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Previously I installed Windows 7 on a Macbook Air without problems using Boot Camp Assistant and the excellent directions here.

Now I am trying to install Windows 7 on a Mac mini server and I encounter error with every approach I take. I already have a bootable USB disk with Windows 7 installer.

First I tried to install Windows 7 directly booting the installer. Installer refused to continue displaying an error mentioning something about GPT drive.

Second I tried to install using Boot Camp, but it does not exist on Mac mini servers!

So I copied the Boot Camp Assistant app from Macbook Air, and selected the option "Download the Windows Support software for this mac". It was not able to find and download anything.

I thought I could handle the driver issues later, I used Boot Camp Assistant to make the 500 GB harddisk Windows installable. Then I booted into the installer, selected BOOTCAMP partition and formatted it. Installer did not continue displaying 0x80300024 error.

I run out of ideas and am rather frustrated. Are there any simple instructions on how to install Windows 7 on Mac mini server? Or how can I solve my problem and install?

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  • i'm trying to do this with the lion version of mac mini server. i am having issues i also get the error message person stated above me. If someone can help, i called apple care and the guy on the phone said that the mac mini ships with OS lion and OS lion Server, i'm a bit confused. Any input is much appreciated.
    – user10801
    Commented Sep 8, 2011 at 6:17

3 Answers 3

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Boot Camp requires a $29 Snow Leopard OS X DVD (not the server DVD) and an external drive. The MacBook Air SuperDrive works excellently with no driver hassle.

Sorry I don't have a list of drivers and steps to make up for the work done on the OS X since I'm a wimp and will pay good money to save an hour or two my time. Apple only bundles the Windows Drivers for it's hardware with the client version of OS X (AFAIK)

I hope if someone else has done the hard work, they post their experience. The official Apple solution is simple and works well.

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    I am asking how to install Windows on mac mini server not MBA.
    – nimcap
    Commented Jun 18, 2011 at 23:47
  • The drive was initially released and named for the Air - which was the first mac without an optical drive. The Mini Server is the second and also uses that drive to let bootcamp work.
    – bmike ♦
    Commented Jun 19, 2011 at 1:24
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I was able to figure it out. First I tried installing Windows 7 via USB thumb drive however that didn't work. So I purchased an Apple USB SuperDrive and used my Window 7 Home Premium DVD and Boot Camp Assistant to accomplish the task.

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finally I did it. all I did I run win7 installation by using DVD player not by USB. All you need is a Boot Camp, Apple's DVD player and Win7 DVD.

I did it after 6 months of trying by googling.

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  • Could you please expand on your solution?
    – Jaime Santa Cruz
    Commented Aug 3, 2015 at 21:46
  • I bought a DVD player from apple and I already have a original Window 7 home premium. Then I start the boot camp after I formatted the 2nd hard disk (which you already have in server Mac MINI). Then I completed the installation. that's it.
    – KingOnEarth
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 11:07
  • Great, would you please add it to your answer? Comments can get deleted. Thanks!
    – Jaime Santa Cruz
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 11:10
  • I will do it soon
    – KingOnEarth
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 11:13

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