Windows 7 64 Bit on Mac Mini?

[hollyw0od]

Hello,

I recently purchased a Mac and am seeking information about installing Windows 7 64bit Ultimate on a Mini. It's the recent 2.53Ghz with 320GB HDD. The reason I am asking is because the Apple documentation for Boot Camp 3.1 states:

You can use a 64-bit version of Windows Vista or Windows 7 with any of these Mac computers:

• A Mac Pro or MacBook Pro introduced in early 2008 or later

• An iMac or MacBook introduced in late 2009 or later

​

Why no mention of Mac Mini?

Thanks!

P.S. This may sound silly but I'm new to the Mac. I downloaded Boot Camp 3.1 and the file is an EXE. Mac doesn't seem to know what to do with it.

 

[spinnerlys]

The Mac Mini uses a 64-bit CPU so it should work.

An .exe file is a Windows executable file, which works only on Windows.

Look for plenty of threads about the Boot Camp 3.1 update via MRoogle.
MRoogle is quite a good tool to search these forums.

 

[hollyw0od]

The Mac Mini uses a 64-bit CPU so it should work.

An .exe file is a Windows executable file, which works only on Windows

Hmm, I wonder why Apple makes no mention of it.

I guess Boot Camp 3.1 is supposed to be installed on Windows then. Maybe I need to do some more research.

Thank you.

 

[jbrenn]

i have 64 bit vista on a 2.0 mini it works.

 

[rgarjr]

I don't know why they don't mention it but it's dumb that they don't. I have 64-bit RC running on my Macbook as well

 

[velocityg4]

I have not yet tried the 3.1 boot camp as everything worked fine for me with Win 7 x64 using 3.0. But the below command is what I used to force the driver install on my 2006 or 2007 Macbook (whichever was the first C2D model). It works great even though it is not officially supported and worked great for other posters.

right click on command prompt and select run as administrator then enter these 3 commands (change the first line with the appropriate letter if your optical drive is mapped with a different letter than D: )

cd /d D:

cd \Boot Camp\Drivers\Apple

BootCamp64.msi

For BootCamp 3.1 I would download the update then use WinRAR or 7Zip to extract the files. Then use the command prompt for the same command. Excepting changing D: to the appropriate drive letter and the directory to the one holding the appropriate BootCamp64.msi

lets say it is on the desktop and the BootCamp.msi is still in the same directory with the same name

cd /d C:
cd \Users\your user name\Desktop\Boot Camp\Driver\Apple
BootCamp64.msi

I can not try at the moment as I just upgraded my hard drive and have yet to get around to re-installing Windows 7 seeing that I hardly use it.

 

[hollyw0od]

Not having even touched a Mac computer before, I must say, I'm lovin' it! OS X looks awesome and I can't wait to learn more. It's very fast and responsive.

Also got Windows 7 installed and it works flawlessly. Wait, I think it may even run better than my PC ran it!

Thanks guys!

 

[greythorne]

Not having even touched a Mac computer before, I must say, I'm lovin' it! OS X looks awesome and I can't wait to learn more. It's very fast and responsive.

Also got Windows 7 installed and it works flawlessly. Wait, I think it may even run better than my PC ran it!

Thanks guys!

How did you installed the bootcamp drivers? Oh try to go to startup disk and see if you have your windows partition listed there so that when you are in Mac OS X you can use that to restart into windows, i bet you wont see that option there in the startup disk therefore Apple did not list mac mini for 64bit even though you can use it.

Oh did you hear any hard drive grinding sound when you are in Mac OS X?

Thanks.

 

[hollyw0od]

How did you installed the bootcamp drivers? Oh try to go to startup disk and see if you have your windows partition listed there so that when you are in Mac OS X you can use that to restart into windows, i bet you wont see that option there in the startup disk therefore Apple did not list mac mini for 64bit even though you can use it.

Oh did you hear any hard drive grinding sound when you are in Mac OS X?

Thanks.

After installing Boot Camp via the OS X disk, I downloaded the 3.1 update (seemed to work without it; maybe better now) for Boot Camp, extracted the files and ran BootCampUpdate64.msp with the repair option. After checking the version it now reads 3.1.

In Startup Disk it shows Macintosh HD and for the Windows partition it reads BOOTCAMP. Both partitions are accessible on either side.

As for the hard drive, no grinding here. Only the usual sounds you would hear when accessing the drives. I can safely say that Windows 7 64 Bit runs 100% on this Mac Mini, and quite possibly better than the (custom built) PC ran it. Aero seems even more smooth and faster than the Radeon 5770 that was installed on the PC. What else can I say?

Were you having problems? Be sure to check out this link for installation instructions.

Also, to have an option of which OS to boot, hold down the option key at startup.

 

[.Some.New.Guy.]

Hmm, I wonder why Apple makes no mention of it.

I guess Boot Camp 3.1 is supposed to be installed on Windows then. Maybe I need to do some more research.

Thank you.

Call me a cynic but....

I love my Mac. I work on a PC. Windows on a Mac, is much the same as Windows on a PC (and sometimes even worse). You will still get malware on your machine if you run Windows, regardless who assembled the hardware. One day, when SJ is a brutal dictator and no longer the brave underdog (or did that happen already), OS "x" will get as much attention from exploiters and hackers and finance savvy virus protection software developers as Evil Mr "I'm giving my entire fortune to my own Charity" Gates' Windoze.

~ I've probably gone off track, but what I am trying to suggest is, think about all the options and possibilities before you decide to trust an .EXE file because it has the same name as an Apple product - especially if you happen be to using Boot Camp and are booted into Windoze while you are pondering if Apple just forgot to include a smart update or link to their software page and have also forgotten to post any news of the updated product on the World Wide Web.....

~ On the other hand, I could be completely wrong?
Peace.

 

[spinnerlys]

Call me a cynic but....

snip snap clip clap

~ On the other hand, I could be completely wrong?
Peace.

You realise this thread is eight months old. don't you?

Btw, about that

One day, when SJ is a brutal dictator and no longer the brave underdog (or did that happen already), OS "x" will get as much attention from exploiters and hackers and finance savvy virus protection software developers as Evil Mr "I'm giving my entire fortune to my own Charity" Gates' Windoze.

read this: The Mac OS X Malware Myth Continues

 

[.Some.New.Guy.]

You realise this thread is eight months old. don't you?

Btw, about that


read this: The Mac OS X Malware Myth Continues

Wow, this interwebby thing really does work, after 8 months I post something and someone replies the next day- and gives me an article that tells me, yes, I can be a cynic after all. Yes I understand u have to download and allow the Trojan access by keychain, and it doesn't infect other computers atm, but think of that chunk of Mac users out there who have bought a Mac because they believe that NO malware exists for Mac. Why would they ever question any program they download? Why are people always so bias in these matters anyway. All I was saying was that a windows platform on any hardware, Mac or otherwise, is capable of being screwed over with malware, and the poor patron above isn't even concerned about the dangers of installing .EXE files on the bootcamped partition- probably because of the "Apple has NO security vulnerabilities on its hardware or software" myth that is usually propergated by those who believe it so strongly they too declare that 99.98% safe and declining actually means 100% safe and impossible. So maybe I was being a smartass and I apologize but that does not mean I am not concerned or wrong.