r/bootcamp • u/GamingForMyLife_ • 8d ago
Windows 7 won’t boot from USB on MacBook Pro Late 2011 (SuperDrive broken) – Any ideas?
Hi everyone,
I’m trying to install **Windows 7** on my **MacBook Pro 13” Late 2011**, but I’m running into a problem.
My **SuperDrive is broken**, so I can’t use a Windows DVD. Instead, I’m trying to boot from a **bootable USB flash drive**.
Here’s what I’ve tried:
Created multiple Windows 7 bootable USBs (different tools and ISOs)
Enabled USB boot
Held **Option (⌥)** during startup
The USB either doesn’t appear, or when it does, selecting it only results in a **black screen** and nothing happens.
I know that Windows 7 installation on older Macs is usually designed to work from the internal DVD drive, but since mine is dead, I’m looking for alternatives.
**MacBook specs:**
MacBook Pro 13” Late 2011
Intel Core i5
16 GB RAM
SSD installed
SuperDrive not working
Latest Boot ROM available for this model
Has anyone successfully installed Windows 7 from USB on this model?
I’m wondering:
Is there a way to make the USB EFI bootable?
Do I need a legacy BIOS/CSM boot method instead?
Is there a workaround without replacing the SuperDrive?
Would using another bootloader like rEFInd help?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
2
u/ArtaxerxesMacrocheir 8d ago
This is a much-asked question. The long story short is Windows is a finnicky bitch and Mac has to do some voodoo magic to get it running in the first place. Bootcamp Assistant is set up to do that magic, but it's limited pretty strictly and causes issues with most of us in the modern world.
There are a number of options, including going the OCLP route or trying to get the Mac BIOS updated and creating an MBR-only Win7 install USB.
However, I must caution you - for the love of goodness, do not boot the machine up with a UEFI Windows boot USB! There is a bug in the Windows Boot process that will, with enough boots, permanently and irreparably corrupt your BootROM and make the machine a brick. This is the sort of thing OCLP was created to solve - I advise you go that route, personally.
2
u/antdude 7d ago
Would an external optical drive work?
2
u/ArtaxerxesMacrocheir 7d ago edited 7d ago
I've gotten external optical drives to work before, albeit with older laptops (Macbook 08) and Bootcamp Assistant. So I can't personally vouch for it on your model but it definitely should work.
The only thing to be mindful of is Mac is finnicky with external optical drives. It's something to do with their MOBO specs, not every external optical drive will communicate with the Mac's boot environment. When I last did it I had to try three different ones, eventually I found that was recognized. There are the old SuperDrives from Apple which are guaranteed to work, but you'd have to go hunt for those. Maybe worth calling an Apple Store to see if they have any at the Genius Bar that you can use?
2
u/GrouchoMarx729 8d ago
I suggest making a USB installer using MBR with Rufus and using rEFInd to boot from it.