Install Windows from a flash drive?

Discussion in 'Windows, Linux & Others on the Mac' started by natatos, Jul 6, 2012.

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  1. natatos, Jul 6, 2012

    natatos macrumors regular

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2008
    Location:
    Iowa
    #1
    My disk isn't working right, basically it just spins around a few times then ejects. I've tried burning a new disk from an ISO but it does the same thing. So is there any way I can install it from a flash drive? I already put the ISO onto a flash drive properly, and created a partition on my hard drive that's fat32 formatted. But I don't know how I can start the installation from the flash drive.

    My computer is a late 2008 unibody MacBook.
     
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  2. 31rhcp, Jul 6, 2012

    31rhcp macrumors member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2010
    #2
    What version of Windows? What Mac OS? Are you using Bootcamp?

    I installed Windows 8 on my 2012 MBA by putting the .iso on a flash drive. Bootcamp 4 in Lion pretty much did everything for me, but this may be because the MBA lacks an optical drive, so they made it easier to install via USB. I also used Bootcamp to partition my drive.

    If you are putting Windows 7 or 8 on your Macbook and are running Lion, just putting the .iso on the flash drive and starting Bootcamp Assistant should do the trick.
     
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  3. natatos, Jul 6, 2012

    natatos thread starter macrumors regular

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2008
    Location:
    Iowa
    #3
    The Boot Camp assistant let's Macs without an optical drive install through the way you said. But after some more searching, not too long ago I found this guide that let me enable that option. I'm downloading the drivers now so I haven't gotten to make sure it works, but it's going good so far, so I'm guessing it will.
     
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  4. mcjava, Jul 8, 2012

    mcjava macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2012
    #4
    Can't believe Apple makes us do this

    I can't believe that my MBP has the ability to boot from a USB drive, and Apple makes us believe that the optical drive is the only option.

    I just made the changes to the info.plist (using xCode -- a little easier than Text editor), and now have installed Win 7 quicker and more easily than ever before, and without using my defunct Superdrive. I need to use some CPU intensive CAD/CAM software only available for Windows, and Fusionware virtual PC was just way too slow.

    Can anyone understand why Apple just wouldn't ship Lion with this ability as default? Only thing I can think of is they want to make money on us buying new Superdrives when the original one conks out.

    I'm ready to take out my Superdrive now -- either to reduce weight or put in a small SDD drive.
     
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