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"Create a Windows 7 install disk"

W

winks360

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 20, 2009
74
11
Time Capsule
I am trying to use boot camp assistant and one of the options is to Create a Windows 7 install disk but it is grayed out. It states that I need a USB flash drive and a Windows 7 ISO image. Which I have both of, but the option not selectable?

I erased the Flash drive and tried both Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and MS-DOS (FAT). And I currently have the .ISO on my desktop.

What am I doing wrong here?
 
winks360 said:
I am trying to use boot camp assistant and one of the options is to Create a Windows 7 install disk but it is grayed out. It states that I need a USB flash drive and a Windows 7 ISO image. Which I have both of, but the option not selectable?

I erased the Flash drive and tried both Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and MS-DOS (FAT). And I currently have the .ISO on my desktop.

What am I doing wrong here?
Click to expand...

What kind of machine exactly? What version of the operating system are you running?

Can you do a screen snapshot to show us what you see when you say it is grayed out?
 
I've been researching this as well. Turns out if your computer shipped with an optical drive that option is greyed out. MBA and Mini are the only ones apparently that support the USB install. :(

Hopefully they will one day allow this for all.
 
1> At first, you'll need an USB formatted MS-DOS(FAT) by your Mac.
2> After that, ask your friend to use his Windows PC to create an Windows USB Installer by a software called WinToFlash.
3> Next step is easy, Download and Install a software called rEFIt for your Mac and restart 2 times after finishing installation.
4> Use Bootcamp.app or DiskUtility.app to create a partition for Windows formatted MS-DOS(FAT)
5> Plug-in the USB and restart your Mac. At rEFIt start up screen, choose exactly the Windows installer on USB. Theres a small icon to notice that it's come from an external driver.
6> And now, once you're inside the Windows installation. Just go forward to do the thing you want.

There's some problems which can be happened at step 5:
a> Black screen with notice: "No Driver Filesystem" >>> make sure that the USB formatted MS-DOS(FAT), not NTFS. So, just go back to step 1.
b> Black screen with blinking cursor, after that a notice comes up: "Missing System..." >>> Check it out If your ISO is bootable or not? We need a bootable ISO.

For all the guys who keep thinking that Only MBA and Mac Mini can install Windows via USB. This thing would work on any MAC.
 
iWind130290 said:
1> At first, you'll need an USB formatted MS-DOS(FAT) by your Mac.
2> After that, ask your friend to use his Windows PC to create an Windows USB Installer by a software called WinToFlash.
3> Next step is easy, Download and Install a software called rEFIt for your Mac and restart 2 times after finishing installation.
4> Use Bootcamp.app or DiskUtility.app to create a partition for Windows formatted MS-DOS(FAT)
5> Plug-in the USB and restart your Mac. At rEFIt start up screen, choose exactly the Windows installer on USB. Theres a small icon to notice that it's come from an external driver.
6> And now, once you're inside the Windows installation. Just go forward to do the thing you want.

There's some problems which can be happened at step 5:
a> Black screen with notice: "No Driver Filesystem" >>> make sure that the USB formatted MS-DOS(FAT), not NTFS. So, just go back to step 1.
b> Black screen with blinking cursor, after that a notice comes up: "Missing System..." >>> Check it out If your ISO is bootable or not? We need a bootable ISO.

For all the guys who keep thinking that Only MBA and Mac Mini can install Windows via USB. This thing would work on any MAC.
Click to expand...

HI,

I tried these steps, but when i boot with rEFIT, i get the message that there is no bootable device .
I have formatted in ms dos, and used Wintoflash to trasnfer the setup files from the win7 dvd to the usb drive.

Please can you help me with this?

Thanks,
 
marnuc said:
HI,

I tried these steps, but when i boot with rEFIT, i get the message that there is no bootable device .
I have formatted in ms dos, and used Wintoflash to trasnfer the setup files from the win7 dvd to the usb drive.

Please can you help me with this?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Yup, the new EFI on the Macbook Pros will not allow boot to USB for some reason. I ran into this problem as well. I have a broken superdrive and ended up getting around it installing boot camp via Parallels.

