Install Windows 7 on MBA using another Mac's Superdrive?

The way to install windows on MacBook air is to use an USB drive. If you google there are guides telling you how to do this.

Shambles said:

I'm assuming I'll be able to use an SD card just like a memory stick? What program should I use to make the Windows 7 .iso bootable from the card? Thanks

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Not Having the 13 inch one, it's hard for me to be absolutely certain, but given how much trouble the EFI has given me and other people, I wouldn't be surprised if it needed to be off of usb flash drive.

The boot camp installer will make a usb drive for you off of a windows iso. I believe it makes some modifications too, because it refused to boot and install properly another bootable windows 7 usb drive I already had made, and not to mention refused to complete an install of an external usb DVD drive with a windows 7 DVD in it. (Just trying to save you hours of frustration that many of us have gone through)

negative, the only way to do this is with a superdrive.
the EFI refuses to boot a windows USB pen, even with rEFIt

mulo said:

negative, the only way to do this is with a superdrive.
the EFI refuses to boot a windows USB pen, even with rEFIt

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This is for the macbook pros only with that get bootcamp 4.0. Macbook AIRS use Bootcamp 4.0.1, which creates a bootable USB for you and REFUSES to boot off external DVD.

PLease check your information before you post. (I own an 2011 air and pro)

fibrizo said:

This is for the macbook pros only with that get bootcamp 4.0. Macbook AIRS use Bootcamp 4.0.1, which creates a bootable USB for you and REFUSES to boot off external DVD.

PLease check your information before you post. (I own an 2011 air and pro)

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Wait...so you cant install Win 7 from an external DVD drive on a 2011 MBA? I hope I am misunderstanding something as that was my plan...

fibrizo said:

This is for the macbook pros only with that get bootcamp 4.0. Macbook AIRS use Bootcamp 4.0.1, which creates a bootable USB for you and REFUSES to boot off external DVD.

PLease check your information before you post. (I own an 2011 air and pro)

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You can still use an external DVD connected to the USB port (that's how I got Windows 7 on my 2011 MacBook Air). That said, the USB approach also works now.

summitRun said:

Wait...so you cant install Win 7 from an external DVD drive on a 2011 MBA? I hope I am misunderstanding something as that was my plan...

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This still works. See above.

Shambles said:

So I'll need to be using the MacBook Air's version of Boot Camp to burn the Windows 7 .iso to the SD card? Can't I burn it using a standard MacBook before the Air arrives so it's ready? Sorry for all the questions.

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Bootcamp downloads drivers particular to each Mac, so no, using a standard Mac's bootcamp isn't going to work for the Air. But really, what's the hurry? It only takes a few minutes to create the Windows 7 install USB.