Wanted to give a shout out to everyone that help me do this. The information has been instrumental in getting my system up and running.
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit is running smooth as silk on a newly installed 500GB HHD in my 13" mid-2010 MBP!
To pay it back, I thought I'd write a mini guide for others. I upgraded from the 250GB HDD to a 500GB HDD so i could have room for both (I need Windows for work related stuff).
HDD Replacement (Super Easy). If you have the Mac OSX install DVD that came with your Mac, this step is simple. I ordered an OWC HDD install kit (includes necessary tool kit).
1. First step is to create a backup copy of your existing hard drive. I used Time Machine and backup up my HDD using a 320GB external I had lying around. **Note** Ensure iPhoto is closed before performing a TM backup. I found this out the hard way. This is a known issue with 10.5 & 10.6.X & iPhoto '09.
2. Once you feel confident you have a good TM backup, turn the computer off and swap the new hard drive with the old one. LOTS of you tube videos on how to do this. Also, OWC's website has very useful videos as well. There is no need to Format the new hard drive at this time. You'll do this later after it is installed into your Mac. Only real thing to pay attention to here, is to ensure you remove the mounting screws from the old drive and install them onto the new drive. These help keep the Hard Drive stable once installed into the MBP.
3. With New hard drive installed, turn the power on and insert the Mac OSX install DVD. The computer will boot up and start the install process off of the DVD (don't install anything off of the DVD), just let it start the process. The reason you are inserting the DVD is to gain access to disk utility.
4. You'll have to click "continue" initially, but what you are looking for, is the tool bar menu to appear. As soon as you get the tool bar menu, click on Utilities, then click on Disk Utility. This will bring up the normal Disk Utility app. Select the new hard drive on the left side bar menu. Next, select Partition. Under scheme, click on the drop down menu and select 1 partition. After doing this, you'll now have the option to select "options." Click on this and ensure GUID is selected. Click OK. Now ensure OS Extended Journaled is selected and then name your new drive ("Macintosh HD"). Then click "Apply"
5. Once Step 4 is done, now the new HDD can accept the operating system. Close the Disk Utility window. Now click on Utilities in the tool bar menu again (still not allowed the DVD to install anything yet). Look for the option to "restore." Click on this. Now you'll have the option to restore from a Time Machine backup. At this point, plug your Time Machine external into a USB and select that option. You'll have to select the drive (which will be the only option at this point). Now, allow Time Machine to restore your computer.
**Notice, the install DVD was never used to actually install the OS, but rather to gain access to Disk Utility and the Restore function**
6. After TM is finished, you're computer should be good to go. What I did, was open up all applications to verify I didn't need to tweak anything again. Everything was running with no issues to mention.
INSTALLING WINDOWS 7
1. After the new hard drive was installed, run Boot Camp. Click Continue, then decide the size of your Windows partition. This is personal preference, but I chose 80GB for mine.
2. Continue with the install until you get an option to "Custom Install" make sure you select custom install. Your doing this, so you can select the newly partitioned Bootcamp drive to install Windows on. **This is a very important step, if you don't perform this step correctly, you run the risk of wiping your Mac OSX partition** I highly recommend watching a few YouTube videos on installing Windows on a Mac to get familiar with this step.
3. After this step, you'll be prompted to install the Windows DVD and select continue. Yep, you need a genuine copy of Windows (should be a no brainer, but thought I'd mention it). Install the DVD, and click continue.
Now Windows will install just like normal. The key here, is to not touch anything during the install process until Windows asks you for your time zone/language/etc. During this step, I waited almost 20 minutes on the "Windows Files Expanding" (for me, the percentage stayed at 0% for over 20 minutes, so don't get worried...it takes awhile).
4. Once Windows is fully installed, insert the Mac OSX install DVD (while still in Windows). The DVD has some Windows based drivers to ensure you're MBP features will work like they should. Additionally, a Windows based version of Bootcamp will get installed on the Windows side allowing you to gain additional functionality from your trackpad, etc.
**Here's where I made a slight mistake, after Windows was fully installed, it instantly ran a quick Windows Update and installed 2 items before I could really do anything to prevent it. After those were installed, it asked me if I wanted to allow the computer to reboot to finalize those files. I thought "sure, I'll install the drivers after re-boot." WRONG! During this re-boot, my computer froze causing me to hold the power button down to force a shutdown and restart. This freezing issue lasted for about 4 restart attempt cycles. After about the fourth time, I was able to get into Windows long enough to insert the Mac OSX install DVD and install the drivers.
5. After the drivers are install, there is one last important step. The very next thing you need to do is run "Apple Software Update" NOT the Windows Update. Here is where the most current version of Bootcamp and other important Apple support software will get installed in Windows.
6. Now that Bootcamp is install on Windows, you can access the Boot Camp Control panel. In this application, you can change how your trackpad behaves as well as select the default Operating System you want to boot into. You'll always have the option to hold the option/alt key at power on to pick an operating system. However, if you don't hold down this key, you need to tell the computer which OS to default to. Use Boot Camp control panel to accomplish this.
**Enjoy your new system**
Again, I appreciate everyone's help getting me up and running. Hopefully, my recent experiences will help someone else who might be doing the same thing. Please provide additional inputs, tips, comments to help those looking to do this.
