Q: MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2013) will not install Windows 8.1 Pro under Boot Camp?
Have spent many hours trying to sort this out. I was told this morning in the end by a 'Senior Advisor' @ Apple that Boot Camp does not support Windows 8.1 Pro so effectively it seems like my only option for a new machine purchased earlier in the week is to return for a refund.
This despite the Apple Spec saying "
- Windows 8: Windows 8 or 8.1, Windows 8 or 8.1 Pro (Boot Camp 5 only)"
The subject has been aired in thread https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5474320?start=585&tstart=0 but it has been suggested I post a fresh thread.
I have purchased a new 8.1 Pro license, so this is not an upgrade. I have followed the Boot Camp instructions, including getting the update for this model spcifically, but the nearest I got to a successful install returns soemthing of the like 'Unable to update boot settings' or the like and installation cancels. My machine is a mess I guess now, but in a final effort - does anyone have the step by step 'idiots guide' to working through the setup successfully? I don't want to get involved in massses of messing around with files as this should clearly not be necessary for achieving an advertised solution on a new machine bought within the last week should it?
Appreciate any help - I have up to seven more days left in my option to return for a full refund..... and maybe buy a Dell instead?
PS : We have many Apple products, Air, ipads and iphones so would dearly like to sort this out if possible.
Thanks for any help...
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), New Machine, purchased ex Apple Sto
Posted on Apr 18, 2014 5:36 AM
8/8.1 will install fine but there's some stuff you need to do before starting to ensure no issues
purchase a retail 8/8.1 license
use only a USB2 flash drive
get a clean 8 or 8.1 ISO
newer machines are more selective with the ISO for some reason (ISOs that worked to install Windows on many different older Macs would not work)
if you've made lots of changes, hacks and adjustments trying to get this work on your own, you should clean install OSX first, do not restore from time machine and start at step 3 to get Windows installed, you can go back later and copy files back to OSX
if you want to try without clean installing OSX, here goes
- open boot camp assistant (bca) and choose option 3 ONLY if it reads 'remove/delete' Windows
- open disk utility (du) and confirm that your HD now only has 1 single partition ('macintosh HD' unless you've renamed it)
- restart machine and do a PRAM reset
- open du and repair permissions TWICE
- open bca and choose all 3 options (create, download, install)
from here, the process follows the standard boot camp instructions (http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf) but pay attention to step 3 where you do have to manually reformat the boot camp partition
clean ISOs
http://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/download-windows-8-pro/
http://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/windows-8-1-download/
if you are trying to clean install 8.1, google clean install 8.1 with windows 8 key for steps like this
Posted on Apr 18, 2014 8:38 AM