software is not available. I bought the Imac secend hand and did not get the install dvd's with it What can I do?

You don't need to download the Windows support software, because in Snow Leopard, they are only available as a download for the Late 2010 MacBook Air.
Instead, you have to buy Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The Snow Leopard disc contains the Windows drivers for your Mac, so you have to install them after finishing the Windows installation

I am trying to install windows 7 on my macbook pro 13", when i run bootcamp it tells me that there is not a windows support software available for my computer. Where can i get the windows support software for my macbook?

I am trying to install windows 7 on my macbook pro 13", when i run bootcamp it tells me that there is not a windows support software available for my computer. Where can i get the windows support software for my macbook?

Apple only supports Windows on certain hardware.
http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
Apple provides their framework for Windows to run on a Mac, a piece of software called a Hybrid MBR that bridges the gap between how Windows reads the drive partition table (MBR) and EFI/GUID partition table that Mac's use.
It doesn't mean Windows can't run on your Mac, a third party solution called rEFIt will also bridge the gap and allow booting of more that just Windows, Linux as well for a triple booting computer.
Your hardware has to meet the other requirements the second and third operating system needs as as being able to install drivers that will work for your hardware, especially the fans or they will run loud and fast by default.
http://refit.sourceforge.net/
This above is a advanced procedure which requires knowledge how computers and various operating systems, drive formats and so forth work.
I even admit I don't know everything myself, but I experiment on a separate piece of Mac hardware (out of warranty/AppleCare) designed for this purpose so in case something screws up I'm not taking down my only machine and can use the other to get online and find solutions.
There is a very high potential for losing your data if your using advanced/non-Apple methods to install Windows on your only Mac where Apple doesn't support it. Also one shouldn't be doing this on Mac hardware that is under AppleCare or warranty as it might be voided. Proceed at your own risk and education.

Why can't I download Windows Support Software

For just over 60 hours I have been attempting, unsuccessfully, to download Windows support software for Boot Camp. I have mad 71 attempts, at all hours of day and night and have received the following message each and every time:
"Can't install Windows Support Software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server."
I have installed Windows 7 in a Boot Camp Partition, but am unable to use my Apple wireless keyboard and mouse. In fact I cannot even use a USB keyboard and mouse.
In Windows I am only able to use a USB keyboard and mouse by hitting F8 as Windows 7 boots and going into safe mode. I would have thought I should be able to go into Windows normally and have USB keyboard and Mouse functionality.
From within Windows I have attempted to run the menu selection "Apple Software Update" - but installation is not possible in Safe Mode.
Here's are two other behaviors that puzzles me:
1. When I boot Windows into Safe Mode I can use the wireless keyboard to select which safe mode option.
2. I can use the USB keyboard to log in to a normal boot up of Windows, but after that there is no response to either keyboard.
Any help on how to download the needed drivers will be appreciated.
Thanks!!

Your using 10.7.2 on what model/year computer?
As far as not being able to download the files you'll have to do a search in the forums as there are a few that have had your problem, mostly form last fall, but different issues for different models.
Can you use the internet from the Apple Store, Library, friend, neighbor, etc, to try downloading them. You might have to give Apple a shout as this is just a user to user forum.
Can't use wireless mouse/keyboards as Windows doesn't have dirvers for wireless items, at least not Apple compatible. Only WIRED mice/keyboards are supported. As far as using them in Safe Mode, that is curious.
Maybe boot from the Mac's "Repair Partition" and Repair Disk and Repair Permissions in Disk Utility.
Well that's as far as my knowledge goes so good luck....

The Windows support software could not be saved to the selected drive

I am trying to use bootcamp assistant to set up windows 7 on my 27" iMac (late 2013). I follow the instructions: select all the tasks in the 'select tasks' pane, then I choose the 32GB MS-DOS (FAT-32) flash drive that I am using and the windows 7 home premium image file and click continue. In the Task Status pane, it first formats the flash drive, copies the windows files and downloads windows support software. However every time that I have tried this, when the progress bar is about 2/3 of the way finished -- during the 'Downloading Windows Support Software' task -- an error pops up saying that 'The Windows support software could not be saved to the selected drive' and brings me back to the task selection pane. Upon reading other articles, I have downloaded the latest bootcamp5.1.5621.zip file, but I don't know what to do with it. Any help is greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Adam

Just posting this for anyone else having this problem. I found that the problem was that I was using a USB 3.0 flash drive which is not natively supported by windows. So I think BCA was trying to prevent me from downloading all the files for no reason.

Hi, I've been trying for days to download Windows support software via Bootcamp assistant, but it always failed with message 'Can't install Windows Support Software because it is not currently available from the Software update server.' Any advice welcome

Hi,
I've been trying for days to download Windows support software via Bootcamp assistant but it always fails with message 'Can't install windows software because it is not currently available from the software update server.'
Anyone else had problems or success with this?
Thanks in advance.

