Santa Rosa MacBook Pro Vista 64bit Boot Camp

I certainly know there are similar threads, but they all seem to confusing, and/or outdated.

So my question is:

Can my Santa Rosa MacBook Pro run Windows Vista in 64 bit.
(with Bootcamp 2.1)

Are all features supported, are all the necessary drivers included in the BootCamp installation.

I would gladly appreciate advise from somebody who has tried it on their own.

 

santa rosa macbook pro CAN run windows vista 64 bit

most features are supported. some are not. trackpad clicking comes to mind. the hardware generally works though. backlit keyboard, isight, speakers, etc. all work. these necessary drivers are NOT included with the boot camp installation. sooner or later they will likely become available for download from apple. this is not currently the case.

 

I downloaded and printed the bootcamp installation guide (pdf) from apple support site and it says that only Windows XP and Vista 32bit is supported. Maybe the document is outdated.

 

New Bootcamp 2.1 fully support Vista 64Bit editions.

 

Boot camp 2.1 is an update. I tried to put vista 64 bit on my macbook pro and tried to run boot camp 2.1 for vista 64bit and it didn't launch. I have no clue where to get the full version of boot camp. The leopard cd has the 32bit version on it.

 

i ordered a 64 bit DVD and it should arrive sometime (it's backordered) and when i have it i'll try it out.

 

Have you tried using the Apple Software Update utility that now comes along with iTunes? It can check for updates on everything Apple so maybe it will allow you to update Boot Camp from v2.0 to v2.1.

 

There would have to be a way to install Boot Camp 2.0 on Vista x64 in order for the update to be applied. I would wonder if there's a way to get it from Apple, either via download or through a CD/DVD.

 

So I take it that the Leopard DVD disc prevents you from installing on Vista x64? That sucks.

 

At least on the RTM version (10.5) there are no such drivers. I'm not sure if Apple has re-pressed Leopard install DVDs with 10.5.1 or 10.5.2, and if those include Vista x64 drivers. It makes no sense as to why Apple would release a Boot Camp 2.1 update specifically for Vista x64 but not have a version 2.0 somewhere. At least in the 1.x versions of Boot Camp you could download an .iso file that contained all the drivers you needed to get Windows up and running. I may fire off an e-mail to Apple support asking about it.

 

Let me know how that turns out. I'm tempted now to install the 64-bit version of Vista.

 

I have boot camp 2.0 on my machine and I see a Boot Camp 2.1 update for Vista 64bit on apple's support site (236mb file size).

My machine is up to date otherwise. I have Vista 64bit and 32bit and wanted to try out putting 64bit Vista on my MBP.

Should I download and install this Boot camp 2.1 update first? And do the instructions for boot camp 2.0 still apply or are there newer instructions out there?

 

Apple's documentation for Boot Camp update 2.1 is non existent.

I downloaded the boot camp 2.1 for Vista 64 update (236mb file) and it turned out to be an .exe file so I have to run it from within Vista. So i guess that means that I should install Vista 64 using Boot Camp 2.0 and once Vista is installed I would run the boot camp 2.1 update from within Vista. Does that sound correct?

 

I just had the scare of a lifetime.

I had downloaded Vista 64bit from MSDN and my key for it (has SP1 slipstreamed). Burnt it to disk and was getting ready to try out putting Vista 64bit on my mbp.

I downloaded the .exe file for Boot Camp update 2.1 (for vista 64) and burnt that to disk also. I brought up the latest boot camp guide on another machine so that I have a reference in the process. All good so far.

Following the reboot after creating the windows partition in boot camp from within OSX I got a strange boot option. Option 1. or 2. with only one message to "select CD-ROM boot type"; nothing else shown on the screen and the keyboard is completely unresponsive. WTH?

The only thing I could do is hold the power button down for 3 sec to shut down the machine. Did that and then turned it on again only get the same screen as before. No way to eject the disk or break this loop? Getting worried now.

I googled this boot message above and it seems to be a problem with all Vista SP1 disks and someone using an MSDN disk like mine describes the problem and a lengthy solution. Here and here. A Vista disk that doesn't have SP1 already on it should not have this issue.

I also came across this trick, which I'm sure many here already know, to boot a mbp and hold the trackpad button down which eventually ejects the disk. Phew.

I then booted into OSX, deleted my newly created windows partition and I'm just going to put the 'Vista on my mbp idea' on ice for a little while.

 

It seems that Apple needs to update Boot Camp on the Mac side in order to get Vista SP1 install DVDs to be properly recognized. BTW, I haven't forgotten about the whole Leopard DVD lacks Vista x64 drives thing. I'll try to contact Apple today.

Edit: It appears as if Apple quietly re-released Leopard install DVDs that contain Boot Camp drivers for Vista x64. However, those discs only came with Mac Pro systems. A recent purchaser of said system ripped the drivers and created a torrent for it. I won't post a link to that site, however, this is a link to the Apple support forum that contains a link to the aforementioned torrent.

 

I was under the impression that Boot Camp 2.1 update contains the most up to date drivers for windows.

Also, if someone has only 2GB RAM, is there any need or benefit to installing Vista 64bit over 32bit?

 

There's no real advantage if you only have 2 GB RAM to work with Vista 64-bit, unless you have software that is written for 64-bit machines specifically. You'll find better stability with running the 32-bit version for now. But, if you have 4 GB of memory, then Vista 64-bit is a must in order to utilize all that wonderful space.

 

It does, but BC 2.1 is not a standalone installer. It's an update that requires 2.0 to be installed first. Therein lies the problem, as most shipping versions of the Leopard install DVD did not have a 64-bit-capable BC 2.0 installer.

