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Windows 7 (x86) Installation via Boot Camp & VMWare Fusion (2.0.4)

I was looking for a way to install Windows on an Intel Mac without actually using the Windows 7-DVD, in case the Mac’s optical-drive wouldn’t work properly.

After having some problems, trying to boot an Win7-image off a USB-device, I installed rEFIt hoping it would be the solution to the Mac’s incompatibility issues with bootable USB-drives. In the end, I had to forfeit and move on to another plan.

While researching, I stumbled on the idea to trick VMWare Fusion into directly installing Windows onto a prepared Boot Camp-partition. It took me a few attempts, to figure out the details about this method, but it’s actually kind of simple - when you know the essentials.

Requirements:

• your prefered  Windows 7 - Installation Medium
• a new  Boot Camp-Partition
• VMWare Fusion Version 2 (!!!)
• Boot Camp for Windows

Let’s have some fun:

1. First start the Boot Camp-Assistant and set up a new partition


2. Close the assistant and open VMWare Fusion (v2)

Version 2 is essential for this method! I had Fusion 4 installed and had to realize, that the “vmware-rawdiskCreator” has been removed since v3.

3. Create a new Virtual Machine and hit “continue without disk”, select your prefered installation-media (i.e. an ISO-image)


4. Fusion will try to automatically set the correct OS-type and version durring the next step. Choose Operating System: other / Version: other.


5. Don’t start the VM! Finish the assistant by selecting the preferences for your new machine - safe it to your VM-Folder (i.e. /virtual_machines) and remember the filename (i.e. win7).


6. Set the VM’s RAM to a reasonable value (1024MB - 4096MB) and delete the HDD Fusion set up.


7. Open the Terminal - navigate to your VM-Folder and into the VM you just created  [ cd /virtual_machines/win7.vmwarevm ]


8. [ /Library/Application\ Support/VMware\ Fusion/vmware-rawdiskCreator print /dev/disk0 ] will show you all available partitions on your harddrive


9. [ /Library/Application\ Support/VMware\ Fusion/vmware-rawdiskCreator create /dev/disk0 YOUR_BOOTCAMP_PARTITION_NUMBER (.i.e. 3) disk ide ], this will create a link between your VM and the Boot Camp-partition


10. Now we have to activate the “disk” [ nano win7.vmx ]


11. Add:
    ide0:0.present = "TRUE"
ide0:0.fileName = "disk.vmdk"
    and safe the file.


12. Start the VM in Fusion. You should be asked for your administrator-password - this means you’re on the right way so far.


13. Follow the Instructions of the Windows Installation and wait for the first Restart.


14. When the machine tries to restart, you have to be shut it down, shortly after the VMWare-arrow appeared in the VM-window - the setup mustn’t start with the following initialization!


15. Shut down Mac OS and reboot into Boot Camp by pressing the ALT-Key.


16. Finish the installation of Windows


17. Install the Boot Camp-drivers (You will find them either on your Mac OS X DVD or on the Apple Support-Website)

Congratulations! Your Windows is now ready to go!