Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

quick bootcamp question!

S

sk zen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2011
23
0
I want to install Windows 7 64bit on my mac so I can play Skyrim on it.

I'm eligible for this student discount:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/pd/productID.216644200?Icid=Student_HUB_4up_Windows

But I don't know if it'll work with a bootcamp installation. I read (somewhere) that Windows 7 installation requires the actual installation CD to work with bootcamp partitioning. So...

If I just choose the download option, would I be able to make this work?
Would I need to choose the download + backup disc?
Or do I have to bite the bullet and buy win 7 64 bit at retail? Any other decent win 7 64 bit deals out there? :(

I'm running the latest version of Lion if it matters.
 
If you have a 2011 Air you can install boot camp using just an ISO and a couple of flash drives.
 
I have a 2011 macbook pro. I don't really wana shell out $$ without knowing for certain I can get it to work.

If i were to burn the iso to disc, what type of disc would I need? And don't I need a license key to complete the bootcamp/win 7 install?
 
Darby67 said:
Uh, why wouldn't you have the license?
Click to expand...

because the product descript for download + backup disc states "the disc will include the software program but no license keys or packaging" could i install win 7 with just that backup disc?

Do i just need the download iso burned to disc? and what kind of disc if thats the case. Sorry if this seems weird/hard to read i'm just trying to be sure.
 
sk zen said:
Do i just need the download iso burned to disc? and what kind of disc if thats the case. Sorry if this seems weird/hard to read i'm just trying to be sure.
Click to expand...

You burn a win 7 iso to a DVD disk. Way too big for CD's these days.

You can also create a bootable flash drive. That's not exactly a disk but works the same for installation purposes on supported machines.
 
johnhurley said:
You burn a win 7 iso to a DVD disk. Way too big for CD's these days.

You can also create a bootable flash drive. That's not exactly a disk but works the same for installation purposes on supported machines.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but you're certain? I'm just unsure since I read the bootcamp faq and saw a license key was required.
 
You realize the link you provided is for an Upgrade, right? Isn't is common for Microsoft Windows installers to seek out a previously installed version of Windows, or expect you to have a disk for another version of Windows to validate the 'upgrade' legitimacy?
 
You'll need a retail version rather than an upgrade, you won't be able to install it at all.

Additional System Requirements
Windows XP mode requires at least 2 GB of RAM (32-bit)/3 GB RAM (64-bit) and 15 GB of available disk space.
 
The discounted upgrade will work fine. Below are the exact steps required to install the upgrade clean (if it doesn't work, you made a mistake).

Quad5Ny said:
  1. Download Official Windows 7 SP1 x64 ISO (This way you don't have to waste half an hour upgrading to SP1 after the install)
  2. Burn ISO to DVD or Make Thumb Drive
  3. Run Boot Camp Assistant
  4. Install Windows 7
  5. Go through the Windows 7 User setup wizard and click "Skip" on the Product Key entry dialog
  6. In the Start Menu search box type "regedit.exe" and press Enter
  7. Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/"
  8. Double click "MediaBootInstall" and change it from "1" to "0"
  9. Close Regedit
  10. In the Start Menu search box type "cmd" then Right click on the result and choose "Run as administrator"
  11. In the now open Command Prompt type "slmgr /rearm" (and wait for it to finish)
  12. Restart
  13. In the Start Menu search box type "activate" and press Enter
  14. Follow the wizard and enter your Product Key to activate
  15. Install Boot Camp Driver Package
  16. Run Apple Software Update until there are no updates left
  17. Run Windows Update until there are no updates left
  18. Run Disk Defragmenter Once (skip this step if you have a SSD)
  19. Restart
Click to expand...

P.S. All you need from what your purchasing is the Product Key, don't bother buying a backup disk or downloading what they offer you (use the link I included or download it directly from Here).
.​
 
Last edited:
so all i need to do is download the above, burn it to a DVD or upload to thumb drive and...I'm good? Thanks man! :)
 
it works

I just bought a copy of windows 7 ultimate upgrade from my university bookstore which only was 6.99 and i installed it with bootcamp on my macbook pro "Lion"
and it didnt even ask for my product key
 
i'm using a dvd-rw disc when burning the image to disc, correct? or is there some other dvd type i need?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back