 

That's what I thought. Thanks dbam.

 

Ah I see. So for Vista 32bit one would only need the BC2.1 update and they're all set.

 

Correct, as your Leopard install disc contains the proper BC 2.0 drivers for XP and Vista 32.

 

i downloaded these:

Removed by Mod


and will run them as soon as my install of Vista 64 has finished.

and after that i'll install the 2.1 update.

 

The torrent link has been removed...please provide safe(preferably official) download links.

Thanks.
-Kdawgca
NBR Mod

 

allright, i successfully installed Vista 64 SP1
With the drivers from the torrent+update 2.1

i had to get the video drivers from laptopvideo2go.com

and i had to create another iso from the original disk, as the original disk only supported EFI 2.0 i had to add some ISO appendix and stuff... (google research did it for me)

So i can confirm Vista 64 bit runs on Santa Rosa MacBook Pro!
Not easy but possible!

 

hello!

as i too have a macbook pro santa rosa generation, i am very interested in your experiment! does it work properly and with all the devicedrivers for the trackpad, isight, ... ?

would be wonderful if it works, maybe i should give it also a try, as i have currently vista32 on my macbook pro and would love to fully use my 4gb of ram and 3dsmax64 for visualization purposes...

greetings,

christoph

ps: any other user already using vista64 on his/her macbook pro santa rosa?

 

attention mods (and others):

apple hasn't provided us with official drivers for 64 bit vista yet. however, the drivers floating around on the torrent sites are legitimate and *as far as i know* legal. there definitely isn't any moral problem with using them, you should just be aware that they are not officially supported.

install the 64 bit drivers to get 64 bit vista working on your macbook pro. just be completely aware that the drivers are not supported at all and also be aware that although they are apple drivers, they are not being distributed by apple, and that means whoever's hands they went through had access to them. so do not consider them stable or secure, but do consider them available.

i recommend that we put the 64 bit links back up with some type of advisory warning *not tested, stable, nor distributed by apple*

 

i must say that if you intentions are for gaming only, or anything other than running high end 64bit Apps, then installing vista x64 is probably not the best option anyway.

as far as gaming goes, I honestly think running a very streamlined version of XP SP3 is really the way to go, and will save you a MASSIVE amount of disk space. I have been experimenting with it a little the past few days, and I must say I am amazed to see XP booting up so incredibly fast and running so smooth, it is amazing what a little pre customization can do.

 

Everything works 100% Camera works, backlit Keyboard etc.
When using these drivers:

Warning: Not official download on your own risk

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3991487/Apple_BootCamp_2.0_Drivers_(including_new_64bit-drivers)


I used these drivers, installed them and then downloaded the 64bit update directly from apple

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/bootcampupdate21forwindowsvista64.html

When you have these drivers I suggest you put all of them on an USB stick.

Installing the drivers isn't even the hard part.

If you have a Slipstream DVD of Vista 64, means SP1 already included you need to follow these extra steps:

http://jowie.com/post/2008/02/Selec...t-from-Vista-x64-DVD-burnt-from-iso-file.aspx

So you need an empty DL-DVD too.

These steps worked for me!

I had a lot of googling and trial and error involved.
SO here again in easy:

1. Get the Drivers on a Flash Drive
2.If you have a Slipstream DVD burn the ISO with Joilet mods: http://jowie.com/post/2008/02/Selec...t-from-Vista-x64-DVD-burnt-from-iso-file.aspx

3. When you have done that, start in Leopard and delete the windows Partition with Boot Camp assistant

4. In Boot Camp assistant create new Windows partition. and then it should tell you to insert the install disc. insert the new DVD you just burned.

5. Install Windows

6. Install Boot Camp 2.0 Drivers

7. Reboot

8. Install Boot Camp 2.1 64 update

9. Reboot

10. Enjoy!


That's how it worked for me (maybe click add to my reputation when i helped )


EDIT: you need to get the nVidia Drivers from www.laptopvideo2go.com
with the modified INF, just to let you know.

 

i've downloaded the BT drivers but after i installed bootcamp 2.0 for x64, the video card and the wireless network driver still do not work for me.

Additionally, when i tried to install nvidia drivers from laptopvideo2go, it would not install because it says that the hardware is not supported? And i have a 2.2 MBP.

 

for the nvidia driver you also need to download the modified INF from the website and replace it in the driver folder u also downloaded from the website.


about the wireless driver, i stil gotta look how i did that, cant tell u know cuz i'm writing from my nokia N810...

 

yeah I had vista x64 running just fine on my MBP as well, but seeing the amount of space it eats up compared to a Lite install of XP I had to take the latter route. Even though I do use 4GB of RAM i don't really need to on the Windows side of things, I basically only use the Windows install to play Team Fortress 2, and it works beautifully, boots in nearly no time, very few processes running, and absolutely no extra junk installed, sample pictures, music, all that garbage is cleared out completely. I would like to see someone develop a lite install of Leopard, although it isn't very bloated at all comparatively, the things that are included are actually useful and you can already choose not to install a lot of content.

 

lol yeah with leopard if you just choose to do your own "lite" install you can get rid of gigs and gigs of stuff.

there are like 3-4GB of printer drivers i think, that get installed, as well as about another gig of language translations for the OS, which again, not everyone needs..

 

yeah defnitely, some situations it is nice to have those printer drivers, but most people will never use more than one anyway, and an internet connection is all you need to get any printer driver.

not to mention you can install any of these later on just by putting in your install disks.

I might have to install a copy of Leopard on my 8gb flash drive ^_^