9thdoc wrote:
I'm getting a similar but distinct error message in snow leopard: Download could not continue. "The windows support software is not available" and have no original snow leopard instal disc with me.
Your issue is completely different. You are running Snow Leopard. There is no download for Windows Support software for Snow Leopard, hence the error you see. Snow Leopard Windows Support software is on the Snow Leopard installation disk.
You need the Snow Leopard installation disk or a replacement for it.

When trying to download Boot Camp Windows Support Software, error says: "Can't install the software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server."

I use a Macbook Pro 13" mid 2010 on Mavericks and I've tried using the Boot Camp assistant to download support software for Windows 7. This gives the error "Can't install the software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server."
Further, I tried to separately download Boot Camp 4 and 5. When I do this and try to install from Windows 7, it says that this version of Boot Camp is not for this computer and doesn't install. The result is that I have Windows 7 working and installed, but am unable to use the trackpad to rightclick, brightness settings, etc.
Please help!
Thanks

You need to run Bootcamp Assistant and select only the menu item to download the Windows Support Software. Follow the instructions. The download servers are extremely slow therefore it may take several hours to get the download.

OS Mavericks - Boot Camp Assistant can not download windows support software because it is "not currently available from the Software Update server."

When trying in install windows 7 on my mac, the Boot Camp Assistant attempts to fownload windows support software. However, the program continues to return the following error: the windows support software "not currently available from the Software Update server."
Is there another way to get this software?

64 bit. I found the support drivers and got the windows installation done. When trying to run the 64 bit support drivers in Windows 7, it says my computer doesn't support 64 bit. Sooooo.....
I'm assuming I have to download the 32 bit support drivers for Windows 7.
Correct?

ErrorCan't install Windows Support Software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server.

When I try to install bootcamp I get the above error. I have OS X 10.7.4 and intel 2.16 Ghz core 2 duo chip. I am not connected to a network. None of the proxy servers are checked. I have restared the assistant twice and get the same error.

the question has been asked multiple times today, this week, for over a year, and even in the last hour. the answer does not change? It does get rather old for some of us who see the same question day and month after month.
It is and has been deplorable and has not been officially addressed or acknowleged. To the best of my knowledge this you can do, besides keep retrying -
General Help:
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
Boot in Safe Mode and try to download the Windows Support Software and follow these tips:
Advanced Network: Proxy Settings, I uncheck "Auto Proxy detection" and make sure you have the interface you use selected and none others.
"Go into System Preferences - Network - Advanced - Proxies Uncheck "Auto Proxy Discovery", click OK, Apply"
After Unchecking "Auto Proxy Discovery" I also had to Uncheck "Use Passive FTP Mode (PASV)" and then Restart Boot Camp Assistant.
odiggy's comment and tried restarting Boot Camp Assistant. That did the trick, even though the Auto Proxy Discovery checkbox ended up the same as it started. Windows support software is now downloading... if you're downloading to an external drive make sure there's a least 1 GB of free space because the WindowsSupport folder is around 700 MB and presumably will grow with time.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3223773?start=15
Also, Change Domain Name Servers to OpenDNS IP address servers - that should be at the router firewall rather than the OS but may be in both for some people. You may be using the defaults your ISP uses, save those if you want, and try these:
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
Make sure you are not using LittleSnitch or Symantec (probably other 3rd party firewall) which do interfere, a Safe Boot should bypass their loading also - there are other products that interfere as well and some now with Mountain Lion.

Use a partition on external drive for windows support software

Hello
I am trying to install Windows 7 on my MacBook AIR 13" 8GB. I have an external drive that i created a partition for the Windows Support software but when I choose to proceed in Boot Camp Assistant to download the windows support software it says the entire drive has to be one partition formatted to MS DOS.
Any way around this..I have the Windows disc and would like to avoid having to buy another 8 GB or greater size external disc drive
Thanks

I do not want to install Windows on the external drive.
An external drive is needed to download the windows support software as stated in Boot Camp. It seems I cannot use a partition on the external drive to download the support software.. Wondering if there is a work around this..

Windows Support Software download stuck

I'm trying to boot camp my Mac Book Air 13' 2011 which runs OS X Lion. I managed to partition my HD without a problem as well as install Windows 7 64 bit on it. However, when I went back to try to download the Windows Support Software using Boot Camp Assistant, it downloads to about 25% stalls. It's been at that point for a few hours now and before that, I'd restarted the download numerous times but the same problem keeps happening. I also went to this thread https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3207049?start=30&tstart=0 and downloaded the .pkg file there. I unpacked it onto my external and tried to run the setup.exe on windows. However, I get the error message, "this version of boot camp is not intended for this computer model". I was wondering if there's any solution to the download problem as I suppose the second problem can't be fixed. Also, if there are any Mac Book Air 2011 owners out there who happen to already have the drivers for Windows 7 x64 and are good enough to upload it to rapidshare or somewhere so I can download it, that would be great!