If you have your superdrive, I would suggest putting it back in for the boot camp install.
 
r3voLoLwuT said:
Yup, the new EFI on the Macbook Pros will not allow boot to USB for some reason. I ran into this problem as well. I have a broken superdrive and ended up getting around it installing boot camp via Parallels.

If you have your superdrive, I would suggest putting it back in for the boot camp install.
Click to expand...

hahah I was trying to avoid doing that, but I guess there is nothing else to do, I hate apple for doing this
 
AppleSupportTea said:
I have created a version of Boot Camp Assistant that allows installing of windows using USB for the latest 2011 iMac's (Model Identifier: iMac12,2). It also provides support for some versions of the MacBookPro. Download it here:

http://www.picturemeuniverse.com/BootCampAssistant.zip

http://www.jeremiahisaacson.com/
Click to expand...
Hey man, i dont actually need this tool right now, i came across this thread searching for how to make a bootable flash drive windows 7/8 disk from OS X terminal, ive done it before but i need a guide because im not too familiar with command prompts. Anyway i saw this post with the tools you made and that no one has replied and just wanted to say thanks, i relied on something similar to get my 2008-9 Aluminum Unibody Macbook ( not pro, the one and only aluminum macbook) and im sure at some point someone will find this a godsend, anyway just wanted to say thanks for the contribution.
 
AppleSupportTea said:
I have created a version of Boot Camp Assistant that allows installing of windows using USB for the latest 2011 iMac's (Model Identifier: iMac12,2). It also provides support for some versions of the MacBookPro. Download it here:

http://www.picturemeuniverse.com/BootCampAssistant.zip

http://www.jeremiahisaacson.com/
Click to expand...

For those of you, using Mountain Lion, a window pops up telling you the application is corrupted.

It's not. It's just the new File Vault protecting your computer from apps Apple doesn't like..

Go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy and on General tab under "Allow applications downloaded from:" select Anywhere.

The hacked BootCamp Assistant will now work.
 
mulo said:
how do you do that?
Click to expand...

I'm curious too. It's the second time I have read this suggestion on the 'net, but it seems to be impossible: Parallels only allows to 'use' an existing Windows partition, previously created with Boot Camp. It doesn't allow to install an .ISO to a blank Windows partition.

If it does, well, then it isn't obvious, and I, for myself, would love to know how it's done.

Note: my SuperDrive is faulty and will not read/write most disks, and my Late 2006 iMac cannot boot from USB flash drives, even with rEFIt, which I do have installed — thus I need an alternative to install Windows via an .ISO on a fresh partition, without using either CDs or anything not directly connected to the motherboard
 
I didn't read through the whole thread but is the usb flash drive formatted to a GUID partition table? If not it needs to be.
 
Only a subset of Macintoshes can boot Windows from a USB drive. I know from personal experience that the 2011 MacBook Air and the 2012 MacBook Pro 15" non-retina (and I assume the retina model will as well) can boot Windows from a USB disk. The current iMacs cannot that I have seen. The late 2011 MacBook Pro does not seem to either.

Here's what I think will boot Windows from USB. Please correct me if needed:

2011+ MacBook Air (confimred)
2012+ MacBook Pro (confirmed)
2012 MacBook Pro with Retina display (assumed - not confirmed)
2011+ Mac mini (assumed - not confirmed)

Will not-
Mac Pro (all models)
iMac (all models)
 
I just confirmed that usb installation works on the MacBook Pro Retina today.

----------

I'm currently trying to install windows 7 on my friends MacBook. If I did it by disk, I would have to defrag and format his hard drive. So I'm resorting to usb. Will it work? The option to create a disk is greyed out. Does that link help me bypass that part?
 
hi

anybody try this Boot Camp Assistant

and install windows from usb flash drive on imac 27" (late 2010) 11.2 ?!

i wish one day in Future install windows from usb on all mac computer !!!

this day is not so far !!!

or is far ?!


Thanks
 
Last edited:
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