Cosmo
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit is running smooth as silk on a newly installed 500GB HHD in my 13" mid-2010 MBP!
To pay it back, I thought I'd write a mini guide for others. I upgraded from the 250GB HDD to a 500GB HDD so i could have room for both (I need Windows for work related stuff).
HDD Replacement (Super Easy). If you have the Mac OSX install DVD that came with your Mac, this step is simple. I ordered an OWC HDD install kit (includes necessary tool kit).
1. First step is to create a backup copy of your existing hard drive. I used Time Machine and backup up my HDD using a 320GB external I had lying around. **Note** Ensure iPhoto is closed before performing a TM backup. I found this out the hard way. This is a known issue with 10.5 & 10.6.X & iPhoto '09.
2. Once you feel confident you have a good TM backup, turn the computer off and swap the new hard drive with the old one. LOTS of you tube videos on how to do this. Also, OWC's website has very useful videos as well. There is no need to Format the new hard drive at this time. You'll do this later after it is installed into your Mac. Only real thing to pay attention to here, is to ensure you remove the mounting screws from the old drive and install them onto the new drive. These help keep the Hard Drive stable once installed into the MBP.
3. With New hard drive installed, turn the power on and insert the Mac OSX install DVD. The computer will boot up and start the install process off of the DVD (don't install anything off of the DVD), just let it start the process. The reason you are inserting the DVD is to gain access to disk utility.
4. You'll have to click "continue" initially, but what you are looking for, is the tool bar menu to appear. As soon as you get the tool bar menu, click on Utilities, then click on Disk Utility. This will bring up the normal Disk Utility app. Select the new hard drive on the left side bar menu. Next, select Partition. Under scheme, click on the drop down menu and select 1 partition. After doing this, you'll now have the option to select "options." Click on this and ensure GUID is selected. Click OK. Now ensure OS Extended Journaled is selected and then name your new drive ("Macintosh HD"). Then click "Apply"
5. Once Step 4 is done, now the new HDD can accept the operating system. Close the Disk Utility window. Now click on Utilities in the tool bar menu again (still not allowed the DVD to install anything yet). Look for the option to "restore." Click on this. Now you'll have the option to restore from a Time Machine backup. At this point, plug your Time Machine external into a USB and select that option. You'll have to select the drive (which will be the only option at this point). Now, allow Time Machine to restore your computer.
**Notice, the install DVD was never used to actually install the OS, but rather to gain access to Disk Utility and the Restore function**
6. After TM is finished, you're computer should be good to go. What I did, was open up all applications to verify I didn't need to tweak anything again. Everything was running with no issues to mention.
INSTALLING WINDOWS 7
1. After the new hard drive was installed, run Boot Camp. Click Continue, then decide the size of your Windows partition. This is personal preference, but I chose 80GB for mine.
2. Continue with the install until you get an option to "Custom Install" make sure you select custom install. Your doing this, so you can select the newly partitioned Bootcamp drive to install Windows on. **This is a very important step, if you don't perform this step correctly, you run the risk of wiping your Mac OSX partition** I highly recommend watching a few YouTube videos on installing Windows on a Mac to get familiar with this step.
3. After this step, you'll be prompted to install the Windows DVD and select continue. Yep, you need a genuine copy of Windows (should be a no brainer, but thought I'd mention it). Install the DVD, and click continue.
Now Windows will install just like normal. The key here, is to not touch anything during the install process until Windows asks you for your time zone/language/etc. During this step, I waited almost 20 minutes on the "Windows Files Expanding" (for me, the percentage stayed at 0% for over 20 minutes, so don't get worried...it takes awhile).
4. Once Windows is fully installed, insert the Mac OSX install DVD (while still in Windows). The DVD has some Windows based drivers to ensure you're MBP features will work like they should. Additionally, a Windows based version of Bootcamp will get installed on the Windows side allowing you to gain additional functionality from your trackpad, etc.
**Here's where I made a slight mistake, after Windows was fully installed, it instantly ran a quick Windows Update and installed 2 items before I could really do anything to prevent it. After those were installed, it asked me if I wanted to allow the computer to reboot to finalize those files. I thought "sure, I'll install the drivers after re-boot." WRONG! During this re-boot, my computer froze causing me to hold the power button down to force a shutdown and restart. This freezing issue lasted for about 4 restart attempt cycles. After about the fourth time, I was able to get into Windows long enough to insert the Mac OSX install DVD and install the drivers.
5. After the drivers are install, there is one last important step. The very next thing you need to do is run "Apple Software Update" NOT the Windows Update. Here is where the most current version of Bootcamp and other important Apple support software will get installed in Windows.
6. Now that Bootcamp is install on Windows, you can access the Boot Camp Control panel. In this application, you can change how your trackpad behaves as well as select the default Operating System you want to boot into. You'll always have the option to hold the option/alt key at power on to pick an operating system. However, if you don't hold down this key, you need to tell the computer which OS to default to. Use Boot Camp control panel to accomplish this.
**Enjoy your new system**
Again, I appreciate everyone's help getting me up and running. Hopefully, my recent experiences will help someone else who might be doing the same thing. Please provide additional inputs, tips, comments to help those looking to do this.
Cosmo