Gregor Mendel

Q: Trouble installing Windows 8.1 with Boot Camp

I'm having an issue installing Windows 8.1 under Boot Camp on one of the new MacBook Pros (late 2013).  After sever troubles (and not a few tribulations) fighting with the stupid Windows installer program (couldn't Microsoft just let me download a freakin' ISO?) I got the installer running after creating the partition, but at the end of the Windows install, I get:

 

Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed.

 

Googling around for a solution I found several references to UEFI problems, along with a couple different procedures that were claimed to work.  Unfortunately, these procedures were pretty lengthy and require several third party tools -- and I'm not positive they're even applicable because none of them dealt with the newest model of MacBook Pro.

 

So, can anyone out there point me towards a procedure that's known to work with the new models?

 

Thanks.

MACBOOK PRO (RETINA, 15-INCH, LATE 2013), Windows 8

Posted on Oct 27, 2013 7:44 AM

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Q: Trouble installing Windows 8.1 with Boot Camp

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  • by fireduckzilla,

    fireduckzilla fireduckzilla Oct 27, 2013 8:58 AM in response to Gregor Mendel
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    Oct 27, 2013 8:58 AM in response to Gregor Mendel

    I have exactly the same issue.  I get an error message saying "windows could not update The computers boot configuration"

     

    I'd rather not use a piece third party software.

  • by Gregor Mendel,

    Gregor Mendel Gregor Mendel Oct 27, 2013 9:25 AM in response to fireduckzilla
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2013 9:25 AM in response to fireduckzilla

    There might be a solution out there -- I won't be able to try it until this evening, but you might want to take a look:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/23545484#23545484

     

    Hope it helps!

  • by fireduckzilla,

    fireduckzilla fireduckzilla Oct 27, 2013 10:09 AM in response to Gregor Mendel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2013 10:09 AM in response to Gregor Mendel

    I've got most of the way through this process, however when I'm on the third reboot in the installer, where you would set all of the settings such as Computer name and Timezone, the Keyboard or trackpad don't work. I've also tried external keyboards aswell so I can't progress through the installer.

     

    I'll keep trying.

  • by abu_saeid,

    abu_saeid abu_saeid Jan 26, 2014 7:30 PM in response to Gregor Mendel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 26, 2014 7:30 PM in response to Gregor Mendel

    OK... Finally solved the problem during my winter break... took almost 1.5 months Actually we users are creating the problem... Bootcamp is OK... our late 2013 Mac is OK... but Apple is't as it's not giving us the solution Now let me clear concisely what actually occurs behind the problem.

     

    When you open bootcamp to install Windows, you get a popup window. Then you click continue... then you choose the options among the three which suits to your intention. Then if you chose to create a installation disk or/and download the Windows Support Software, bootcamp does so. Then the nextPROBLEMETIC STEP comes! Yes! you got it! This step creates the actual problem: Partitioning the hard disk for installing Windows. Before bootcamp starts partitioning, a simple POPUP WINDOW will inform you whether you will get the f*cking "Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed" message or not during your windows installation! Andddd... the popup window is here:2014-01-23_21-24-50.jpg

    Soooo... super duper simple fact: if you don't get this popup window, you're going to get that error. Because this HELPER TOOL will simulate proper environment for installing Windows in your Mac

     

     

    Now be sure:

     

    1. You just have one partion in your Hard Disk before partitioning it into two for installing Windows

    2. This PARTITIONING SHOULD ONLY BE DONE BY BOOTCAMP if you want your Windows in EFI mode. The way jarvil told us is for BIOS mode. I'm not going to explain here what is EFI and what is BIOS. Simply keep in mind that EFI is latest, better and faster for booting your Windows

     

     

    That's it guys! If you don't get that popup window, follow the instructions:

     

    1. Turn your hard disk into a single partition by using Bootcamp/Disk Utility. Bootcamp is recommended

    2. Take a flash drive, format it, and then open Bootcamp

    3. Choose all the three options:

         Create a Windows 7 or later vertion install disk

         Download the latest Windows Support software from Apple

         Install or remove Windows 7 or later version

    Yes! We are going to create a new installation disk...

