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    n00bie question on how to Install Windows 7

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by ibbi1337, Jul 29, 2013.

  1. ibbi1337

    ibbi1337 Notebook Consultant

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    I gifted my mom a Mac Book Air 13.3' which has a 120 GB SSD

    She hates Mac OS and can't get used to it so I offered to maybe install Windows 7 on it but I have a few questions so please bare with meh:

    1) If I totally format the SSD she has and install Windows 7, can I in the future reinstall MacOS by simply holding Command + some F button to initialize the setup which will download the Mac OS files from the web? or is that not a possibility if the SSD's partition was tampered with

    2) Where do I get the drivers for the Mac Book Air for Windows 7?

    3) If I want to install Windows 7 side by side, baring in mind that here SSD is only 120 GB how would you do it, where would you partition the SSD from, and what is the procedure in detail

    please help meh Im a n00bie
     
    ibbi1337, Jul 29, 2013
    #1
  2. darkloki

    darkloki Notebook Deity

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    120gb is going to be rough, it's already rough on 256 gb. but you need to first partition out your drive then build a USB boot disk with the Boot Camp Assistant and then just boot the Windows startup software using the Option Key I believe. On my Macbook Retina I placed the ISO on a USB flash drive and then booted from that flash drive to do my install.
     
    darkloki, Jul 29, 2013
    #2
  3. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Is your mother an advanced Windows user? Or not used to OSX? I'd say why not install softwares that she frequents in Windows, in OSX (and alternatives). As for installing W7:

    - Boot camp assistant will allow you install W7, and will also download all the drivers before installation (both ISO and drivers will be loaded on to the drive by the assistant)
    - You'll need a flash drive (that will be reformatted)
    - W7 ISO

    In terms of partitioning, you'll be able to do that during installation. On my own fresh installation of W7 on the MBA13, it is using 22GB or so of space after updates. I have 50GB in total set aside for Windows which I only expect to use on occasions as I have a Windows desktop for some specific software anyway. Do note that battery life is noticeably worse (based on personal experience) in W7 than OSX.
     
    Johnny T, Jul 29, 2013
    #3
  4. Quix Omega

    Quix Omega Notebook Evangelist

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    Quix Omega, Jul 30, 2013
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  5. zbean

    zbean Notebook Enthusiast

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    Did she manage to plow through the trial period. If she stuck with OS-X for a 14 days and followed a good tutorial, I have a hunch she would begin to embrace it. Regardless you have some good advise above, on how to get Windows on there. Good luck and what a nice thing to do for your mother!
     
    zbean, Aug 6, 2013
    #5
  6. wannabelean

    wannabelean Notebook Guru

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    How bad is the battery life? 50% lesser?
     
    wannabelean, Aug 10, 2013
    #6