Have you ever wondered if you can install Microsoft's Windows 7 on an Apple MacBook Pro, while still running the custom OS X? Those, who are considering installing Windows 7 on their new Retina MacBook Pro (to run standard PC software and games in the full 2880 x 1800 resolution) can now go ahead with the same.
A step-by-step tutorial will enable the MacBook installation. Please note that iTechPost is not accountable for any kind of damage or issues that arise and the user takes all responsibility. The steps to run Windows 7 on MacBook Pro are as follows.
Step 1: Locate and run the built-in Boot Camp Assistant package that comes as part of OS X. Boot Camp Assistant can be summoned in a number of different ways. Select Spotlight from the Finder bar at the top of the display and search for Boot Camp before selecting the required app. In an alternate procedure, users can enter the Launchpad screen and search for Boot Camp Assistant manually.
Step 2: The Boot Camp Assistant interface provides the necessary steps that are involved in installing a fully-functioning version of Windows 7 on the MacBook. Make sure all the relevant option boxes are ticked before selecting the Continue option on the bottom right of the display.
Step 3: Next you will need to create a Windows ISO image of the installation DVD. An optical drive is a requirement for this process, which means that an external drive will be needed to be connected to the MacBook Pro. The simple Disk Utility application in Mac OS X allows a new disk image to be created from the inserted Windows DVD.
(Important: If you don't have access to an external drive that can be connected to the MacBook Pro, then it is possible to create an ISO disk image using one of many free of charge utilities directly from a Windows based PC. That ISO can then be moved across to the Retina MacBook Pro for use as part of this process.)
Step 4: If you are creating the ISO image directly on the Mac using the Disk Utility process then the final file will need to be saved as .cdr file and then manually renamed to the extension .iso.
Step 5: After the ISO image has been created and manually renamed, the next stage is to copy the file onto a USB drive that is greater than 4GB in size. Next, in the Boot Camp Manager interface, select the option to copy the file to the USB drive to create a bootable disk.
Step 6: Anyone who has installed Windows (or even used it), will know that a number of drivers are required to make sure all of the hardware is functioning correctly. This aspect is mainly applicable in this instance in order to ensure that the full resolution of the Retina MacBook Pro is achieved in the installation. You have to download all the drivers that Apple provides via the Boot Camp Manager and copy the single file to a secondary USB drive (at least 1GB space is needed).
Step 7: Note that the installation of Windows 7 doesn't agree with the competing operating system, and so it is necessary to create a partition on the hard drive of the MacBook Pro. The Boot Camp Assistant will display the partition information and you will need to assign a portion of the drive to Windows. However, keep in mind that the installation itself will require approximately 30GB so choose carefully as this cannot be changed later.
Step 8: Now insert the original USB pen drive into the Mac with the bootable ISO image on it. The system will reboot after the partition step above, forcing the Windows 7 installation to begin. When asked where to install Windows 7, remember to select the partition that was created in the step above (step 7). Select Drive Options prior to selecting Format and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 9: Finally, insert the secondary USB pen-drive and install the drivers that Apple provides to make sure everything works correctly with the Windows 7 installation. Open the USB drive and run the installer that is on the drive. When the drivers are installed the system will automatically restart, which will prompt the end of the process.
If you've done everything right, Windows 7 will be fully installed on your MacBook. From now on, deciding which operating system to boot into is as simple as holding down the Option button when the MacBook is booting and selecting either Windows or OS X.
