Downloading Windows support software... (rage thread)

[TheRainKing]

I don't usually rage on Apple but... Bootcamp is PATHETIC!!!!!!

Basically I'm trying to install Windows 8 on my mac via bootcamp using a usb flash drive and it's a pain in the ass. First I figured I would just stick my usb flash drive in (created using the windows usb/dvd tool), and select the install Windows 7 or later option, however, when I tried that I was greeted with a message telling me that I needed to use a DVD... Ok. So for some reason bootcamp isn't smart enough to install from a USB flash drive... Wow. But that's where I'm wrong, because actually IT IS! If you choose the option to download windows support software it claims you CAN use a usb flash drive and it will copy the windows support files to it.. Some good consistency there. But heres where it gets really awesome... When it begins it's stupid downloading process, it never actually finishes! It gets to about half way and then simply stops.... That's right! No error message, no further activity, it just stops. I even checked my network usage just to make sure and yep, it just stopped. I ran the stupid bootcamp wizard twice and it did the same thing both times. I then googled it to see if other people had the same problem, and sure enough they did! In fact that problem has been around for a couple of years now. Well played Apple, it just works an all that.

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever successfully finished downloading the windows support software in bootcamp?

Anyway, now I need to go through the hassle of making a stupid DVD, hopefully there won't be any more bugs waiting for me.

Once again, cheers Apple.

 

[rtheb]

I don't usually rage on Apple but... Bootcamp is PATHETIC!!!!!!

Basically I'm trying to install Windows 8 on my mac via bootcamp using a usb flash drive and it's a pain in the ass. First I figured I would just stick my usb flash drive in (created using the windows usb/dvd tool), and select the install Windows 7 or later option, however, when I tried that I was greeted with a message telling me that I needed to use a DVD... Ok. So for some reason bootcamp isn't smart enough to install from a USB flash drive... Wow. But that's where I'm wrong, because actually IT IS! If you choose the option to download windows support software it claims you CAN use a usb flash drive and it will copy the windows support files to it.. Some good consistency there. But heres where it gets really awesome... When it begins it's stupid downloading process, it never actually finishes! It gets to about half way and then simply stops.... That's right! No error message, no further activity, it just stops. I even checked my network usage just to make sure and yep, it just stopped. I ran the stupid bootcamp wizard twice and it did the same thing both times. I then googled it to see if other people had the same problem, and sure enough they did! In fact that problem has been around for a couple of years now. Well played Apple, it just works an all that.

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever successfully finished downloading the windows support software in bootcamp?

Anyway, now I need to go through the hassle of making a stupid DVD, hopefully there won't be any more bugs waiting for me.

Once again, cheers Apple.

I'm too lazy to repost my answer at Apple Discussions but you can read it here:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/21844223#21844223

BTW

Windows will not install from a USB if you have an internal DVD so only the MB Air, MB Retina Pro, and newer iMac allow USB installation.

So yes burn a DVD to install windows and then use the USB for support software installation.

 

[TheRainKing]

I'm too lazy to repost my answer at Apple Discussions but you can read it here:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/21844223#21844223

BTW

Windows will not install from a USB if you have an internal DVD so only the MB Air, MB Retina Pro, and newer iMac allow USB installation.

So yes burn a DVD to install windows and then use the USB for support software installation.

Thanks for the info

It's still kind of stupid that the download just hangs forever instead of giving you some kind of error message. Why not just have a box pop up and say 'Could not copy to usb drive, make sure the drive is formatted correctly."

 

[jenzjen]

Download the support software directly from the Apple site - http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1638

 

[lunaoso]

I'm too lazy to repost my answer at Apple Discussions but you can read it here:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/21844223#21844223

BTW

Windows will not install from a USB if you have an internal DVD so only the MB Air, MB Retina Pro, and newer iMac allow USB installation.

So yes burn a DVD to install windows and then use the USB for support software installation.

You actually can install by USB even if you have a DVD drive. It's pretty simple too. You need to go into the package contents of the bootcamp utility and edit the info.plist file. Then add the model ID before yours into the USB supported models (or something like that) list. So mine is the MacBook 5,1 so I added MacBook 4,1 as a string to the list. Just open up bootcamp assistant after saving the file and it'll be fully support install by USB.

You may need to play around with the file permissions of the content folder for it to allow you to save it. So add your user account and give it read and write permissions.

 

[rezwits]

You actually can install by USB even if you have a DVD drive. It's pretty simple too. You need to go into the package contents of the bootcamp utility and edit the info.plist file. Then add the model ID before yours into the USB supported models (or something like that) list. So mine is the MacBook 5,1 so I added MacBook 4,1 as a string to the list. Just open up bootcamp assistant after saving the file and it'll be fully support install by USB.

You may need to play around with the file permissions of the content folder for it to allow you to save it. So add your user account and give it read and write permissions.

Yeah but then he might have to use rEFIt to get the mac to see the USB drive and boot from it.

 

[lunaoso]

Yeah but then he might have to use rEFIt to get the mac to see the USB drive and boot from it.

I've done it before, no rEFIt needed. As long as no other USB storage is hooked up, it boots right into it as long as you use the boot camp utility.

 

[cocacolakid]

BTW

Windows will not install from a USB if you have an internal DVD so only the MB Air, MB Retina Pro, and newer iMac allow USB installation.

Not true at all. I re-installed Windows 7 last night on my MBP that has a built in DVD drive, and used a USB flash drive to do it. You need a Windows ISO on your hard drive or DVD and OS X will move it and the Bootcamp files to the USB flash while also making it a bootable drive to do the install.

----------

You actually can install by USB even if you have a DVD drive. It's pretty simple too. You need to go into the package contents of the bootcamp utility and edit the info.plist file. Then add the model ID before yours into the USB supported models (or something like that) list. So mine is the MacBook 5,1 so I added MacBook 4,1 as a string to the list. Just open up bootcamp assistant after saving the file and it'll be fully support install by USB.

You may need to play around with the file permissions of the content folder for it to allow you to save it. So add your user account and give it read and write permissions.

I didn't have to do any of that, Bootcamp Assistant made it all work just by selecting the ISO to use and what Flash drive to install to.

----------

I've done it before, no rEFIt needed. As long as no other USB storage is hooked up, it boots right into it as long as you use the boot camp utility.

Correct. Just make sure the USB flash drive is the only USB storage connected to the Mac, Bootcamp Assistant will do everything else including formatting the drive.

 

[cocacolakid]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever successfully finished downloading the windows support software in bootcamp?

Yes, did it last night without problems through Bootcamp Assistant.