Mac drivers for XP problem - no disc!

[hennnerz]

I've successfully installed XP on my Macbook (Late 2009) and now need to install the drivers to get Network connectivity etc. However I don't have my mac disc at hand as I am away travelling at the moment. Can I download the drivers either from my mac or from the internet to USB, then transfer and install them into XP?

I have the latest version of OSX and am up-to-date with everything afaik. Running XP Pro SP 3

Thanks!

 

[Tonsko]

I tried this when I was away from my disk. I don't think it is possible

 

[hennnerz]

The guides that I've read online say that you can burn a CD with the drivers on, then insert this CD when on the XP OS. If I understand the guides correctly, could I write the files to USB instead?

Aren't all the drivers I need already on my mac, so I just need to get them over to the XP side of things?

Thanks for the reply

 

[balamw]

Aren't all the drivers I need already on my mac, so I just need to get them over to the XP side of things?

This was the case in Boot Camp 1.x that was shipped for OS X 10.4 Tiger, in all later versions the drivers are only available on your OS X install disc.

B

 

[hennnerz]

I'm in Thailand, my disc is in England. Would the best thing to do be get sent the disc? Or can I buy one cheaply from eBay or somewhere? Or even some dodgy thai computer shop?

Also could you confirm exactly which disc it is please?

Thanks again guys.

 

[nick9191]

I'm sure it's just a generic network card.

Try and find a driver for it from the manufacturer site, you don't need to use Apple's driver.

 

[balamw]

I'm sure it's just a generic network card.

Most everything works out of the box in W7, so I suspect you are right. The main issues are the trackpad driver and the drivers for the other Apple devices like the iSight.

Also could you confirm exactly which disc it is please?

It's usually on the first of the two grey OS X install discs that come with your machine. The other one contains optional installs like Xcode.

You can generally use a retail upgrade disc (these are the ones that retail for $29 in the US). Since your machine already shipped with Snow Leopard, you need to make sure that the disc you start with is newer than your machine. i.e. only use a recent 10.6.3 retail upgrade disc.

It's in a second partition on the disc so getting a copy from a dodgy downloading it from the torrents may not get you what you need. Here's a link to a guide to extract them from the disc if you have someone back home who can do this for you and make the data available. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/892725/

B

 

[hennnerz]

I'm sure it's just a generic network card.

Try and find a driver for it from the manufacturer site, you don't need to use Apple's driver.

Thanks nick,

I looked here: http://support.apple.com/kb/sp579

Communications

Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on IEEE 802.11n specification); IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible

After googling this + drivers and I've not found much other than trying "Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC)" which I will in a minute...

Most everything works out of the box in W7, so I suspect you are right. The main issues are the trackpad driver and the drivers for the other Apple devices like the iSight.

I'm going to be using a mouse and won't be using the iSight, so this sounds promising.

It's usually on the first of the two grey OS X install discs that come with your machine. The other one contains optional installs like Xcode.

You can generally use a retail upgrade disc (these are the ones that retail for $29 in the US). Since your machine already shipped with Snow Leopard, you need to make sure that the disc you start with is newer than your machine. i.e. only use a recent 10.6.3 retail upgrade disc.

It's in a second partition on the disc so getting a copy from a dodgy downloading it from the torrents may not get you what you need. Here's a link to a guide to extract them from the disc if you have someone back home who can do this for you and make the data available. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/892725/

B

So if my machine is fully up-to-date, then the newest retail upgrade disc available would do the job? This sounds like a better idea than getting the discs shipped from home at the moment.

However, getting just the data shipped sounds like an even better idea. If I can find out how my Dad can extract the contents of the disc while using a Windows machine I will do it. Thank you for that.

 

[Tonsko]

That driver extraction sounds the most efficient. Then all you need is some webspace and you're golden. Good luck!

 

[balamw]

However, getting just the data shipped sounds like an even better idea. If I can find out how my Dad can extract the contents of the disc while using a Windows machine I will do it. Thank you for that.

I posted in the other thread. Have him find the BootCamp.msi file and just send you that.

And yes, the 10.6.3 OS X retail upgrade disc should do you just fine. If there is an Apple dealer/shop nearby, they may just let you borrow one to install the drivers.

B

 

[hennnerz]

Perfect, I will get onto that ASAP.

Thank you for all the help everyone, especially balamw!

 

[hennnerz]

Extracting from Windows is easier since that's all they will see.

In fact, since you are running XP (i.e. 32 bit) all they need to do is browse the CD and send you the BootCamp.msi file, then on your end, install that manually.

B

He sent me this file and I copied it onto the Desktop, then installed. Before installing it prompted my whether I would like to install Apple Services, I tick the box, then get the following error message:

this installation package could not be opened. verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package.

I can still continue and install Bootcamp - which I did, however this just gives me the options to change the Brightness, choose the OS and do something with the function + F1 buttons.

Any idea why i get the error message? I've tried directing the devices towards the new file in Device Manager for the drivers, but no luck there.

 

[hennnerz]

To clarify; in Bootcamp 3.0 on the XP side of things I don't have any option to install drivers, only Choose OS, Brightness and Keyboard.

I tried Bootcamp 64, but obviously that didn't work. Hopefully I will be sent the entire contents of the CD soon, but can't count on it...

 

[balamw]

To clarify; in Bootcamp 3.0 on the XP side of things I don't have any option to install drivers, only Choose OS, Brightness and Keyboard.

That's what the system tray icon does.

If you have a Boot Camp icon in the system tray it means the drivers should already have been installed. Are you still missing any particular devices in Device Manager?

B

 

[hennnerz]

Yeah, basically none of the drivers installed.

What I did is go to the Apple Bootcamp Support page (http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/) and then download the Bootcamp 3.1 Update - which installed the wireless network drivers + some. Then I was able to download and install Bootcamp Update 3.2.

From here I was able to connect to the internet via Wireless and update windows via Windows Update, while doing this in Hardware Updates was an update for both the Graphics and the Ethernet card. I downloaded and installed both of these and great success. Windows Updates does then tell you to download a Network Control Manager (Desktop maybe) but don't because it will remove the Ethernet drivers, or at least stop it from working.

Thanks for all the help anyway, I think I am working well now! Fingers crossed!

 

[balamw]

I think I am working well now! Fingers crossed!

Glad to hear it!

B