Rickypau

Q: installing windows on mac - not working

I am trying to install windows on my mac using boot camp. When I try to do it, it comes with error message prompting me to back up my mac, partition my mac as single xtended journaled volume and then using bootcamp again. when I go look to see if my drive is single xtended journaled volume, I find that it is greyed out and I cant partition it anymore. Does anyone know why is it so? I tried to partition it, but it does not partition into two or more drives either.

 

I have mac book MC OS X 10.6.8

2.4 GHZ INtel core 2 duo

4 GB 1067 MHZ DDR3

 

Thanks

 

RP

Posted on Feb 15, 2014 1:39 PM

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Q: installing windows on mac - not working

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  • by Lyssa,

    Lyssa Lyssa Feb 15, 2014 1:45 PM in response to Rickypau
    Level 6 (17,893 points)
    Feb 15, 2014 1:45 PM in response to Rickypau

    What that error message means is that Boot Camp cannot find a contiguous block of hard drive space to use for the Windows parition.

     

    As you use your computer, data is written to all parts of the hard drive. If you've had your Mac for a while, odds are every bit of the hard drive has had something written to it at some point, and this prevents Boot Camp from working properly.

     

    You need to format the drive, which will wipe it clean, and then run Boot Camp as soon as you have the Mac set back up. Then you shouldn't have any issues.

     

    ~Lyssa

  • by Rickypau,

    Rickypau Rickypau Feb 15, 2014 8:40 PM in response to Lyssa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2014 8:40 PM in response to Lyssa

    THe only problem with formatting the hard drive is that it is greyed out and not available for formatting. I cant tell why.

     

    RP

  • by Lyssa,

    Lyssa Lyssa Feb 15, 2014 8:45 PM in response to Rickypau
    Level 6 (17,893 points)
    Feb 15, 2014 8:45 PM in response to Rickypau

    Do you have your data backed up?

     

    And do you have your original install discs?

     

    You can't format the drive unless you're booted from another source (such as a bootable clone on an external drive or the original install DVD).

     

    ~Lyssa

  • by Rickypau,

    Rickypau Rickypau Feb 16, 2014 7:55 AM in response to Lyssa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2014 7:55 AM in response to Lyssa

    Lyssa

     

    I have my data backed up using time machine.

     

    I have my original disks as well.

     

    How do I boot using original install DVD?

     

    Here is what I tried doing. I put original DVD in drive and then tried to erase the mac drive, but it is still greyed out and cant be formatted. I tried restarting the computer with the DVD in the drive, but it still does not change anything. I made a iso image of the DVD as well on my mac and then tried to see if I can format the hard drive, I cant.

     

    RP

  • by Lyssa,

    Lyssa Lyssa Feb 16, 2014 8:06 AM in response to Rickypau
    Level 6 (17,893 points)
    Feb 16, 2014 8:06 AM in response to Rickypau

    You have to boot from the install disc in order to erase the internal hard drive.

     

    Try following the steps in this Apple article and see if you can get the drive reformatted & reinstall OS X.

     

    ~Lyssa