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Windows 7 Unibody Macbook Problems

mikethebigo

mikethebigo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
May 25, 2009
2,433
1,597
Hey everyone, I was hoping someone would be able to help me out with some problems I've had with getting Windows 7 64 bit to work on my 2.4 uMB. Just as background, I bought my uMB 2 weeks ago so the OS X DVD has boot camp 2.1 drivers on it already.

I've got the sound working fine, which surprised me because I read about problems getting that to work. The multitouch is also working fine, and the system seems speedy and responsive. I haven't tried everything yet (like the iSight camera, etc.) but I've tried using the keyboard shortcuts.

However, there are two concerns I've already come across with this installation. First, I can't get the backlit keyboard to turn off. The function keys will brighten and dim the keys, but even at their lowest they won't turn off.

More importantly, I cannot seem to figure out a way to adjust the display's brightness. It is always set on maximum brightness. The function keys bring up the little animation of the brightness level going up or down, but nothing actually changes.

Is there any way to get the keyboard to turn off? Also, is there any way to configure the system so I can adjust the screen brightness?

Finally, the reason I'm using Windows is to do some light gaming. Are there any better drivers for the 9400m than the bootcamp drivers?

Any help with any of this would be really helpful (I did try to search!)
 
the keyboard lights i believe are always on in 7. although when i installed the version from MSDNAA i didnt have any problems with back light or whatever. although someone managed to hack my steam account straight away, so i went back to XP same day:rolleyes:
 
Does 7 have enough security holes to make it risky for use? I don't have any other copies of windows, unfortunately.

Also, I'll accept that the backlit keyboard will always be on (I read that is the case on other posts) but I still can't figure out why I can't adjust the screen brightness!
 
Windows 7 was security holes the same way that pretty much any version of any OS inevitably has security holes somewhere. The only difference is that Windows has a very alluring marketshare for those who discover said holes, so most exploits revolve around Windows anyways.

That being said, 7 seems just as secure (or insecure) as any other version.


The keyboard behaves in the same way on my UB machine, but it isn't something that I consider much of an issue. However, the screen seems to work fine on my machine as well. I'd just try reinstalling the Boot Camp drivers, then making sure there aren't any updates to them through the Apple Software Update on the Windows side.
 
Typing this from Windows 7 64-bit, installed on a 64 GB partition on my MacBook Pro, specs in my sig. My keyboard backlight automatically adjusts to ambient light just the same as in OS X. (A test: put a bright light near the iSight and it dims/shuts off, cover up the iSight with your thumb and it brightens.)

It's working quite well for me...I ran the "Windows Experience Index" rating and got a score of 5.9 out of 7.9, and after I did so it automatically turned on the cool fading/transparency effects. Everything's as smooth as a porn star. :D
 
This is getting progressively more frustrating. I tried reinstalling the 64 bit version - twice. One of the times I tried running the boot camp setup in compatibility mode. Both times everything worked great except that I could not change display brightess (I tried on the keyboard and in the boot camp control panel). Figured it might be a macbook thing with the 64 bit, so I went ahead and downloaded the 32 bit version, and it did the same damn thing.

Also, both times the system worked better before I installed the 2.1 bootcamp update.

Doesn't make any sense.

One thing that I think could factor in is that I didn't run a full windows update. I'm going to try to update things that way and see if that makes a difference.
 
mikethebigo said:
This is getting progressively more frustrating. I tried reinstalling the 64 bit version - twice. One of the times I tried running the boot camp setup in compatibility mode. Both times everything worked great except that I could not change display brightess (I tried on the keyboard and in the boot camp control panel). Figured it might be a macbook thing with the 64 bit, so I went ahead and downloaded the 32 bit version, and it did the same damn thing.

Also, both times the system worked better before I installed the 2.1 bootcamp update.

Doesn't make any sense.

One thing that I think could factor in is that I didn't run a full windows update. I'm going to try to update things that way and see if that makes a difference.
Click to expand...

All current Macs have 64-bit CPUs, so it shouldn't be an issue there.

On my MBP, Windows 7 immediately recognized my AirPort card and Bluetooth, the only thing that didn't already work before I installed the BC drivers was the audio. Now everything works.

Try the 64-bit installation again, and run the Windows update again.
 
mikethebigo said:
This is getting progressively more frustrating. I tried reinstalling the 64 bit version - twice. One of the times I tried running the boot camp setup in compatibility mode. Both times everything worked great except that I could not change display brightess (I tried on the keyboard and in the boot camp control panel). Figured it might be a macbook thing with the 64 bit, so I went ahead and downloaded the 32 bit version, and it did the same damn thing.

Also, both times the system worked better before I installed the 2.1 bootcamp update.

Doesn't make any sense.

One thing that I think could factor in is that I didn't run a full windows update. I'm going to try to update things that way and see if that makes a difference.
Click to expand...

No.

Sehnsucht said:
All current Macs have 64-bit CPUs, so it shouldn't be an issue there.

On my MBP, Windows 7 immediately recognized my AirPort card and Bluetooth, the only thing that didn't already work before I installed the BC drivers was the audio. Now everything works.

