VglantCtzn

Q: Major difficulties installing Windows 7/8.1

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for my not so perfect English, but nevertheless - here's my cry of help.

 

Recently, I've had a "pleasure" of messing up my already installed Windows on my iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) that has been installed for almost 2-3 years and worked in harmony with Mac OS. Back then, I used a DVD disc to install Windows, so I thought it shouldn't be much of a trouble installing it now on OS X Yosemite (boy, was I wrong).

 

While trying to reinstall Windows for the first time, it couldn't find any drivers on my CD/DVD or USB flash stick, even though my installation DVD was in the optical drive and USB stick with all required drivers was in place. Although, my USB flash drive was formatted FAT32 and after that failed, I've tried formatting it to ExFAT (which both of the options failed). So I thought: "Alright, I'll burn a new DVD with drivers for bootcamp on the DVD itself this time, instead of a flash stick". Same result.

 

I'm sorry, but after 3 days of failed attempts at installing Windows, I might have forgotten other methods I've tried to continue my installation. So I'm just going to list all things that I've tried failed.

 

  • Using bootable USB flash drive with Bootcamp Support Software on it.(EFI boot) (Using Boot Camp Assistant, which wasn't even an option on my iMac, so I had to make some adjustments in terminal and info.plist) *

 

* After successfully performing this method, I was able to choice on which partition I'd like to install Windows. So I choose the one partition, that Boot Camp Assistant created for me. It declined to continue, because the partition wasn't formatted for Windows OS. After formatting Windows partition, I've stumble upon another error which was something about changing my partition from MBR to GPT. I've googled the solution and that is to access Command Prompt and format partition using "diskpart" utility. I went on selection which disk and which partition I wanted to format(which I checked twice, if not more). After converting the already clean partition to GPT space, so I could continue - for some reason, diskpart utility decided wipe out my whole disk clean(including MacOS). Not knowing that you can restore your OS and all your files using Time Machine, I was terrified. After that, I decided not to install anything anymore, simple because I was tired of infinite reading and researching on how to properly do it.

 

  • Using bootable USB flash drive. Only this time, I've made partition as a free space in Disk Utility. *

 

* This method is actually worked out, though not so well. I was able to install Windows 8.1 this time, but it had no sound. No driver, and not a single solution (regarding tweaking some settings in Device Manager or Sound folder in Control Panel) didn't helped at all. And now, I having trouble switching from MacOS to WindowsOS, because for some reason Windows partition is labeled as "EFI boot" and it is asking me to insert a bootable USB installation flash drive to continue.

 

I'm pretty sure, methods mentioned above is not all of the methods, that I've tried. But I think, at this point, I've tried everything there is to try in order to properly install Windows.

 

My main point is that I've decided to test my optical drive both on Mac and Windows and see, how it is able to read information from DVD disc. It was loading files, that was on DVD, very very slowly. Sometimes not even loading them all. It just went on spinning in optical drive, making humming noises and reading sounds. Now, when I think I've understood what was the main problem of failed installation using DVD disc, my questions are:

 

  • What can I do at this point in order to install Windows properly?
  • Is the optical drive really the main reason, that Windows couldn't locate some drivers? Because I remember my first attempt at installing with DVD, I've made it past the partition selection, but my installation stopped at 1-2% giving me the error)
  • How can I fix an optical drive?
  • Is it even possible to fix?

 

Oh, I've also trying to burn a Windows ISO onto my DVD using iMac, which gave me a Medium Write Error at the end of the process.

 

My apologies for the wall of text, but I don't know what to do at this point. I'm leaving outside of US, so there is no official Apple building in which I could ask for replacement or asking to repair my optical drive. I'm pretty sure my warranty is expired by now too.

 

I will answer any question, but please help me fix this problem that I've created myself... Thank you.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 10, 2015 2:23 PM

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Q: Major difficulties installing Windows 7/8.1

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  • by pmiles,

    pmiles pmiles Mar 11, 2015 9:07 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 6 (15,955 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 11, 2015 9:07 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    The Windows 7 Professional disc was purchased from a local retailer (shrink-wrapped box).  Pretty sure it's still available for purchase given the fallout that Windows 8 had.

     

    The only way you could prove that it is the optical drive is if you had access to another optical drive to test it with.  Optical drives do fail.  I had one refuse to mount bootable DVDs before finally giving up on all media entirely.  Short of having another drive to swap it with or another computer that you can try to install the OS on from your disc, you won't really be able to tell.

     

    Again, when I installed bootcamp, I just used the retail disc.  Everything else was installed by bootcamp assistant.  It just did it's thing.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 11, 2015 9:10 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2015 9:10 AM in response to Loner T

    Using a modified version of Info.plist may let you create a USB, but if your Mac does not support booting from a USB, you will end up with a black screen or no boot device errors.