    4. I know you are clever enough to guess what should you do now!  Just enter your password when you get THAT SPECIAL POPUP WINDOW!Then Mac will restart after partitioning your hard disk!

    5. Do noting untill the windows installation window comes

    6. Go forward pressing Next, putting serial, and accepting the agreement that we never read

    7. Select advanced installation... I mean the second option

    8. Now find the partition named BOOTCAMP

    9. Select it and Format it!

    10. Click Next

     

    You are done! Your Mac will install windows without any problem or error message   After installation, if you find that your drivers aren't working, go to the installation disk and open the folder named BOOT CAMP. Open the exe named Setup... Install the drivers and restart after completion... Your Mac now owns Windows in EFI mode like mine!

     

    That's all I have known killing my winter break! Thanks everyone! Take care!

  • by Ahmedsqt,

    Ahmedsqt Ahmedsqt Feb 23, 2014 7:12 AM in response to abu_saeid
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2014 7:12 AM in response to abu_saeid

    Thank you Abu _Saeid for your remark;

    I, am having simillar issuue where it says"WINDOWS INSTALLER COULDN'B BE FOUND". I, got a mac pro of early 2011. I tired different medai, my mac DVD drive, an external DVD drive, flash drive and finally an exernal drive. I created an ISO file from windows 8.1 installation Pc and managed to get windowsSupport and trensfer it aloing with an ISO file to the media I mentioned above. All gave me "WINDOWS INSTALLER COULDN'T BE FOUND"

    Thanks

  • by abu_saeid,

    abu_saeid abu_saeid Feb 23, 2014 8:16 AM in response to Ahmedsqt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2014 8:16 AM in response to Ahmedsqt

    Did you correctly select the directory of your Windows 8.1 ISO in bootcamp? If you did so, you have problem with your Windows 8.1 Installation ISO. Try to download it directly from Microsoft with your key. Then move forward

  • by ianday,

    ianday ianday Feb 25, 2014 6:07 AM in response to abu_saeid
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 6:07 AM in response to abu_saeid

    Solution doesn't work.

     

    I get the popup for "Boot Camp Assistant helper tool" but still get the same error "Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed"

     

    Steps in order

     

    SMC Reset

    PRAM Reset

    Boot to Internet Recovery

    Repartition internal SSD

    Reinstall OS X Mavericks 10.9.1

    Install all Apple software updates

    Run Boot Camp Assistant - All options ticked

    *Disc image created on an iMac using disk utility, DVD/CD Master from a "Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Eng Intl for OEM" disk, creating IRM_CCSA_X64FRE_EN-GB_DV5.cdr

    Prompted to enter password to install Helper Tool

    Mac restarted automatically, paused on gray screen for a while then booted back to OS X

    2nd Attempt: Deleted Boot Camp partition using Boot Camp Assistant

    Re-created Boot Camp partition using boot Camp Assistant

    Now rebooted automatically installer

    Followed procedure and ended at "Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed"

     

    Same issue as before going through the trouble of erasing and installing.

     

    One thing of note, both times I first attempted to install Boot Camp on a new OS X install, it restarted, paused on the gray screen then booted back to OS X

     

    Every subsequent attempt booted to the Windows installer but then resulted in the error.

     

    This is on a late 2013 - 15" Macbook Pro Retina - 2.3GHz - 512GB SSD - ME294LL/A

     

    I'm going to borrow a friends Apple USB SuperDrive to see if that makes a difference but I'm not hopeful.

     

    I've been waiting long enough for Apple to officially support Windows 8.1 via Boot Camp and am disappointed I now have to wait for Apple to fix this issue.

