Let’s face it: Even the most diehard Mac fan needs a little dose of Microsoft sometimes. Whether you want to run some obscure engineering software, experiment with the dark side, or just want to fire up Modern Warfare 3 on your Mac, the ability to dip your toe in the Windows software pool is a major advantage. And these days, getting that means installing Windows 7.
Step 1: Buy a copy of Windows 7.
Check out our guide to different Windows 7 versions before dropping too much money on the rather unnecessary “Ultimate” package, and don’t forget you can grab a student copy at a significant discount with a .edu e-mail address.
Step 2: Upgrade to the latest version of Boot Camp.
Since older versions of Boot Camp didn’t explicitly support Windows 7, intrepid Mac owners who decided to install it beside Snow Leopard suffered from slow startup times, Magic Mouse malfunctions, and other glitches. Not anymore. The most recent version of Bootcamp includes full support for Windows 7, which should save you from all these headaches. Simply go to the Apple menu on your Mac and select Software Update, which will grab the latest version for you.
Step 3: Create a new partition for Windows 7.
Since Max OS X and Windows 7 can’t live happily together, you’ll need to create a new partition on your hard drive (or a separate partition on a separate hard drive) to install it. Think of it like putting up a new wall to split one bedroom into two so that a pretentious hipster and a stiff corporate dud can both live in peace.
Open Boot Camp Assistant by looking in the Utilities folder under Applications. The intuitive software will walk you through the process, just make sure to create an NTFS partition, since you won’t be able to install Windows 7 on any other type, and make it a minimum of 16GB. Keep in mind that you’ll want to install all your Windows software on the same partition, so plan accordingly.
Step 4: Install Windows 7.
With Boot Camp Assistant still open, choose the option to “Start the Windows installer.” You’ll need to pop that fresh, legally purchased copy of Windows 7 in the drive and click Continue to start installing. From here on out, the installation looks a lot like any other Windows 7 installation. In other words, follow the instructions. When it asks whether you want to do a standard or custom installation, be sure to choose “custom” and select the partition labeled BOOTCAMP. You’ll also want to click “Drive options (advanced)” after highlighting it and choose “Format” to ensure you install on a nice, squeaky clean partition.
Grab a cup of coffee while your Mac lays down all the Windows 7 files. (Hint: Don’t go with a Venti, the Windows 7 installer blazes compared to past versions.)
Step 5: Configure Windows for your Mac.
You now have Windows 7 installed, but it doesn’t know how to interface correctly with all your Mac’s strange in exotic hardware until you install the right drivers. Fortunately, Apple has made this pretty easy: They’re all located on your OS X install disc. With Windows running, eject the Windows 7 disc, pop the OS X disc in, and let it load (double click on the CD-ROM drive if it doesn’t start automatically). It will do almost all the work automatically, but you may have to click a few foreboding boxes warning you that the drivers haven’t passed Windows Logo testing. Don’t sweat it, just keep tapping those Continue boxes.
Step 6: Start Windows 7 at will!
Congratulations, you now have a fully functionally copy of Windows 7 running on your Mac! Keep in mind that it will still boot into OS X automatically unless you hold down the option button at startup, which will produce a menu allowing you to choose which operating system to use.
For further questions, or if you run into any problems along the way, be sure to consult Apple’s Boot Camp installation guide, which has more comprehensive instructions and should be able to get you out of a bind.
Other options
In the spirit of being thorough, we feel obligated to inform you that Boot Camp isn’t the only option available if you’re looking for a way to run Windows software on a Mac. There are also two other options:
If you’d rather not reboot every time you want to use a windows program, check out Parallels or VirtualBox. Both are virtualization software that will allow you to quickly switch between Windows and Mac operating systems. Beware though, as this takes quite a bit of processing power. For most newer macs with advanced processors, this shouldn’t be much of an issue.
The other option is to take the Windows program you’d like to use and transform it into a Mac application. This can be done using WineBottler, CrossOver and a number of other programs. This option would work best if you’re only planning on running a couple Windows-based applications on your Mac.
This guide to installing Windows 7 on a Mac has been updated to reflect software updates, new features and more.