Try the 64-bit installation again, and run the Windows update again.
Click to expand...

Again, don't touch or try anything systemwise that's meant for the 32-bit version on a 64-bit!

You'll have to find the 64-bit version of the BootCamp drivers manually on the Leo/BootCamp DVD. They have *x64* in the name of the .exe-package itself. There are several reports of this. The whole x64/x86 confusion for most is definitely one of the reasons why MS should have killed off the x86-version with Windows 7 imo.

Good luck with your reinstall!
 
Out of curiosity, is there a particular reason you're determined to install the 64-bit version on your MacBook? Unless you're running special 64-bit software, the main advantage of 64-bit Windows as I understand it is that it allows use of systems with greater than 4gb of memory. This really shouldn't be a concern on a MacBook!
 
Hey guys, new update. Windows update did the trick! On the "recommended updates" list there was an update for my 9400m, and after I installed it the screen dimming works properly.

Thanks for the info and help, you guys motivated me to keep working on it since you told me it worked for you.

And to answer some q's, I did install using the 64 bit boot camp drivers on the 64 bit version, and the 32 bit drivers on the 32 bit version. And the reason I want 64 bit is because I have 4 gigs of ram, and if I'm going to be gaming (especially with an integrated card that uses system memory) I want the system to recognize as much of my ram as possible.

Going to try the 64 bit installation again and see if windows update works!
 
Final update, in case anyone was interested. Got Win7 64 up and running beautifully. I allowed all the windows software updates to run before I ran the boot camp drivers, that seemed to do the trick. Even the keyboard is now turning off in high light situations! Thanks to everyone that offered their two cents. Will try out some gaming soon.

Now... back to OS X!

P.S., is Aero kind of laggy for the rest of you?
 
windows 7 rc 64 bit perfectly working on my macbook with leopard 10.5.6

i dont knw if you knew it already but just tryin to share!
when i installed the windows 7 rc 64 bit is worked fine with my macbook
this is what i did when i already installed windows 7 so boot camp drivers is next so i inserted my mac os x disk 1 then press the open files to view folder then i that i right click the boot camp then choose open in new window then from that window which i opened drivers then from there i press Apple to open it then from there you can find boot camp64 so i click that one then there is a pop up message saying compatibility but i ignored and press run the program and worth it because my windows 7 is working great! anyway first you need to install winrar in order to see this this thing in new window but try even without winrar perhaps it could work also
 
Sehnsucht,

Its great that you are enjoying Windows 7 so much. Please make sure that you are using the Windows 7 Release Candidate and not the Beta. For anyone who is still using Windows 7 beta, remember, the Beta will begin to reboot every two hours starting on July 1st. If you have not moved to the Win7 Release Candidate, please do so here: http://tinyurl.com/cwl3fs

Also for those who are enjoying Windows 7 RC, check out the great tips / tricks section over at Microsoft Springboard.

http://tinyurl.com/832nco

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team
 
I've just installed Windows 7 RC 32bit on my new 13" MBP.

All worked well, I didn't need to reinstall the co-processor driver like I had to on the Mac Mini 09 & the 17" MBP 08 though this time the GPU driver wasn't installed.

Having installed the Windows NVidia driver I had a performance index of 4.2 (lowest was Gaming Graphics). I then went to NVidia.com & got the latest recommended driver 186.03 and installed it & re-ran the Windows Experience Index.

Now the lowest score is 1.0 for Graphics (5.2 before newer driver), with Gaming Graphics bumping a little to 4.3 (the 09 Mac Mini with the same GPU is reporting 4.4 as over all lowest score for gaming graphics).

Rerunning it again, the Graphics has now jumped upto 5.3.

WEI definitly seems a little flakey :) (and a strange thing to have as part of an OS I think, particularly on a Notebook where you can do very little.)
 
tarasis said:
I've just installed Windows 7 RC 32bit on my new 13" MBP.

All worked well, I didn't need to reinstall the co-processor driver like I had to on the Mac Mini 09 & the 17" MBP 08 though this time the GPU driver wasn't installed.

Having installed the Windows NVidia driver I had a performance index of 4.2 (lowest was Gaming Graphics). I then went to NVidia.com & got the latest recommended driver 186.03 and installed it & re-ran the Windows Experience Index.

Now the lowest score is 1.0 for Graphics (5.2 before newer driver), with Gaming Graphics bumping a little to 4.3 (the 09 Mac Mini with the same GPU is reporting 4.4 as over all lowest score for gaming graphics).

Rerunning it again, the Graphics has now jumped upto 5.3.

WEI definitly seems a little flakey :) (and a strange thing to have as part of an OS I think, particularly on a Notebook where you can do very little.)
Click to expand...

Can you pls post the link to the drivers you installed ? I am having the same exact problems and I am not sure of the drivers to install.
 
hello guys, I also own a unibody macbook 2.4gHz (4mb RAM) and I recently installed windows 7 via BootCamp using the work around in the link mentioned before.. Windows installed smoothly but since then My Osx system constantly lags and doesn't respond for several minutes even during the simplest tasks (opening safari, file transfers etc) does anyone have been experiencing anything similar or has something to suggest..? thank you very much ;)
 
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