Creating 32 Bit Windows 7 USB for bootcamp on 10.6.8... I'm stuck

[Tony Danger]

I have an Intel 1.66 Core Duo Mini sat here. OS X 10.6.8, can't go any higher.

I need to get a windows partition on there with bootcamp, this is where the problems are starting.

So I have everything partitioned out on the machine. Go to bootcamp assistant, no option to create a USB like modern versions.
I try the "Download windows support software from this mac" - Software not available.
Try the "I have the windows support disks option" - asks me to insert Windows 7 DVD. (I only have the ISO).


So I tried creating a bootable USB on my Macbook Pro. It doesn't allow 32 Bit, only 64. Damn.
So I booted into windows on my Macbook Pro and used Rufus to create a bootable 32 bit USB. The Mac mini can't see it when I'm trying to boot.


I'm completely stumped. Any advice would be great please.

 

[Tony Danger]

I just tried this method too:

1. Open a Terminal (under Utilities)

2. Run diskutil list and determine the device node assigned to your flash media (e.g. /dev/disk2)

3. Run diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN (replace N with the disk number from the last command; in the previous example, N would be 2)

4. Execute sudo dd if=/path/to/downloaded.iso of=/dev/diskN bs=1m (replace /path/to/downloaded.iso with the path where the image file is located; for example, ./windows7.iso)

5. Run diskutil eject /dev/diskN and remove your flash media when the command completes (this can take a few hours on slower drives)


The mini still doesn't see the USB.

 

[Tony Danger]

Oh, and I can't burn a DVD with the ISO on, as my only other machine is a rMBP with no disk drive.

 

[chrfr]

The mini still doesn't see the USB.

These old Macs can't boot from a USB Windows installer. You need a DVD.

 

[Tony Danger]

At all? That's a pain in the backside.

 

[chrfr]

At all? That's a pain in the backside.

Yep.

 

[Tony Danger]

Yep.

Cock. Oh well, looks like I'll have to source a disk. Cheers.