Install Windows 7 64bit on 2006 Mac Pro (Natively, without Boot Camp)

[Yesurbius]

I have a 2006 Mac Pro. I had it upgraded to 8GB of Ram. The video card has failed so I am using a non-Mac video card. Works fine - I just can't see the boot loader screen - can see everything once the OS initializes the card however.

I want to install Windows 7 64-Bit (to take advantage of memory) on the machine and set it up for my kids to use.

When I plop in Windows 7 Disc I get the infamous "Select CDROM Boot Type" prompt (that you can't bypass).

I've thought about installing 32-bit Windows 7 and then doing an upgrade to 64 bit .. but I didn't get a chance to test that theory - 32-bit windows setup starts but gives me "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu".

So I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to either make a custom install DVD or I'm going to install the HDD into my Windows 7 box and prep the drive to install as an image... (ie. PE environment)

Any words of wisdom?

I'm not interested in getting Mac OS X on it:
It shipped with an ATI X1900XT .. which died .. replaced it on warranty only to have the second one die four months after warranty was up. So this aluminum boat anchor has been sitting collecting dust for years. Two months after it failed, my Aluminum iMac failed (3 months out of warranty). I went out and bought my wife a PC laptop .. and I replaced my Mac Pro with a Windows 7 gaming rig. So suffice to say - I'm back to Windows land.

 

[jamezr]

I have a 2006 Mac Pro. I had it upgraded to 8GB of Ram. The video card has failed so I am using a non-Mac video card. Works fine - I just can't see the boot loader screen - can see everything once the OS initializes the card however.

I want to install Windows 7 64-Bit (to take advantage of memory) on the machine and set it up for my kids to use.

When I plop in Windows 7 Disc I get the infamous "Select CDROM Boot Type" prompt (that you can't bypass).

I've thought about installing 32-bit Windows 7 and then doing an upgrade to 64 bit .. but I didn't get a chance to test that theory - 32-bit windows setup starts but gives me "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu".

So I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to either make a custom install DVD or I'm going to install the HDD into my Windows 7 box and prep the drive to install as an image... (ie. PE environment)

Any words of wisdom?

I'm not interested in getting Mac OS X on it:
It shipped with an ATI X1900XT .. which died .. replaced it on warranty only to have the second one die four months after warranty was up. So this aluminum boat anchor has been sitting collecting dust for years. Two months after it failed, my Aluminum iMac failed (3 months out of warranty). I went out and bought my wife a PC laptop .. and I replaced my Mac Pro with a Windows 7 gaming rig. So suffice to say - I'm back to Windows land.

I am pretty sure you have to change the disk partition type from GUID to MBR and then re format. It should let you install after that.....

 

[Darth.Titan]

The windows 7 x64 install disc won't work with your Mac Pro. You'll need to make a patched Windows install disc using the instructions here.

You'll need a functioning windows machine with a DVD burner to create the patched disc. Installation should go off without a hitch now. You'll just need to force the bootcamp driver installer to install the 64 bit drivers.

 

[Cindori]

boot camp is nothing but a partitioning tool and a package of drivers.


partition the disk yourself, and download the drivers online and there is no problem.


I have myself just grabbed a PC disk with windows on it and put in the mac pro - no problem.



as for upgrading 32-bit windows to 64-bit, that won't work. you'll need to reinstall.

ses above posters link to patch your x64 image.

 

[Yesurbius]

The windows 7 x64 install disc won't work with your Mac Pro. You'll need to make a patched Windows install disc using the instructions here.

You'll need a functioning windows machine with a DVD burner to create the patched disc. Installation should go off without a hitch now. You'll just need to force the bootcamp driver installer to install the 64 bit drivers.

Epic! Its now 15% through the install now Really worked like a charm .. You have no idea what I've already tried to get an OS onto this computer without a mac video card ... case and point - the drive was in GPT mode instead of MBR because I was building a custom FreeBSD installation .. This is a much better option however as I really wouldn't use FreeBSD - kids would get more out of a Win7 machine.