Windows on MBA without Superdrive?

[andrewp]

Is there some way to install Windows vista/xp on my MBA without using the superdrive?

I'm thinking whether it would be possible to install it from a bootable USB or HDD, I've read something about it, but I'm not sure how it will work out?

Can anyone give me a hint?

 

[dborja]

Is there some way to install Windows vista/xp on my MBA without using the superdrive?

I'm thinking whether it would be possible to install it from a bootable USB or HDD, I've read something about it, but I'm not sure how it will work out?

Can anyone give me a hint?

Yes, you can. Copy the WinXP install disk onto an ISO file on the drive then mount it...

 

[Minuteman3]

Although I have not tried it with a Mac, I just did an install of Windows 7 on a Acer One netbook using a USB thumb drive. Just formatted the USB drive to clear everything out, copied the disk files (*.*) from the Windows 7 install DVD to the US thumb drive on my desktop, plugged the USB drive into the Acer and then ran SETUP. Worked like a charm!!

Cheers!!

Ken

 

[EnderTW]

Yes, you can. Copy the WinXP install disk onto an ISO file on the drive then mount it...

I did that, but I used parallels. Just use the ISO file, parallels will install through the iso file.

As far as bootcamp, no. You need to use a disk.

 

[dborja]

I did that, but I used parallels. Just use the ISO file, parallels will install through the iso file.

As far as bootcamp, no. You need to use a disk.

You're right. I assumed that the OP was doing it through Parallels, VMFusion or VirtualBox...

 

[djrobx]

Use WinClone to clone an existing boot camp install on another Mac. Be warned that it will not shrink a partition - so if you create a Boot Camp paritition specifically for this purpose, make it small.

I have a cheap USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA adapter and used that to connect an IDE drive I had lying around and it worked like a charm.

 

[Rondue]

Morale of the storey: If you have the bucks to splurg on a MBA buy a freaking super drive jeez

 

[justit]

^^^ Any off the shelf USB powered drive seems to work, I've got an LG Slim DVD-R