rMBP bootcamp from thumbdrive

I am going to install windows 7 / bootcamp on my macbook with a thumb drive, but had a question..

Do I need to copy the .iso file from digital river to my thumbdrive and point the bootcamp software to that?

Or do I need to use the microsoft tool, and use that to prepare my thumbdrive with the iso, and then tell bootcamp to use that prepared thumbdrive?

I am trying to prepare my thumbdrive before my macbook gets here so it is one less thing to do.

Thanks!

 

I got this bookmarked because it always work for me also I made my windows iso universal in case I want to try different OS Install Win 7 on MacBook Air from a USB drive | How To - CNET

and this to make your iso universal Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility « My Digital Life

 

That link and information only applies to older macbooks (and is now outdated even for older macbooks). There's a better method for newer models (and, technically older models as well).

Once you have your mac, your ISO file, and your USB drive, simply run the boot camp utility from within OS X, and it will help you get the windows installer on that drive, partition your disk, and reboot, booting up the USB drive.

For slightly older macs without a disc drive, like a 2010 macbook air, the option to put the windows installer on the USB is not available by default in the boot camp application. However, that functionality (which was introduced later ~2011) can be unlocked simply by changing a system file to turn on the functionality for that device. The reason the functionality is locked by default is those devices is that they can't boot from USB drives by default. You can get around that (and you'll have to get around that) using rEFIt, which you can uninstall if you want AFTER windows is installed.

If you have a macbook pro that can boot from USB without 3rd party software, then you'll have the option available by default to get the windows ISO on a thumb drive.

 

I know I will need my mac, an iso file, and my usb drive, my question is will bootcamp see the iso on my thumbdrive and take care of the rest? Or will I need to copy the iso file to the mac, and then insert an empty thumbdrive?

Thanks!

 

I understand but that doesn't means that method don't work with new macbooks and he don't have he's laptop yet if he want's to get prepared that is a good way to do it

to be honest I have a thumb drive with windows that i use for everything since last year no problems

 

So let me get this straight. You can install a Windows partition using Boot Camp on a USB thumbdrive, but not an USB 3.0 external HDD?

 

Install it from a USB drive.

look at speedys links in post 2. most of us build USB installers and many do it with a modified file so we can pick which version to install from a single USB drive

 

is your iso file currently on the USB drive? you'll need to copy it to your mac when you get it. It should take just a few seconds. No computer will be able to boot from your usb drive if you simply put the iso file on the USB drive as a file.

Download the ISO file to your mac, or copy it to your mac if it's currently on the USB drive.

Plug in the USB drive (if it isn't plugged in already).

Run the boot camp utility and follow the instructions.

 

Yeah, the iso file is on my thumbdrive. I was planing on using that to copy my iso to my macbook, then clearing it off so boot camp can make a bootable install on it. Is that how it works?

Update: Got a shipping notification that my rMBP will be here on 28th! Trying to do everything I can do to be ready for it.

 

You don't have to worry about the contents of the USB drive once you have the ISO file on your macbook. The bootcamp utility is going to completely wipe the USB drive and restore the ISO image to the USB drive, and set it up so that you can boot from it.

 

Nice to know!

 

Just got my machine in, and turns out, bootcamp tells me a 4 gig thumbdrive is to small for my windows 7 pro image! I had to borrow an 8 gig thumbdrive from a coworker. Just wanted to let you guys know a 4 gig might not be enough!

(My 8 gig drive said it was using 4.5 gigs.)

 

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59465.iso

That iso should be small enough to fit on a 4GB drive with a bit of room to spare.

 

I made a video showing how I installed windows 7 from my usb thumbdrive. I used 2 of them, one for the drivers and 1 for the windows 7.iso

HOW TO: Install Windows 7 using boot camp on 2012 Retina Macbook Pro. - YouTube

 

also, if you just download the drivers to a folder on your mac, you can drag and drop that to your USB drive (after you put the windows installer on the USB drive).

I've managed to get both the windows installer and the bootcamp drivers on a single 4GB flash drive.

If you go that route, then you can install windows, and on the first launch, install the boot camp drivers, without having to reboot multiple times or use multiple flash drives.

 

yes this works. I was able to uncheck the drivers and get it to go on!

 

When I go back and download the drivers, it takes up another gig on my desktop.

 

I couldn't get the bootcamp installer on the DP4 to install Windows 8 from a USB 3.0 stick. Although it worked flawlessly when I used an external DVD drive and disk.

 

When I partitioned for bootcamp, it named my partition "Untitled", is it possible to rename this to "Boot Camp"?