Hello,
I replaced my old iMac with a new one today. Unfortunately I need to install Windows on it to allow me to remotely login to my employer's network. I purchased a new copy of Windows 7 Home Premium (OEM software) and have tried to install it using BootCamp. Windows goes through most of the installation, then reboots twice. However, then the screen goes black and doesn't respond anymore. I can force a restart, then get 4 options to complete the Windows installation (1 normal startup, and 3 safe modes) but they all give frozen or black screens. Can anyone help??!!
Do i keep my apple operating system and the win7 and how can i switch between both of the operating systems?
When exactly do I eject the windows 7 disc? When the installation is supposedly finished and the screen is black? Also, HOW do I eject the disc? As far as I know the only way to eject a disc from my imac is to press the eject button on the top right hand corner of my keyboard (or right click the disc icon then click “eject” but that method obviously can’t be done in this scenario) . No matter how much I press the damn button nothing happens. This is a pretty irritating design flaw and I’d like to know if anybody can help me out here.
I have just bought a new imac and wanted to install windows but it does say you need to insert the mac os disc which i did not have when purchased any idea.
I have the same concern… I bought my macbook with OS X already installed and the disc was not included. Maybe the drivers can be found online as well?
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This article was like striking gold for me. After 47 minutes with apple support, i got nowhere, and they wouldn’t help me until I bought a $100 plan. You have no idea how much this helped. I am so excited that I finally can do power point presentations from my mac!
I did it the other way… 10.6.4 running on my PC…
Thanks for the instructions; I had Windows 7 Home Premium OEM up & running in no time – without any problems, thankfully.
Great writing! I want to see a follow up on this topic!!!
-Warm regards,
Amado
There’s an easier way. Skip steps 2 and 3 and proceed to step 4, then skip step 5. It will work much better that way, and there’s no need for the mac anyway as it’s over rated and you can do the same things in win 7. Even better, never waste $1999 on the stupid, mediocre hardware apple gives you and simply buy a top end PC for about $700 when you shop around.
I am in process of buying used macbook air (1.5 yo?) 64gb and wanted windows 7 on it…is that possible and or necessary?
The Best guide, haha hipster and work dud.. love it !
I did it the other way… 10.6.4 running on my PC…
I have a new iMac. I want to install windows..so I can transfer my PC software..like Printmaster, Picture Motion Browser..to the Mac. I have been told to buy 3 different versions from 3 different sources…I do not need for docs(but if it is included in the sw that’s ok)…so which one is for me?
It's amazing to see how much people hate/love apple in a ridiculous way. some of the comments about the author never gets a decent job is just way beyond my conception of what makes a tech personnel hired.
corrections: windows is not a open platform! whoever says that must forgot the antitrust lawsuit happened to Microsoft years ago. Also back to the topic, mac does fully support windows 7 with bootcamp. Launch that app and read the instruction yourself. If you previously own a windows installation use that. if you want to upgrade, do that from there. buying a new license also will work, student discount works for most schools in the North America. For university students I recommended ultimatesteal from Microsoft, look that up on the web.
I was wondering if it were possible to switch between the two? I would like to use Windows 7 to game, and OS X for everything else. Is it possible to switch between Windows 7 and OS X often, and easily?
consider software—-vmfusion or parallels
Please give details, which virus did you prove? does it have a name? how did you remove it?
Thanks God……..can I run google apps (http://google.com)
Friends…I am a college student…I am not clear about the following:
1) I have a MAC
2) There is NO previous Microsoft OS on it
3) I would like to install Microsft Windows 7 on it
Question: Do I need a FULL version of the Windows 7 or all I need is the Upgrade? I called Microsoft and they told me that I need the FULL version for lots of $$$$$…..
Your HELP is very much appreciated….poor college student :-)
You will need a full version of Windows 7. Cheapest licensed CD can be found on newegg for $99 plus tax.
Can you install windows 7 in bootcamp if you download it off the internet?
You downloaded Windows 7 off the net? Shouldn't be a problem.
Haven't downloaded it yet. I was just wondering if it would all work right and install in bootcamp with the 64 bit windows 7.
Yup, would work. Have fun, you will love it.
Well I downloaded it and started boot camp. What would I need to do to make it work now since there is no disc?