    If my iMac does not have an option "Create Windows bootable disc or usb..." then I shouldn't even try doing anything with info.plist, because in the future I will have some errors and problems, right?

    So, looking a bit into the future, what if my DVD disc and ISO are both valid and files are not damaged in any way, and after all that it will still ask for the drivers? Should I then point my finger at my optical drive and say: "You are the reason Windows can't find any "device drivers" on you. There's something wrong with your optical laser and I should somehow fix you."?
    Why back in the 2011-2012, I was able to install Windows with the same DVD I'm using now (apart from 3 more DVD that I've already burned) and I had no errors back then?

     

    My apologies, if I'm repeating myself at this point.

     

    The only way you could prove that it is the optical drive is if you had access to another optical drive to test it with.

     

    What about using an external optical drive? I know nothing about them, but I'm guessing they have a USB connection, which again, I guess, might somehow cause trouble during installation?

  • by pmiles,

    pmiles pmiles Mar 11, 2015 9:37 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 6 (15,955 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 11, 2015 9:37 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    When I installed Windows 7 Professional (this was back in 2009 mind you) the only thing I needed was the retail disc and bootcamp assistant.  There was no mention of making ISO copies or using USB sticks... I know this because I still have the installation and setup guide.  So I think it's safe to assume that the process you used in the past may no longer be valid with the latest incarnation of bootcamp assistant.  Clearly they have changed how it works.  I'm not about to erase my installation to test my theory.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 11, 2015 9:42 AM in response to pmiles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2015 9:42 AM in response to pmiles
    When I installed Windows 7 Professional (this was back in 2009 mind you) the only thing I needed was the retail disc and bootcamp assistant.  There was no mention of making ISO copies or using USB sticks... I know this because I still have the installation and setup guide.  So I think it's safe to assume that the process you used in the past may no longer be valid with the latest incarnation of bootcamp assistant.  Clearly they have changed how it works.  I'm not about to erase my installation to test my theory.

    So the most valid course of actions for me is it to check my ISO and Windows disc, and if it fails I should consider buying an external optical drive, since the USB methods does not apply to my iMac. What about *somehow* cleaning my optical drive with Cleaning Disk, that have brushes on it? Will it be harmful for my optical drive? I heard that it is, in fact, harmful from Apple, but I'm not sure. Should I use the "credit card trick" - which suggests wrapping my credit card with smooth thin cloth and slowly putting it in the optical drive for about a centimeter and a half?

     

    Sorry for being this annoying with all this questions. I really want to solve this problem without buying anything expensive to solve it.

  • by pmiles,

    pmiles pmiles Mar 11, 2015 9:52 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 6 (15,955 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 11, 2015 9:52 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    I have never attempted to install an OS from an external optical drive.  So I can't say if it can even be done.  My suggestion would be to use the procedure outlined in their documentation exactly.  Don't deviate from it.  That is the process that should work, if your disc is made properly.  You have deviated from that process.  Make sure that your computer hardware meets the minimum requirements before proceeding.  I only say this because if they altered how bootcamp assistant works, it's assuming their parameters not what used to work with a previous incarnation of the software.

     

    Give that a go.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 11, 2015 9:54 AM in response to pmiles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2015 9:54 AM in response to pmiles

    Thank you for you time and energy! I will try everything you guys adviced me to do and will write back here with the results.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 11, 2015 10:09 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Mar 11, 2015 10:09 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    VglantCtzn wrote:

     

    Using a modified version of Info.plist may let you create a USB, but if your Mac does not support booting from a USB, you will end up with a black screen or no boot device errors.

    If my iMac does not have an option "Create Windows bootable disc or usb..." then I shouldn't even try doing anything with info.plist, because in the future I will have some errors and problems, right?

    So, looking a bit into the future, what if my DVD disc and ISO are both valid and files are not damaged in any way, and after all that it will still ask for the drivers? Should I then point my finger at my optical drive and say: "You are the reason Windows can't find any "device drivers" on you. There's something wrong with your optical laser and I should somehow fix you."?
    Why back in the 2011-2012, I was able to install Windows with the same DVD I'm using now (apart from 3 more DVD that I've already burned) and I had no errors back then?

     

    My apologies, if I'm repeating myself at this point.

    All DVD-writable media is not created equal. I have had lots of issues with Memorex/TDK (and at times Sony) media. In the last 10+ years, of all manufacturers, Verbatim has been the most stable and reliable. The FCIV tool should help and allow you narrow down the culprit to the Optical drive or the media.

     

    VglantCtzn wrote:

    The only way you could prove that it is the optical drive is if you had access to another optical drive to test it with.

     

    What about using an external optical drive? I know nothing about them, but I'm guessing they have a USB connection, which again, I guess, might somehow cause trouble during installation?

