Hello. I Have a problem installing Windows 7 on a Late 2012 Mac mini

[MacMiniAddict]

Hello.

I recently purchased a mac mini (late 2012) base model with an i5 and HD 4000

Now i'm running mavericks OS and i want to install windows 7, i'm fully aware of all video tutorials posted on YouTube but the poblem with these videos, is that none of them does support Mac mini late 2012. Because the late 2012 mac mini has no optical drive, and in most tutorials they tell people to put the windows dvd on the disc drive and the support drivers downloaded from apple suppot page on a 8gb usb stick.

i don't have an apple external superwhatever drive and not really up for buying one external disc drive for 80$, like seriously ! 80 dollars?

is there a way to install windows 7 with bootcamp without a DVD drive? Or am i obligated to buy an apple disc drive that im going to use one time only to install win7.
Disappointed that no one ever posted a installation tutorial on a late 2012 mac mini win7 installation process ...


Thanks for all replies.

 

[QWERTYMac7]

I run Windows 7 in Parallels.

Have an external BluRay drive.

Pay the money, buy the drive.

 

[BurgDog]

Go to http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/ and get the official windows 7 iso. Also at http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-24209.iso

 

[iTouch]

Use a flash drive.

 

[cypriot]

Usb installation of windows 7 is the same with other macs. Just search it and find the iso downlad burn to usb flash and install. Thats it.

 

[creativet]

If you download an iso image of windows 7, you can use a thumb drive to restore back onto it. The mini will see it as if it were a CD-ROM.

You can spend the $89+ for an Apple SuperDrive (which is just a CD-ROM drive) or you can purchase almost any usb CD-ROM drive for a much cheaper price. It does not have to be an Apple one. You can also purchase a BluRay drive, but be aware, you cannot watch movies without third party products. Apple does not provide BluRay support.

 

[chromedome45]

I use an External LG DVDRW drive and only cost 39.95. It uses the identical drive mechanism as the Apple superdrive. And even silver in color.

 

[mmomega]

Hello.

I recently purchased a mac mini (late 2012) base model with an i5 and HD 4000

Now i'm running mavericks OS and i want to install windows 7, i'm fully aware of all video tutorials posted on YouTube but the poblem with these videos, is that none of them does support Mac mini late 2012. Because the late 2012 mac mini has no optical drive, and in most tutorials they tell people to put the windows dvd on the disc drive and the support drivers downloaded from apple suppot page on a 8gb usb stick.

i don't have an apple external superwhatever drive and not really up for buying one external disc drive for 80$, like seriously ! 80 dollars?

is there a way to install windows 7 with bootcamp without a DVD drive? Or am i obligated to buy an apple disc drive that im going to use one time only to install win7.
Disappointed that no one ever posted a installation tutorial on a late 2012 mac mini win7 installation process ...


Thanks for all replies.

I have a dozen '12 Mini running Windows 7 as workstation at my office with no OS X installed at all.
I created a Windows 7 USB Installer
(I do not use BootCamp to create a partition as this can be done to a fresh out of the box before it is ever powered up Mac Mini)
I Hold Option right as the computer "chimes" and boot to the install disc.
I then delete all partitions on the disc and format the entire disc as NTFS from the Windows installer and then continue installing Windows 7.
Once the installation is complete I will use the latest bootcamp driver package to install the Mac Mini drivers.

 

[creativet]

I Hold Option right as the computer "chimes" and boot to the install disc.
I then delete all partitions on the disc and format the entire disc as NTFS from the Windows installer and then continue installing Windows 7.
Once the installation is complete I will use the latest bootcamp driver package to install the Mac Mini drivers.

This is interesting. Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize you could just install windows on it's own. I have a family member who has a mini 2012 but just wanted to do this exact thing.

 

[scottsjack]

This is interesting. Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize you could just install windows on it's own. I have a family member who has a mini 2012 but just wanted to do this exact thing.

W7 on my old 2009 mini, W8 on my current 2012 mini and both W7 and W8 on my just-sold MP were always installed on separate drives. Boot Camp drivers had to be installed but the Windows partitions were not created with Boot Camp from Mac OS.

That way the Windows installations are totally independent of Mac OS. If I get another mini for Mac OS I'll take the Mac boot disc out of the 2012 mini and it will instantly become a Windows-only mini.

Two replaceable HDDs in the mini are what have kept me away from iMacland.