Question :
As I need to install Windows in Boot Camp mode on my Mac, I’m trying to burn an .iso disk image of Windows 7 onto a DVD-R from within OSX 10.11 El_Capitan.
But when I right-click on the .iso-file and select “Burn Disk Image “windows-7.iso” to Disc” from the popup-list, everything seems to go okay, but I end up with a DVD-R with just the .iso-file on it…
It’s not a bootable DVD-R of Windows 7 as I was intending to do… what is wrong ?
Answer :
In OSX 10.11 El_Capitan the procedure for doing this has slightly altered compared to previous versions of OSX :
- right-click on the .iso-file and select “Open With” and then “DiskImageMounter(default)” from the popup-list
- now the .iso will mount in the Finder
- then start the Disk Utility application
- in the window that opens, select the mounted .iso from the list on the left ; it’s listed with an unpronounceable name under “Disk Images”
- then, in the top menu bar of the screen, go to “Images” and choose “Convert…” from the pulldown list
- in the pulldown window that opens, select the original .iso-file and click “Open”
- in the next pulldown window, at “Save As:” replace the temporary Untitled-name with the unpronounceable name of the mounted .iso you’ve seen before
- then, at “Where:” choose a destination to create the converted .iso-file, and make sure “Encryption:” is set to “none” and “Image Format:” is set to “DVD/CD master” ; then click “Save”
- now, a .cdr-file will be created in the location you selected at “Where:”
- right-click on the .cdr-file and select “Burn Disk Image “[name].cdr” to Disc”
- in the window that opens, select your SuperDrive (or external DVD-burner) and click on the triangular arrow at the far right side
- the window will be extended, and at “Burn Options” choose the slowest speed possible (if this option is greyed-out, leave it as-is), and at “After Burning” choose “Verify burned data”
- then put a DVD-R in your Superdrive (or external DVD-burner) and click “Burn”
- now, the end result will be a bootable Windows installer-DVD
enjoy !
MacManus.nl 
Thank you so so much, I’ve been looking all over for this info!
@Victoria :
You’re welcome !
Thanks for the feedback – enjoy 😉
After literally searching for hours, your help did the magic! Be blessed by the deity of your choice, good sir or madam!
@Emma :
Thanks for your feedback !
Great to hear you finally got your solution 😉
enjoy !
Thank You so much. Luckily got your link on second attempt. Thanks,again.
@Ravi :
Great to hear !
Tanks for the feedback.
enjoy !
Thank you for this very good article!
Maybe I made something wrong, but after burning I cannot start the Windows setup on my Mac Pro 4.1
Also the Finder is not recognising the disk and it shows on the left side REMOTE DISK, but no name etc.
Is it correct – I have chosen not the downloaded disk name, but the name after mounting the ISO on the desktop.
Thank you in advance!
Regards,
Stefan
@Stefan :
Thanks for the feedback.
I’m not completely sure about the problems you are encountering, but I hope one of these suggestions will help :
– you can’t reboot your Mac from a Windows Setup DVD directly ; you need to install Apple’s BootCamp before you can use a Windows Setup DVD to install Windows within BootCamp
– Remote Disk is an option that was added to macOS for newer Macs that do not have an internal DVD-drive ; if your Mac has an internal DVD-drive you shouldn’t bother with that
– you should not alter the name of the Windows Setup DVD ; you should leave the name that is given automatically when burning the original ISO-file
Hope this helps 😉
Good Luck !
I am getting this error while trying burn with a 4.7 DVD. I have burned at the maximum possible slower speed (2.4x).
Error burning disk image: The disc can’t be burned; it might be incompatible with this disc drive. Please try a different brand of disc, or try burning at a slower speed.
@Javed :
Thanks for the feedback !
Sorry to hear this doesn’t work for you (yet)
from personal experience, I can tell that the built-in Apple SuperDrive DVD-RW burners seem to run into this error more frequently as they get older…
there are a few options you can try (but keep in mind that it’s probably a ‘trial and error’ thing, so it’s gonna cost you some DVD-Rs to find out what works) :
– use a CD/DVD-lens cleaner disc and see if that helps
– use a DVD-R disc to burn to, not a DVD+R disc (Apple originally only supported DVD-R, and compatibility with DVD+R might still be more problematic)
– use a DVD-R disc from a well-known brand (e.g. Sony, Verbatim, Imation, Philips, FujiFilm, Memorex), not one from a ‘white label’ brand
– use an external DVD-RW burner
– use specialized software like Toast instead of the built-in burning option in OSX
Hope this helps 😉
Good Luck !
Thanks a lot! I was just wondering if it was really necessary to mount the .iso file and select it before using Convert (apart from finding the name of the mounted file). It seems to me that Convert functions independently from what is selected in the sidebar, since it immediately asks what file to convert. Is it really necessary to mount the .iso file beforehand and select it? If so, why?
Thanks again, your method worked perfectly. It just left me curious 🙂
@Phil :
Thanks for the feedback.
I understand your question, but I don’t know the answer.
Put differently : I know it works the way it’s outlined in the post, but I’m not sure if it would work the way you suggest…
so… if you really like to know… just try 😉
enjoy !
Thank you!
I have an old, old 2010 iMac and recently had to replace the hard drive (you’re probably wondering why I didn’t just buy a new iMac. Well, the 2018/19 Mojave models aren’t out yet). Anyway. I am running on High Sierra without many hiccups – but trying to figure out how to create a Windows (7 or 8) bootable installation disc for setting up Boot Camp is hard info to find! This was the ticket. Thank you again.
@NDD :
Thanks for the feedback !
Good to hear you this worked for you.
Let’s hope the new iMacs will be released soon 😉
enjoy !
I have been looking for this for a few hours now, and I am glad I found it!! I am in the process of burning the CD and hope it works as well for me as everyone else. Every post I have read has talked about making a bootable USB, but Boot Camp in El Capitan doesn’t give you the option to boot from a USB, only from an optical drive. The various web sites I looked at were not much help in that area, so thanks again!
@Chase :
Great to hear !
Thanks for the feedback.
enjoy 😉