Burn it onto a disk and then use boot camp
when i installed window7 using the bootcamp. all functions work well except for the speaker. somehow the speaker doesn't work. it seems that the speaker driver has not been installed via this method.
can anyone teach me how to fix this speaker issue?
I have the software in .ISO format.. I used a bootcamp, but there wasn't a choice of select to upload a USB..
To use a USB with any parallel it is necessary to insert the USB after it is running Windows or else will be formatted improperly. Parallels work for me but not Boot Camp because it is not in my utitlity's is my iMac too old ? it is a 2006
Hi, please can somebody help me? I have got a Macbook air and I want to install Windows 7 on it. I have got software of Win7 on USB. and I don't know how can I install to my mac. Can you give me an advice?
yea, it cant be on a usb, burn your copy onto a disc, that should work.
Help. Keep getting a black screen and I can't get the cd out. Trying to install windows 7 but every time it reboots it disappears. Tried holding down the mouse to eject no luck. Any suggestions would surely be appreciated
When I'm trying to partition my iMac harddrive, I get the following message:
"The disk cannot be partitioned because some files cannot be moved. Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again ."
Does anyone know what that means?
Am having the same problem can some one help ? When I'm trying to partition my Macbook Pro harddrive, I get the same message:
"The disk cannot be partitioned because some files cannot be moved. Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again ."
please help
When Boot Camp creates a new Windows partition on your MAC hard drive it moves you Macintosh HD files to create some space for Windows. Some of those files for whatever reason can't be moved.
Backup your system using Time Machine. Once backup is completed, launch a disk utility and format your HD (All your programs and data will be gone!). Once formatting is completed, install a fresh copy of OS X (using your MAC DVDs). When installation is complete use time machine to restore back you data and apps. When restored, try to create a new partition via Boot Camp again.
It's a lot of work, but that's the only solution for you.
because “it just works”
I am running an early 2010 imac 27 inch i5. I have a copy of 32 bit windows 7- will I be able to run this on my system?
how do you download boot camp 3.1 to the Mac
You have to get it off the Snow Leopard disc. Apple only allows your to download the updates from their website for Bootcamp.
You can get the 3.1 update from the Apple website here: http://support.apple.com/kb/dl979
This is for the 64-bit version.
Can you stall windows on a different internal hard drive? I'm thinking about doing this on the new mac pro tower when it comes out in a week or so. Its to play games with.
It will stall automatically, just give it a few hours… hahahahaha. Sorry, couldn't resist.
and the mac simply won’t let him do anything at all which is why he’s already needing widnows.. Much worse than the fantasy “stall” you invented and that’s true.
should one use the 64 bit or 32 when installing Windows 7?
What are the specs on your iMac?
64 bit
If you have a 64 bit computer, you should install 64 bit windows, unless you have 32 bit windows software that requires 32 bit windows. If you have windows 7 pro or higher, it comes with a fully licensed copy of 32 bit windows xp (xp-mode). But that has the resource downsides of virtual machines. Probably not an issue if you have a newer Mac.
I've been trying to install Windows 7 on the newest iMac for the last 4 hours and keep getting a black screen when it tries to reboot. I've tried all the advice I can find on the problem and been getting nowhere. I did this same thing a few weeks ago and it worked with no problems until someone stole my computer. Why did it work last time beautifully and this time it's giving me hell? I could really use some help.
Not loving the new iMac
Try holding down the "option" key on the keyboard when your system boots up. It should give you the option to choose whatever OS you want. Let me know if that works.
New iMacs with new hardware. Go to the Apple website and download the drivers to USB and reinstall Windows. Pretty easy just Google the black screen issue.
Hi guys,
I am having trouble installing windows 7. I get to the installation stage and think it is all down and my mac shuts down? I let it go for awhile but thought after half and hour or so it clearly had a problem……. Any ideas?
I purchase a 13" MBP about a month ago. Initially, I upgraded the BootCamp, before installing the Windows 7 Pro (student edition). I didn't have any of the problems many of the posters are stating here…it was been running great for me!!! The only negative thing, I've noticed, when booting up into the Mac OS X, it is a little slower getting to the desktop. I'm sure this is just because of the dual partition it sees, but it still run great as before! I don't own an iPhone, but my wife do have the iPod touch (8GB). I installed the Xcode developer application and learning to use Objective-C…hoping to write some profitable iPhone & iPad apps!
omg. please don’t have kids. please..
