Macbook Air, Bootcamp, and Windows 7

So I've spent the past two days searching and partially succeeding in installing Windows 7 to the bootcamp partition. In the end, I failed and I'm sick of google. What I'm gonna do is list what I have, and what I've tried.

-USB External Hard Drive
-Macbook Air
-Windows 7 ISO
-Mac OSX DMG
-Windows 7 PC w/ DVD drive
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What I've tried:
-Some method which required Remote Disc to work, which doesn't
-Making the External HDD bootable
-Other methods are ruled out
-Can't burn Mac Install CD (Too big)

I greatly appreciate if anyone can shed any light on my dilema. All I want is Windows 7 on a bootcamp partition so I can play my lovely games on my lovely new MBA. If anyone can help, I thank you, truly.

It sucks, but you are most likely going to have to either buy or borrow the Air SuperDrive:

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive - Apple Store (U.S.)

Boot Camp and EFI are apparently very exacting in their requirements for your installation media. Your only other alternative would be to try an install from a flash drive, but I know of at least one other person that tried and failed using normally acceptable measures.

I'm trying to avoid that SuperDrive thing. And you say an alternative would be a flash drive. Can't an external hard drive be used the same way? I don't have a USB large enough for Windows .

jaysquared said:

I'm trying to avoid that SuperDrive thing. And you say an alternative would be a flash drive. Can't an external hard drive be used the same way? I don't have a USB large enough for Windows .

Click to expand...

Not sure on that. You only need an 8GB Flash Drive.

More info here:

Microsoft Store: Download Manager Help

I meant USB flash drive. I have a 100+ (I dont remember how much) external usb drive, but I can't get my MBA to boot it, then the windows installation...

Alright so I did this
Install Windows 7 From USB Drive/Pen Drive
using my EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE and NOT A USB THUMB/PEN/FLASH/WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT drive... is this why the MBA won't detect it as a bootable disc when I press Option at start up?

did anyone find a good solution?

I tried to use rEFIT but the boot manager wouldn't work properly.

Like the advice given above, your best bet is to buy the compatible Air super drive from Apple. However, you've nothing to lose by trying the bootable flash drive method outlined in the link give by the OP. If your Air will boot from the flash drive utilizing the Windows 7 boot sector method, you should then be able to install Windows 7.