Hello,
I've been trying everything to get Windows XP on my Macbook Pro (late 2007, OS 10.6.8) but I haven't succeeded. I've solved many many problems I had along the way, but with this problem, even Google can't help me.
My intern optical drive is broken, so I bought a Samsung external dvd drive, which seems to work right as I can browse the dvd on my mac.
I have a bootable Windows XP pro SP2 dvd which I can start through reFIT (holding option on startup doesn't show up the dvd, and clicking 'Start installation' through Boot Camp results in the apple logo with a prohibition sign and a folder with a question mark).
Partitioning 25 GB for Windows went fine.
Problem is, when I choose to boot the dvd (through reFIT), I first get the grey screen with the Windows logo, then a black screen with a blinking underscore.
I've tried everything I could find through Google;
- Plug out the adapter for 30 seconds (also taken out the battery)
- Various legit Windows cd's with different service packs, various downloaded versions (all SP2)
- Checked the hard disk through disk utilities
- Removed partition and partitioned again
- Hold option key (dvd doesn't even show up, it DOES in reFIT)
- Holding C key (not sure when to do this, tried several things but nothing happened)
- Plugging in an external keyboard; push buttons quickly right after I try to boot the dvd (something to do with "Press any key to continue")
- Resetting the PRAM
- Trying to install Windows 7 results in the exact same problem
What I DIDN'T try:
- Trying to boot the dvd with every usb plugged out. I can't do that because my Macbook only has 2 usb ports and the external dvd drive requires both of them. Could that really make the difference?
- I read about removing 2 GB of memory (total of 4). I don't have two 1GB strips, just two 2GB. I wanted to try to remove just one 2GB strip and leave the other one, but I couldn't get the screws out (even with small screwdrivers). Could this really help? If it does, I'll try to do this again with the help of someone stronger 😛
I really hope there are more things I can try. Please help, I'm about to give up.
Oh and no, I'm not planning on using Parallels, I want XP to game 😉
Thanks a lot!
Simone
I've been trying everything to get Windows XP on my Macbook Pro (late 2007, OS 10.6.8) but I haven't succeeded. I've solved many many problems I had along the way, but with this problem, even Google can't help me.
My intern optical drive is broken, so I bought a Samsung external dvd drive, which seems to work right as I can browse the dvd on my mac.
I have a bootable Windows XP pro SP2 dvd which I can start through reFIT (holding option on startup doesn't show up the dvd, and clicking 'Start installation' through Boot Camp results in the apple logo with a prohibition sign and a folder with a question mark).
Partitioning 25 GB for Windows went fine.
Problem is, when I choose to boot the dvd (through reFIT), I first get the grey screen with the Windows logo, then a black screen with a blinking underscore.
I've tried everything I could find through Google;
- Plug out the adapter for 30 seconds (also taken out the battery)
- Various legit Windows cd's with different service packs, various downloaded versions (all SP2)
- Checked the hard disk through disk utilities
- Removed partition and partitioned again
- Hold option key (dvd doesn't even show up, it DOES in reFIT)
- Holding C key (not sure when to do this, tried several things but nothing happened)
- Plugging in an external keyboard; push buttons quickly right after I try to boot the dvd (something to do with "Press any key to continue")
- Resetting the PRAM
- Trying to install Windows 7 results in the exact same problem
What I DIDN'T try:
- Trying to boot the dvd with every usb plugged out. I can't do that because my Macbook only has 2 usb ports and the external dvd drive requires both of them. Could that really make the difference?
- I read about removing 2 GB of memory (total of 4). I don't have two 1GB strips, just two 2GB. I wanted to try to remove just one 2GB strip and leave the other one, but I couldn't get the screws out (even with small screwdrivers). Could this really help? If it does, I'll try to do this again with the help of someone stronger 😛
I really hope there are more things I can try. Please help, I'm about to give up.
Oh and no, I'm not planning on using Parallels, I want XP to game 😉
Thanks a lot!
Simone