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I want to install Windows on my internal SSD. Because my internet connection is slow and unreliable, and the download within Boot Camp Assistant can't be resumed I've downloaded the support software (Boot Camp drivers: AppleBcUpdate.exe) directly from Apple using this direct link.

I did use the Boot Camp Assistant to make a bootable drive for Windows and put the support software in another drive. When I try to proceed I get the error message

"couldn't find the support software.....".

How can I proceed from here?

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  • It's difficult to understand this question as it's written. Did you use Bootcamp assistant to make the bootable drive? Did you let Bootcamp assistant download the support software? Please edit the question to explain exactly what you did and we'll see if we can help you solve the problem.
    – NoahL
    Commented Apr 28, 2017 at 20:32
  • Welcome to Ask Different! :) We're here to help, but @NoahL is spot on. As it currently reads, your question leaves a lot for us to have to guess. Your reference to a direct link also causes me some concern. Can you please use the edit link below your question to clarify your situation and provide more details.
    – Monomeeth
    Commented Apr 28, 2017 at 22:21
  • It's rather difficult to understand which problem you are facing. Instead of talking about options and potential solutions, can you please rewrite your question to focus on what you are trying to accomplish (installing Windows XY), which specific steps you've already taken (e.g. started the Bootcamp Assistant) and where exactly you are stuck now. This will make it easier to understand the problem and provide answers.
    – nohillside
    Commented Apr 29, 2017 at 7:06
  • @patrix the significant problem is 1.
    – xXREKTERxX
    Commented Apr 29, 2017 at 7:16
  • @ klanomath i have clarified the situation on 2nd paras 1st and 2nd line upto later
    – xXREKTERxX
    Commented Apr 29, 2017 at 7:24

1 Answer 1

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You fetched the wrong installer. The recommended way is to simply open in the menubar of Boot Camp Assistant > Action > Download Windows Support Software.

This will download and unpack all necessary files and you can simply continue installing Windows.


An alternative is brigadier. This is a python script which downloads support software for an arbitrary Mac.

Download the zip (direct link!) and unpack it. Open Terminal and cd into the resulting folder: cd .../Path/to/brigadier-master (probably cd ~/Downloads/brigadier-master).

Then enter ./brigadier --model=MacBookAir7,1. The command will download the proper installer and compile a WindowsSupport.dmg in the brigadier-master folder. This dmg file contains all necessary files and folders (an xml file, a drivers folder and a $WinPE folder).

Terminal output:

host:brigadier-master user$./brigadier --model=MacBookAir7,1
Using Mac model: MacBookAir7,1.

Model supported in package distribution file at http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/39/14/031-55710/u2c6bi4yl91ud1lqc3k53bx9860hvsnf7z/031-55710.English.dist.

Distribution 031-55710 supports the following models: MacBook8,1, MacBookAir5,1,
MacBookAir5,2, MacBookAir6,1, MacBookAir6,2, MacBookAir7,1, 
MacBookAir7,2, MacBookPro9,1, MacBookPro9,2, MacBookPro11,1, MacBookPro11,2,
MacBookPro11,3, MacBookPro11,4, MacBookPro11,5, MacBookPro12,1, MacPro6,1, 
Macmini6,1, Macmini6,2, Macmini7,1, iMac13,1, iMac13,2, iMac13,3, iMac14,1, 
iMac14,2, iMac14,3, iMac14,4, iMac15,1.

Making directory /Users/user/Downloads/brigadier-master/BootCamp-031-55710..

Fetching Boot Camp product at URL http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/39/14/031-55710/u2c6bi4yl91ud1lqc3k53bx9860hvsnf7z/BootCampESD.pkg.

100.0% 1614454784 / 1614454648 bytes
Expanding flat package...

Extracting Payload...

Extracted to /Users/user/Downloads/brigadier-master/BootCamp-031-55710/WindowsSupport.dmg.

Done.

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