MacBook – Boot from USB on MacBook 1.1 (early 2007)

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I’m trying to install Windows 8 from USB on my MacBook 1.1 (early 2007).

I have tried booting using rEFIt (on 10.6):

  • Partition my USB key as MBR: the Windows 8 logo fish stays stuck forever.
  • Partition my USB key as GPT: same problem.

I didn’t try to boot Linux EFI from USB but I think it would be the same fail.

I’m really wondering if the problem comes from the MacBook firmware or the way I try to load the Windows installer.

How would you proceed on the Apple generation of MacBook?

Best Answer

I was able to install Windows 8.1 by

  • Created a BOOTCAMP partition using the 10.6 Boot Camp tool (latest version available for 32-bit Macs)
  • Creating a Windows 7 USB stick on a PC using http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
  • Install rEFInd http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/
  • Start Windows Windows 7 installation
  • During disk/partiton select, choose to format the BOOTCAMP partition as NTFS (still, it refused to install)
  • Restart Windows installer, second time it would recognise partition as valid
  • Install Windows 7
  • Update to Windows 8

However, the Apple drivers for MacBook1,1 is pretty outdated unfortunately. Also, I would say that Windows 7 is a more appropriate OS for MacBook1,1.

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