  • by MavynFL,

    MavynFL MavynFL Feb 25, 2014 1:07 PM in response to Gregor Mendel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 1:07 PM in response to Gregor Mendel

    I am having the same problem. I downloaded Windows 8 from MS today, created the ISO, used Bootcamp to create the boot USB drive, but when I restart and hold option key, the USB drive does not appear as an option. This is turning into a nightmare.

  • by turbostar,

    turbostar turbostar Feb 25, 2014 2:24 PM in response to MavynFL
    Level 4 (2,925 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 2:24 PM in response to MavynFL

    Had same issues, 2 changes worked for me USB2 drive and repair permissions.

     

    Open boot camp assistant and delete the partition

    Restart

    Open disk utility, make sure you only have 1 partition

    Restart but do a PRAM reset

    Open disk utility, repair permissions twice

    Open boot camp assistant and start

     

    Note, you also have to let boot camp assistant put the ISO on the USB.

     

    Good luck.

  • by turbostar,

    turbostar turbostar Feb 25, 2014 2:25 PM in response to turbostar
    Level 4 (2,925 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 2:25 PM in response to turbostar
  • by NikolaosCh,

    NikolaosCh NikolaosCh Feb 25, 2014 2:52 PM in response to Gregor Mendel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 2:52 PM in response to Gregor Mendel

    I have tried every possible solution that was mentioned in the whole community to install windows on a late 2013 Macbook Pro and nothing worked. Last try was last night.

     

    Tonight I opened my macbook and there was an update available for Mavericks I think 10.9.2 version. I installed. I tried again to install windows 8.1 through bootcamp.

     

    Success!

     

    Thank you Apple for the update.

  • by MavynFL,

    MavynFL MavynFL Feb 25, 2014 7:54 PM in response to turbostar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 7:54 PM in response to turbostar

    turbostar, thanks for the response. In frustration, after many fails, I bought an optical drive for $39 US and installed Windows 8 from a DVD. Even that did not go smoothly, but finally it worked. Bootcamp even launched itself and installed all the drivers during the Windows install session. Not sure how that happened-- I did leave the USB connected with the Bootcamp software on it-- maybe it eventually read into the process. Who knows. Good luck to everyone else.

  • by ianday,

    ianday ianday Feb 25, 2014 7:56 PM in response to turbostar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 7:56 PM in response to turbostar

    Genius!

     

    I didn't believe it but that solution actually got it working!

     

     

    Steps I did this morning:

     

    Deleted Boot Camp partition in Boot Camp assistant

    Verified in Disk Utility that there is only 1 partition

    Renamed my Windows 8.1 image from IRM_CCSA_X64FRE_EN-GB_DV5.cdr to IRM_CCSA_X64FRE_EN-GB_DV5.iso

    Ran Boot Camp assistant with all options checked, re-created the installer USB

    Before proceeding with partition of Macintosh HD, opened Disk Utility and Repaired Disk permissions twice

    Continued with installing via Boot Camp

    Error - Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed.

     

    I exhausting all options I tried turbostars solution with a grain of salt thinking I'd already covered it with my previous steps

     

    Solution (steps I did in addition and probably unnecessary)

    Delete Boot Camp partition in Boot Camp Assistant

    Verifid 1 partition using Disk Utility (Macintosh HD)

    Restart and PRAM

    Boot straight to OS X Recovery

    Open Disk Utility

    Repair Disk permissions twice (didn't appear to do any further permissions repairs since my previous failed install)

    Repaired Disk - Macintosh HD

    Repaired DIsk - SSD

    Restarted to OSX

    Ran Boot Camp assistant, not bothering to re-create the install USB

    Auto restarted to Windows 8.1 installer

    Completed install without error

     

    I now have a working Windows 8.1 install with EFI on my 15" Haswell retina Macbook Pro

     

     

     


  • by turbostar,

    turbostar turbostar Feb 25, 2014 8:06 PM in response to ianday
    Level 4 (2,925 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 8:06 PM in response to ianday

    Nice glad it worked and reads like the 10.9.2 update may mean we don't need to jump through hoops again

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