win7/64 how to install windows 7 64 bit on an old mac pro with two dual core cpus running leopard 10.5. i figured i'd start with that line cause that's what i searched for when i first started this adventure. first, you can't install a 64 bit os from a 32 bit os. i only have xp and windows 7 32 bit. sigh. so i had to do a clean install. that requires an install dvd. i didn't have any blank writable dvd's. i tried the boot from usb drive trick. but the mac pro wouldn't play along. so one trip to frys and $20 later i have 98 dvd-r's. wee. i followed the instructions here. the tricky part is getting oscdimg.exe. which is both an exercise in googling and faith in the goodness of strangers on the other side of the intertubes. and is way beyond the scope of this blog. anywho instructions repeated here:

in windows 7 32 bit ...
1 Create 3 folders c:\7iso c:\7exe c:\7dvd
2 Download oscdimg.exe file and put into c:\7exe
3 Copy the files from the downloaded Windows 7 64 bit .iso into c:\7iso. if you ordered online like i did you can go to store.microsoft.com. sign in. click account. download and re-download the different versions of the purchases.
4 Open a command prompt and cd to the c:\7exe directory
5 Type: oscdimg.exe -n -m -bc:\7iso\boot\etfsboot.com c:\7iso c:\7dvd\7dvd.iso

now burn the dvd in c:\7dvd. that's really easy in windows 7. right click on the .iso and choose burn to dvd. i couldn't get windows 7 64 bit to install on anything other than a hard drive in bay one with a single full size partition. fortunately moving drives in the mac pro is easy. shut down and play shuffle bricks. start up in mac os x by holding down the option key during boot up. run boot camp assistant. format the lucky drive. insert the newly burned dvd. start the windows installation. the mac pro will restart. at the gray screen the dvd will be ejected. and the screen will go black. immediately shove that sucker back in there. the windows installation should proceed fairly normally from then on. and by normally i mean, reboot a lot. go to the nvidia site and download the latest graphics driver. folks suggest installing the latest bootcamps 2.1 and 2.2. separately, thank you apple. sigh. now everything works except sound. insert the leopard cd. view but don't autorun. navigate into drivers. and run the realtek installer. reboot. and you should be good to go. whew. enjoy.

update: run the bootcamp installation programs as administrator.  ¶ 8:00 AM