After Apple trickle introduced support for Vista x64 on Mac, I've been searching desperately to find a guide on how to do this. If any computer was capable of running Vista x64 at a high standard, the MBP is it. Unfortunately, up until recently, it has been neigh on impossible to locate suitable drivers. This guide has been put together by myself after 6 failed installs and 2 calls to Microsoft. Listed below are the steps that worked for me, but I cannot guarantee that this guide will work for you.
My system spec:
This process took me approximately 2 hours start to finish
Before you begin, you will need:
1. Setting Up
2. Making Room
3. Loading the Goods
4. Delivering the Package
5. The Fun Part
There you have it. Hopefully, if you're reading this, you now have a working copy of Vista x64 (including Service Pack 1) on your Mac/Macbook/Macbook Pro.
6. Optional
A note on holding down the Option key to change boot sequence: You can theoretically have the install go unattended for the most part once the Boot Camp 2.0.1 software is installed by making the Windows partition the target boot disk. Again, I opted not to change any settings until I was up and running 100%.
I used the following sites as inspiration for my guide:
If you have any comments on how this guide can be improved or see any glaring omissions, feel free to contact me.
Thanks for reading
Alex K
My system spec:
- Oct 2007 15" Macbook Pro (Santa Rosa)
- 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 4GB RAM
- 200GB 7200RPM HDD
- nVidia 8600M GT 256MB
- Matt screen
This process took me approximately 2 hours start to finish
Before you begin, you will need:
- A Macbook that you want to install Vista on that has Leopard (10.5 or higher) installed
- A legitimate copy of Vista x64 (NOT the SP1 integrated disc) and legitimate licence key
- Apple's new Vista drivers located here(1), here(2), here(3) and here(4) (also included on the new Mac Pro recovery discs)
- Apple's Boot Camp 2.1 Update for Vista 64 found here
- Vista x64 Service Pack 1 standalone installer found here
- nVidia x64 drivers from here - make sure you get the driver package AND the modified .inf file
- USB hard drive or memory stick
- Ethernet connection to the internet
- Input Remapper - Used for adjusting the speed for your MBP fans, and changing keyboard functions (optional)
1. Setting Up
- Download all of the above files (extract where appropriate with UnRarX)
- Copy all the files to a USB drive or stick. You could burn a disc containing these, but we'll be disabling the CD/DVD rom drive later, so this is the easiest option. Not only that, but you'd then have to do the "hold the mouse button down upon boot" trick to eject the disc.
2. Making Room
- In OS X, run Boot Camp Assistant. You can search for this in Spotlight.
- Assign a suitable amount of space for your Vista partition. Bear in mind that Vista takes approximately 15GB (including swap file). For this exercise, I used 30GB.
- Insert your Vista x64 disc and wait for the image to appear on the desktop.
- Click the install button and the system will restart. You will not need to hold down the Option key this time.
3. Loading the Goods
- Go through the Vista installation. When the system restarts, you'll need to hold down the Option key and select the "Windows" partition to boot from. This should go through without a hitch.
- Once you're on the desktop, I don't recommend setting anything up just yet with regards to display or system preferences. This is a personal choice just to make things as streamlined as possible.
- Copy all of the files you downloaded to your desktop. Having them in seperate folders will make things easier since there's quite a few files.
- Disconnect the USB drive, any USB devices (important) and any other connections except for power.
- Make sure ethernet is disconnected. The last thing we want is for Windows Update to sabotage our progress!
4. Delivering the Package
- Navigate to the folder Apple BootCamp MacPro Drivers\Apple and run the file BootCamp64. This will load the (newer) 2.0.1 Boot Camp software not found in anything < 10.5.2. Do not use the recovery discs that came with your machine as this software is not Vista x64 compatible.
- The system will need to restart - again hold the Option key and boot in to Windows. Now you have basic functionality to most of the Macbook Pro's hardware (except wireless and a pretty display)
- Once you're back on the desktop, you can run BCUpdateVista64. This will install the new version of Boot Camp over the top of the old one. If you navigate to Control Panel\Programs and Features, you'll notice that the old software will still be installed. Ignore this. Again, during this phase, you'll need to restart. Hold Option key once again and boot in to Windows.
- You need to navigate to Control Panel\Device Manager and disable the following hardware devices (in order):
- CD/DVD
- Sound
- Wireless network (will be listed as unknown device)
- Display
- The method for disabling these devices is to navigate to the appropriate driver, right-clicking (hold 2 fingers on the touchpad and click simultaneously) and selecting disable. After you disable the display adapter, the system will need to restart. Go ahead and click OK.
5. The Fun Part
- Once again, hold the Option key and boot in to Windows. This time, however, repeatedly hit the F8 key immediately afterwards. This will bring up a system menu from which you will select "Safe Mode".
- Once the system has entered Safe Mode, you can safely run the file Windows6.0-KB936330-X64-wave0. The Service Pack 1 update takes approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the speed of your system. The system will restart about 3 times during the process.
- After the last restart, it will tell you ever so nicely that Service Pack 1 has been installed.
- Plug your ethernet cable back in and run Windows Update. You will notice there's approximately 10 updates in total. One of the two that are not selected by default is the wireless driver.
- Your system will need to restart once again.
- Next, run the file that you downloaded from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista64. I used version 169.12 for this step. When you run the file 16912_vista64.exe, it will create a folder on the desktop called 171.16 (don't ask me why). In this folder, you'll find another folder called 16912_vista64. In the folder 16912_vista64 is where you copy your modified nv_disp.inf. You will be promted to overwrite the existing file. Go ahead and do that. Run the Setup.exe to begin installing your display drivers. A big red box will appear telling you that the driver you are trying to install is not signed. Go ahead and install anyway. The system will restart again, but this time when you come back, it will all appear much cleaner and crisper.
- Tweak the system to your hearts' content. Change the background wallpaper. Do whatever you like. Load on your antivirus package of choice. I personally use Windows Live OneCare v2.
There you have it. Hopefully, if you're reading this, you now have a working copy of Vista x64 (including Service Pack 1) on your Mac/Macbook/Macbook Pro.
6. Optional
- By now, you've probably noticed that your computer (especially if you have a MBP) will be running incredibly hot. For some reason, Vista doesn't control the speed of the fans as well as OS X. Input Remapper is a brilliant little package that allows you to raise (or lower) the speed of your computer's fans. I set mine to about 3500rpm default and would probably knock this up to 5500+ if I were gaming. The program also allows for other keyboard functions like fn+click for right click, fn+backspace for delete and fn+eject for print screen. Of course this program needs to restart also.
- If you'd like to free up about 1GB of space from your Vista installation, open Command Prompt and type the following: vsp1cln. Hit enter followed by a confirmation 'y'. It takes about a minute or so, and once this is done you will be unable to uninstall SP1.
A note on holding down the Option key to change boot sequence: You can theoretically have the install go unattended for the most part once the Boot Camp 2.0.1 software is installed by making the Windows partition the target boot disk. Again, I opted not to change any settings until I was up and running 100%.
I used the following sites as inspiration for my guide:
- http://andersonshatch.wordpress.com/tag/macbook-pro/
- https://forums.macrumors.com
- http://www.wintellect.com/cs/blogs/...ta-x64-on-a-mac-pro-totally-awesome-dude.aspx
If you have any comments on how this guide can be improved or see any glaring omissions, feel free to contact me.
Thanks for reading
Alex K
