Windows 7 64bit on Late 2009 iMac

[gwhitta]

So let me get this straight, Win7 currently does not install properly out of the box on the new iMac without some kind of complicated workaround? I have a copy of Win7 here but I'd rather not install it now if I'm going to have to futz around, I'd rather wait until Apple releases an official patch...

 

[OptimusHale]

Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse Fix

Ok so I got it running! And it is great!

Here is how I did it:

After creating my boot camp partition I did the usual install. I let it go all the way until the screen went black. (This part is important) Wait for at least 20 min while the screen is black. If you restart your machine to soon it will not work.
After waiting hold down the power button until the machine powers off. Start up the machine again, it will ask if you want to go into safe mode or not. Select "Safe Mode"

\\While booting in safe mode you'll eventually get an error saying "setup cannot continue in safe mode. click ok to reboot". don't press OK!. Press shift F10 and type "compmgmt.msc" and hit enter. When the computer management screen comes up go to device manager and disable the video card (not uninstall it). You will still get video so don't worry.

Close device manager and click 'ok' on the message and continue the install as normal, alternatively just do a reset. When the machine reboots this time you should have video, albeit it at a crippled resolution.

Finish the Windows 7 64bit install. Then after you get in stick in the OSX DVD that came with your 27'' iMac. Do not run the auto installer that pops up. Instead do this:

In the Windows 7 Start Menu Type “cmd”, then right-click on the program that appears and choose “Run As Administrator”.

Then enter;

D:
cd "Boot Camp\Drivers\Apple"
msiexec /i BootCamp64.msi

That will install the Apple 64bit drivers. After a restart the video card works great as well as all the other Apple hardware.

The only issue I have had is when the wireless mouse and keyboard are inactive for a minute or so they stop working. I found that if plug in a mouse and log out and log back in they start working again. If anyone has a solutions to this problem let me know.

Sorry if my sentences/spelling are bad, I was in a hurry.

I found a fix for the wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse.

Once in Windows 7 do this:

Disable power management for Bluetooth Radio. Open device manager, open Bluetooth Radios and right click on "Apple Bluetooth". Select the "Power Management". Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

I think everything is running 100% now, if I see anything else I will let you know.

 

[SydneyDev]

So let me get this straight, Win7 currently does not install properly out of the box on the new iMac without some kind of complicated workaround? I have a copy of Win7 here but I'd rather not install it now if I'm going to have to futz around, I'd rather wait until Apple releases an official patch...

How can Apple fix it if it crashes before you even put the Boot Camp driver disk in? It seems to be Windows 7 itself, guessing the wrong driver for the iMac video card and/or monitor.

 

[Uncle Pinny]

For the black screen issue, someone else on another board said you could simply plug a monitor into the iMacs MDP and the windows video feed would actually be there, and the iMacs screen would be black. You can then continue with the install and the driver issue will eventually solve itself.

Evidentially Windows is sending the video to the iMacs MDP after the reboot instead of to the main screen.

Awesome - glad that other people are having this problem as it's what happened to me (black screen and assumed failed install).

I did a VMware install instead but would love to run a native bootcamp partition. Will have another go installing this weekend.

 

[voyagerd]

I run Windows 7 64-bit on my Early 2008 MacBook Pro. Everything works fine.

 

[Semo]

For the black screen issue, someone else on another board said you could simply plug a monitor into the iMacs MDP and the windows video feed would actually be there, and the iMacs screen would be black. You can then continue with the install and the driver issue will eventually solve itself.

Evidentially Windows is sending the video to the iMacs MDP after the reboot instead of to the main screen.

Thanks for this infromation. I was also having the black screen problem. I plug a monitor into the MDP and the windows 7 video output showed up on it. Finished the windows 7 installation and then installed the bootcamp drivers. Everything works great on the iMac now except for the bluetooth. I am using a usb keyboard and mouse at this point.

 

[davemccr]

I've had my i5 for 3 days now and have to say that I am very impressed.

Managed to get Windows 7 Ultimate 64, fully installed and working. Under load playing games in bootcamp, things get pretty toasty and have caused some graphics related issues. Screen Flickering here and there. Hopefully, when the "official" Bootcamp drivers are released they will find a way to up the fan speed to cool things down.

Games (Project Reality, and Arma 2)...

Problems occur after approx 2 hours...

 

[Semo]

I found a fix for the wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse.

Once in Windows 7 do this:

Disable power management for Bluetooth Radio. Open device manager, open Bluetooth Radios and right click on "Apple Bluetooth". Select the "Power Management". Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

I think everything is running 100% now, if I see anything else I will let you know.

Thanks, This fixed my final problem with the Windows 7 installation. This forum is a great resource!

 

[isepic]

How can Apple fix it if it crashes before you even put the Boot Camp driver disk in? It seems to be Windows 7 itself, guessing the wrong driver for the iMac video card and/or monitor.

Firmware.

 

[isepic]

I found a fix for the wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse.

Once in Windows 7 do this:

Disable power management for Bluetooth Radio. Open device manager, open Bluetooth Radios and right click on "Apple Bluetooth". Select the "Power Management". Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

I think everything is running 100% now, if I see anything else I will let you know.

Works great, thank you!

 

[Xero910]

Is anyone still having trouble installing it on Core i7 models. I've gotten past the black screen by using an external monitor. However once it completes installing (after user/network setups) it reboots and sits with a blinking cursor indefinitely. No 'starting windows' nothing. Just after I select the drive from the boot menu it just shows the cursor. I buddy of mine said his did the same but after 5 minutes it booted properly. I let mine sit for 50 minutes with nothing happening. This is my 6th attempt installed Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.

Anyone have an idea why mine is extra ****ed up? Also before anyone asks, it is a legit copy. I know.. I bought Windows, I'm evil

Also just out of curiosity. When installing, windows attempts to reboot the machine to continue, mine would never reboot. XP/Vista/7. Every time I had to manually reboot it. And lastly, About My Mac lists my processor as 2.8 GHz Unknown. Anyone else's like that too?