Error installing Windows 7 on Mac

As soon as I click on "Install Now" I get an error message: "Windows Setup encountered an internal error while loading or searching for an unattend answer file." I have OSX 10.9.1. Before the error I partitioned the hard disk (for 25 GB Windows) using Boot Camp, and downloaded the latest Windows support software onto a USB drive. After inserting the Windows 7 install disk a DOS-like "Windows is loading files..." appears, then "Starting Windows." I click on "Install Now" and the error message appears. Of course it tells me nothing else.

Describe to us what kind of Windows 7 disk you're using to install? For example: Microsoft boxed Windows 7 x 32 or 64 bit full version? OEM System Builder's full version?

Thanks for the quick reply. The packaging that contained the disk is an OEM System Builder Pack. It is 64-bit, SP 1. Did I buy the wrong software?

No, that's a good version, it should have worked. The reason I asked is because I've never seen that error before and thought maybe you were using the wrong version.

I didn't follow the sequence of installation you used. I suggest trying again but make sure you install Windows 7 first before installing the driver package you downloaded from Apple.

Also, Boot Camp initially formats the partition as FAT-32 but during the Windows 7 installation the Boot Camp partition must be formatted to NTFS. The installer should ask you which partition you wish to install Windows 7 to and also format it properly. I don't know if you got that far or not.

And this is important... run disk utility first to make sure there are no errors on the hard drive. Do that before installing Windows 7.

Wonder if 25GB is actually enough space? My Windows 7 64bit Pro uses 28GB with only limited applications installed.

Yeah, that is a bit tight for Windows 7 x 64 bit and of course depends on how much software is installed. One game like MS Flight Simulator can easily take up 25 GB if you install all the scenery and extras.

Thank you all for your responses. I have taken your suggestions (increased disk space for Windows to 45GB and verified/repaired Mac HD), but still getting same result.

You stated that you verified and repaired your Macintosh HD... are you sure there are no more remaining errors on the drive? Windows 7 will not install on a drive that reports errors to it.

Thanks for your response. I'm pretty sure there aren't any remaining errors on the drive. On Disk Utility I verified and repaired the Apple HDD and the Mac HD and both said everything is OK. Is there something else I should be doing to confirm?

You are unable to repair a disk you are booted from. You need either to boot from the DVD, OS X.6 or earlier, or run Recovery if later. Go into Utilities > Disk Utility and run Repair Disk from there.

That's what I did -- I went to Applications-Utilitites-Disk Utility and did the verify and repair from there. Is there a better way to do it?
I'm wondering if the install disk is corrupted. How often does that happen?

If you put the Windows 7 disk in the drive under OSX can it be mounted? Can you view the contents etc?
Did you format the drive to NTFS during the Windows install? (or does it not get that far?)

You cannot run Repair Disk from the Utilities folder. Must be booted from either the install DVD or via Recovery mode

That's what I did -- I went to Applications-Utilitites-Disk Utility and did the verify and repair from there. Is there a better way to do it?

Click to expand...

As Harry pointed out, you can not repair the disk that way because it remains mounted. The disk must be dismounted before it can be repaired. That means booting from another disk or from the Recovery partition, again as Harry has been telling you.

Any joy srickm repairing the hard drive from Recovery or the install DVD?

I have no idea what dismounting a disk is. Can you explain?
Thanks.