Anyone get Win 7 RC1 working on a Mac Pro?

[lokiju]

I've seen that others have been able to get Win 7 installed on their Intel Mac's using Boot Camp, but I haven't found to much specifically in relation to doing it on a Mac Pro with a Intel Xeon processor.

I've tried it on two different Mac Pro's and both had the same result but Vista will install fine.

I guess I can probably install Vista and then upgrade to Win 7 but was wondering if anyone else has run into this and found a work around?

Update1:

I've redownloaded the iso direct from MS and burned it using different brand disc and using a different burning app. I tried the 64bit version also and whenever I use that version it comes up asking me what CD drive, 1 or 2, I can't enter in a 1 or a 2 or do anything at all but turn the machine off. I even tried it on another Mac Pro with the same result.

I tried removing the OS X drive and having only 1 hard drive in the system that's just for installing Win 7 to, all to no avail. Every time with the 32bit version I get a blue screen and every time with the 64bit version I get the "which cd drive" screen and cannot do anything but power off the machine.

I was able to do an upgrade from Vista after installing Vista SP1 but after it completed and tried to load the Win 7 OS for the first time it again blue screened.



I'm at a total loss.


Update2: Yes this works! Woohoo!

This solution has to be run on a PC only.

0 - create 3 folders c:\windows64iso c:\windows64exe c:\windows64dvd
1 - download this (http://sergiomcfly.googlepages.com/oscdimg.exe) .exe file and put into c:\windows64exe
2 - put .iso you downloaded from ms (or an .iso you created from your retail windows disc) into c:\windows64iso and unzip it
3 - move .iso file out of c:\windows64iso and trash / delete it (won't need it anymore)
4 - open a dos prompt in c:\windows64exe and type:

oscdimg -n -m -bc:\windows64iso\boot\etfsboot.com c:\windows64iso c:\windows64dvd\windows64dvd.iso

The windows64dvd.iso is the file you gonna burn onto a new DVD

I was given the answer from another site/forum where I asked the same question.

It does indeed work for the 64bit version, I have not tested the 32bit version yet though.

Edit3: Well it's been confirmed by me, 32bit still does not work using this method.

Oh well, at least 64bit is working, even though I can install all the boot camp tools I'd like.

SOLUTION:

I set out a month or so ago to get Win 7 working on my Mac Pro once and for all and after a lot of searching, trial and error and testing I found a way to fix the issue.

1) Make sure you are booting from the installation Disk. When you are prompted to hit any key to boot from CD or DVD, do so before the fifth dot appears or you will be booting from the hard disk.

2) When you get into the Windows installer, click past the language selection. Then click "Repair your computer".

3) Windows will scan for installations and prompt you with a list. Select your "C" drive and click Next.

4) You should be presented with a windows titled "System Recovery Options". At the bottom of this list you should see "Command Prompt". Select the command prompt.

5) When the console opens, you can delete the offending driver using the following command:

DEL C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS

6) Close the command prompt window and click the Restart button. This time, boot from your hard disk. You should be able to complete the installation using a basic video driver.

 

[Kmax82]

How are you installing this? Are you using BootCamp to create the bootloader/partition and then just installing as normal installing drivers yourself? Or do you use the BootCamp drivers?

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Kmax82
How are you installing this? Are you using BootCamp to create the bootloader/partition and then just installing as normal installing drivers yourself? Or do you use the BootCamp drivers?

In Leopard I'm creating the windows partition by dividing my OS X partition into half, one for Windows, one for Leopard and I'm doing this by using the Boot Camp utility.

Then I put the Win 7 disc in and hit start install and it reboots and goes into the Win 7 install process. I have to format the partition that bootcamp created (which is labeled as bootcamp) and then it copies and installs and when it reboots and tries to complete the install process I get a blue screen and it reboots so fast I haven't caught what the dump info is yet.

 

[lokiju]

I tried upgrading Vista to Win 7 but told me it be upgraded.

Could have something to do with Vista being Enterprise and Win 7 Being Ultimate, but I'm not really sure.

So no clue what to try next.

 

[Kmax82]

Hmm.. the only other thing I can think of is the disc. Have you tried burning another copy? 32bit and 64bit versions doing the same thing?

Yea, I'm at a loss. I haven't tried to install Win7 via BootCamp on my MBP, but it works fine via VM. If I see anything, I'll let you know, but hopefully someone else knows what to try.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Kmax82
Hmm.. the only other thing I can think of is the disc. Have you tried burning another copy? 32bit and 64bit versions doing the same thing?

Yea, I'm at a loss. I haven't tried to install Win7 via BootCamp on my MBP, but it works fine via VM. If I see anything, I'll let you know, but hopefully someone else knows what to try.

Yeah tired a different disc.

Haven't tried x64 though.

 

[MrTransistorm]

The file you downloaded may be corrupt. Check its MD5 against the ones listed here.

Any reason you aren't trying x64?

 

[Dahak]

I also remember that with xp, if you dont reformat the drive that boot camp created it can cause this too

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Dahak
I also remember that with xp, if you dont reformat the drive that boot camp created it can cause this too

It won't even let me go forward with the install without reformatting the drive.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: MrTransistorm
The file you downloaded may be corrupt. Check its MD5 against the ones listed here.

Any reason you aren't trying x64?

Just haven't had a chance yet.

I'm going to be trying it soon though.

 

[Seeruk]

Had no issues whatsoever installing Win7 64bit on my 2009 mac pro. Partitioned in boot camp, rebooted, installed then installed the boot camp drivers I wanted, and manufacturer drivers for other things (used ATI's own drivers for the 4870 for instance).

If you are having problems partitioning (or with win7 seeing the partition) just partition it normally using either disk utility or some linux livecd .... just make sure its either unformatted, or formatted as fat32/ntfs. You can then reformat again in the installer for windows. Most issues I have seen have been with win7 not seeing hfs partitions.

 

[lokiju]

update bump.

 

[Kmax82]

Wow.. I'm at a loss as well. Without owning a Mac Pro, I have no idea what's going on in your situation.

 

[lokiju]

Update bump 2.

It's alive!

 

[ViRGE]

So what exactly does oscdimg do?

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
So what exactly does oscdimg do?

It basically recomplies it into a ISO that works with a MAC.

Beyond that, while I'm it does more, I have no idea.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
So what exactly does oscdimg do?

It installs a keylogger program that sends me txt files generated from your computer everyday.

OP, glad you figured it out! I have to wonder, though, why would you want Windows when you can run OSX? I have a single PC that I use exclusively for Windows tasks and my other machines are Macs.

Just my $0.02