Found the solution just download and unpack onto an external and run the setup.exe and everything should be fine
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15911260#15911260

How do I download the Windows Support Software for MacBook Mid-2010 ?

Hey guys, I've got quite a big problem at the moment... In December, I bought a MacBook7,1 (the Mid-2010 Unibody model) and used my OS X install disc whenever I wanted to install Windows XP/Vista/7 drivers to my Boot Camp partition. However, I've recently got quite a bit of a problem...
See, I can't find my OS X Install Disc. So I have to use, from within the Boot Camp Assistant, the "Download the Windows support software for this Mac" function, to be able to burn to DVD/install to a USB stick.
Now, this function up until recently used to work completely fine - no issues at all. However I need to reinstall my Windows 7 (again, I know, Windows has quite a few problems but I really do need to use it for what I do - gaming, etc) again, and whenever I try this option in the last... week, I'd wager, it comes up with "Download could not be continued" and "The Windows Support Software is unavailable" errors.
I've checked on this forum and some people are saying that Apple removed the support software for some Macintosh computers? What on Earth? What about us lot who don't have our OS X install discs anymore?! I don't think it's fair they've specifically gimped a functionality that was working fine until a bit ago for no apparent reason. It's just... stopped working. Is this for everyone?
Is there some alternative I can use? I've tried everything. I don't have someone I could just borrow the OS X install disc from and I think it's rather unfair if they expect to me to shell out for an OS X install disc again when I could previously do what I wanted for free!!!

The point isn't whether I lost them, the point is that I was able to use the Boot Camp Assistant previously fine to download the Win Support Software and put that on a USB stick (which has since been formatted for other usage).
Since this was made available as an option, I haven't really had much need for the OS X install discs (Unless I really, really needed to reinstall OS X at some point but I have no reason to fear that right?). To claim this being "okay" because I've misplaced the discs is rather outrageous.

Can't download windows support software with Boot Camp

I'm trying to install windows 7 on my MacBook Pro using Boot Camp, I start downloading windows support software but the download is very slow (compared to my usual download speed) and it seems it fall in loop, the downloading bar doesn't move... What can I do?

coglia wrote:
I'm trying to install windows 7 on my MacBook Pro using Boot Camp, I start downloading windows support software but the download is very slow (compared to my usual download speed) and it seems it fall in loop, the downloading bar doesn't move... What can I do?
Wait, it can take hours (as much as 4 hours has been reported, 1 is more common)

Windows support software unavailable

Hello,
I couldn't find any topic usefull, so I'm starting a new thread.
I have BootCamp 5.0.3 in a MacBook Pro mid 2009.
I'm trying to install Windows 7 (64bits, since I've read bootcamp 5 can't use 32), using the bootcamp assistant. My internal dvd drive doens' t work, so i'm using an external one.
I've made this several times without any problem, but since i've changed my disc (from WD to Toshiba) I couldn't anymore.
The fact is when I follow the bootcamp assistant and try to divide the disc for getting space for windows, i receive a warning somewhat like this:
"The Windows Support Software wasn't detected /isn't available". - The Bootcamp Assistant didn't detect the presence of Windows Support software. This software... get un USB drive that contains the software support or click in "Before" to get it".
The problem is I downloaded the support software WITH the bootcamp assistant to an USB drive. Even when I turn off the option to download this, I still get this warning.
I've tried lots of things, including trying to use one usb drive to install the windows, but always get this error.
I hope someone helps me.
Thank you,
Simão

Hi man,
I have the same problem. I got my new rmbp today and want to install win 7 on it. Even though i have Windows suppot software in my USB driver, it still prompt me "Boot Camp Assistant did not detect the presence of Windows support software. The support software is required to install Windows. Insert a USB drive containing the support software, or click Go Back to download the software."
I don't know what to do now, somebody help??

Keyboard and Mousepad does not work after installing windows support software.

I was able to successfully install windows 8.1 64bit on an late 2012 iMac. I went through the installation just fine with the mousepad and keyboard. I went into the desktop and open up the files and went to computer to download the windows support software. After it was done installing the windows support software, my mouse and my keyboard stopped working completely. I couldn't even click "finish" on the download. I turned the computer off by pressing the power button, then turned it back on. I held the option key and the Macintosh HD and Windows showed up. I turned the mousepad and keyboard back on and it was working again. So I clicked on Windows and as I enter the startup screen, the mouse and keyboard stopped working again.
Computer: iMac 21.5 in. late 2012
Used Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit
The keyboard and mousepad that I have is bluetooth.

Hi,
Have you checked it from Sounds yet. Please
Right click the speaker icon
Select Recording devices
You should see a "tick", otherwise Right click it and enable it.
Regards
BH
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Windows Support Software

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