When almost all the windows stuff is installed and it starts rebooting it just goes black and nothing moves, then i shut it down manually and it resumes installing it and finishes it then blablabla and then when it's like doing those last updates before launching to windows it comes up with and error and not even one of the drivers will install, it's badd !
If you are installing Windows 7 or new to Windows 7 check out The ABCs of Windows 7 which will help -http://ninjarabbits.blogspot.com/2010/06/window…
After getting Windows 7 installed on my iMac and updating the Bootcamp drivers to the latest, the system is running pretty slow. Seems like the CPU usage keeps going up and down, up and down – even with every program closed. Any idea what might be causing this? Anyone else having these problems?
That sounds like the antivirus hogging CPU cycles. Check the settings, or have scans run at night
I am still getting: “display driver stopped responding and has recovered” when playing games on my iMac with Windows 7 and Boot Camp 3.1 installed. Any idea how to fix this? I have the latest ATI drivers installed.
And yes, I have just found out it won't install with the upgrade version. I was told it would work, but only just read that part of the installation guide. Guess that means no Windows till I can afford the full version.
torrent+key gen. PROBLEM SOLVED.
hey sorry if i sound like a noob but i needed some help. I m considering buying a macbook (pro if that important in anyway) but i need to use some programs that only have windows versions. i currently use a torrent version of windows 7 on the PC at my house and it runs fine except that it asks me from time to time to but the original software and doesnt update and all that. But it runs fine.. what i wanna know is that can i use bootcamp or parallels to instal with the same counterfeit copy or do i need to buy the original windows 7 to install it on my mac
There are applications I use at work that require the Windows OS.
There are many applications that only run on windows, that require real processing power and memory where you don't want them competing for those resources with what ever OS X is using.
If you are running in bootcamp windows is the sole OS in use, so no competing for resources at all, you must be thinking of a VM.
I am mystified why anyone smart enough to own a Mac would be stupid enough to want any version of Windows on it, even via Boot Camp. On my own iMac, I run any Windows software I want via Crossover (a commercialized version of Wine) and run my flight simulator, games, and other software with no problem. What I don't have is anything released by Microsoft. I've had more than enough of the bug-ridden, security failures from them. No Windows trash again, none, not ever.
games. high end games function poorly for everybody else but you on a virtual OS. You are the only person in the world that has no problems running games on your iMac, for the rest of us, we use windows. Pat yourself on the back.
I fully agree. PC is a ticking bomb that has like three seconds on it. I'm with you, i have no problems, yet my school wants me to put windows seven on my mac, not gonna happen. I'd rather fail the course. I say people who are PC gung ho are only like that cuz they can't afford mac. :p
you're an idiot that will likely never find a decent job. The Mac is a very restrictive environment. Windows is an open environment that thousands have created software for. Businesses have custom applications that run under Windows for which Apple doesn't have a clue. If you are creative and value business, Windows is the platform. If you want Apple to handfeed you and have no vision beyond what Apple approves…..the Mac is your platform!!
What he said… ^^^^
I am a Sys. Admin and agree that Apple has no place in the work place. It is for narrow minded consumers that like to be told what to do and think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yubb5x0OE8&fe…
The absolute truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg&fe…
I work in tech support. Most of the people who come in own Macs, PC users are resourceful enough and have enough software on the market to solve their own problems. Macs, however, have proven over the course of my tech support life to be unresponsive and severely difficult to configure. It's a closed system and it's very user-unfriendly at the lower levels of the OS. Windows, on the other hand, is not and is becoming better and better security-wise with each new version, not to mention the tons of free anti-spyware out there if you only look.
Well that's nice James.. But why would you buy a 2000 dollar machine to run Mac OS X when you can use an old Intel based PC ? And if you think your iMac is secure you are not very smart in that sense either. Did you know there are proven viruses on Macs? Just because Steve Jobs says you cannot get a virus on a Mac does not mean it's true! I've proven it myself.. So don't be that regular pompous Mac user that thinks because he can afford a Mac makes you better in anyway than anyone using a PC.
had used macs since the mid eighties, open every page and link I've found, never seen a virus, did you really? I doubt it.
I just bought a new macbook white with the 320m nvidia. using a mac is actually a lot of fun (probably cuz its all new to me) im more of a pc person, but this is interesting. the only problem i have is how this supercharged 320m graphics card can't seem to play games very well… actually not at all. I'm thinking of trying to boot it to windows7 in hopes that windows would actually know how to use this higher end integrated graphics card. The problem i have with playing my games is that the screen starts looking like broken glass! seriously, its awful! I can't see where i'm clicking and the games i play are online and competitive.
Oh yes, iOs is not so perfect, I can’t store bigger files then 4 GB … windows 7 is a bit more useful then iOs in my opinion.
Answer: People, in general (not all), who own Macs are not smart, but really pretty stupid. While you’re wondering why they’d want windows on it, you have to wonder why’d they’d want a mac in the first place. Over priced, slow, outdated hardware from apple. You can get a top end PC that’s got faster hardware for rendering videos/music projects/art etc for $700 and it will outrun a $2000 iMac. The people who buy apple are so brainwashed they will call anyone saying what I just claimed, “stupid”.. That’s because they don’t know computers. So you have it backwards. It’s people who go to buy macs are stupid, credulous and it’s when they go to run windows, there is a flicker of hope that their sanity has partially returned.
And I too wonder why, they don’t just stick with windows. They have all these lies they tell themselves. That they want it to be intuitive, easier, have it “just work” and all the bull. Then they turn around, get on weird web sites, try to format, partition etc, just to get windows going because they were not bright enough to see they’d need windows anyway, thus defeating the phony premise of having a mac in the first place. Not that it’s real. It’s brainwashing from apple that convinces these dummies that apple is created by a genius and they are becoming a part of that.
And note you run Microsoft flight simulator as there is no Apple flight simulator. Yet you pretend you are getting far away from windows, and only touching it a little bit to run FS.. Yet you keep running it via crossover. If you think you are not running windows, and are simply in your mac, you’re mistaken. While osx is running, windows is also there, and with both OS’s running, it will be slower. Since apple sells crap hardware, your video card will likely be mid grade and games will only run just OK. As you talk about bug-ridden and security holes, you say that as if Apple OSX is free from this because the guru’s at apple are a different breed of human that somehow program better.
In reality, they are people, and many of those same people program at both apple and microsoft. Also the security experts that defend windows get patches out first, and it’s those experts that are often hired by apple to prevent the mac from getting the same security holes. Look it up, read, learn something. Just a few months back, a Java hole was exploited and MS had the patch out within the week, but apple was late. Over a million macs got infected FIRST, even though the windows did not. Same hole, only the holes at apple didn’t get the patch out. However it’s the same holes at apple and their worshipers who tell you that windows is nothing but patch over patch and brainwash people to hate it. And stupid people, like you, eat that up, thinking their mac is so much better. Even though with one tenth the user base, the macs are still getting infected when if they were so perfect, they should get zero or next to zero malware. But go ahead, keep spending extra for the crap you get. You deserve it because you’re a credulous idiot.
I am running Windows 7 on my iMac and love it. I think I used the old the old Bootcamp though, and I cannot get the built-in iSight to work. I have tried downloading the driver to no avail. Has anyone else had this problem?
You wrote that you can use the student copy of Windows 7. Your link shows how to buy the UPGRADE version of Windows 7. But the Bootcamp Installation Guide states that “You must use a single full-install Windows installation disc. You cannot use an upgrade version of Windows”.
No you can use an upgrade lincense. I asked Microsoft they said yes and I bought one and installed it. No problem.
How??
Install from the upgrade disk but bypass the validation step (don't enter the license key, just hit next). Then when it is installed, rerun the installation. It will find the existing install and validate the license key the second time. This is for people who have a previous version and want to do a fresh install to get a clean system. I don't believe Microsoft will tell you to install an upgrade version if you don't have a previous version. If you don't have a previous version of Microsoft, you should probably buy the full version.