    On Macs with built-in Optical drives, an external Optical drive for BC is not supported. You will have to replace the internal SuperDrive with a USD90 OD from iFixit as an option.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 11, 2015 10:46 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2015 10:46 AM in response to Loner T

    For some reason, I've had some trouble inserting Verbatim DVD+RW into my optical drive. (after I've tested other 4 discs) My Mac kept telling that the DVD+RW that I've burned was empty. I will try re-burning it again.

     

    On Macs with built-in Optical drives, an external Optical drive for BC is not supported. You will have to replace the internal SuperDrive with a USD90 OD from iFixit as an option.

    Okay, got it. So, I guess, after all your suggestions will fail on me (I hope not), I will have no other options left.

    Thank you for your time and advices! I will write here again, after I'll test things.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 15, 2015 6:31 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2015 6:31 AM in response to Loner T

    I've tried checking integrity of the DVD using FCIV, but I couldn't realise how exactly I should do it. Even more so, since I've used Command Prompt before to accidently delete my whole HD to install Windows - now I'm kinda scared to check the integrity of anything, since it involes using Command Prompt itself.

     

    I've also tried burning a new DVD in Windows OS using Nero Burning ROM and a bunch of other software, in both cases my optical drive would just spit out the DVD right before the burning itself with the error: "Power Callibration Error". I've tried burning 2 DVDs from different companies and using all available burning speeds - so in total I've wasted around 8 discs so far.

     

    Regarding the integrity inself - as far as I've understood the FCIV tool creates the .md5 and .sha files after checking the integrity, but I have this exact files in my folder with .ISO image itself. Not quite sure what I should do with them.

     

    What should I do now at this point? What are your suggestions?

     

    Edit: Since I couldn't burn any ISO on the DVD, I think now Windows can't find any device drivers during installation simply because there's something wrong with the optical drive itself and its ability to read the DVD properly.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 15, 2015 7:14 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Mar 15, 2015 7:14 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    Please see the attached screen shot for how to use FCIV.

     

    W8.1-FCIV.PNG

     

    Please do not waste any more DVDs. If the 8 attempts you have made, resulted in errors, the Optical drive is suspect. Do you have access to another Mac/PC where you can test one of these 8 to find out if they are even readable. You can also check if the DVD burns correctly on another Mac/PC, but it will cost you one move disk.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 15, 2015 7:49 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2015 7:49 AM in response to Loner T

    I'm sorry, but to be completely honest with you, by looking at the screenshot you have provided - I still have no clue on what I should do with the ISO file I have.

     

    You can also check if the DVD burns correctly on another Mac/PC, but it will cost you one move disk.

     

    I've already tried burning 2 DVDs with different speeds on my Windows laptop, that was when I was trying to burn DVD on my iMac using Disk Utility for the first time (which ended up with "Medium Write Error" message).

     

    Do you have access to another Mac/PC where you can test one of these 8 to find out if they are even readable

     

    Yes, I could test it. I'm pretty sure 2 out of 8 DVDs is DVD-RW.

     

    One more thing worth mentioning: Those 2 DVDs, that I've burned on my laptop. They were successfully burned with no errors. Later on, I've tried using them as an installation DVD (that was when I didn't even thought about installing Windows using USB flash drive). Even after all that, while trying to install Windows - I still got the "no device drivers" message.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 15, 2015 8:17 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Mar 15, 2015 8:17 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    VglantCtzn wrote:

     

    I'm sorry, but to be completely honest with you, by looking at the screenshot you have provided - I still have no clue on what I should do with the ISO file I have.

    After you run the ISO to DVD, you now have two copies in your possession, and a third copy exists at the source.

     

    1. The source should publish the MD5/SHA1 to ensure that what you get from the source is authentic and uncorrupted.

    2. Run the FCIV command on the .iso file and match it with what is published in 1.

    3. Run FCIV on the entire physical DVD and match with 1 and 2.

    4. Any differences between 1, 2 and 3 indicate the intervening steps to be suspect or corruption of the intended source has occurred somewhere before a specific copy arrived at its end state. For example, if 1 and 2 match but 3 is different, the DVD is corrupt. If 1 and 2 are different, your download process is incomplete or corrupted, etc.

     

     

    I've already tried burning 2 DVDs with different speeds on my Windows laptop, that was when I was trying to burn DVD on my iMac using Disk Utility for the first time (which ended up with "Medium Write Error" message).

    If you burnt the DVD on Windows machine, did these work on the PC or on the iMac?

    Yes, I could test it. I'm pretty sure 2 out of 8 DVDs is DVD-RW.

    The RW media may have issues on older iMacs. Insert your DVD-RW and check in System Report -> Disc Burning if it show up properly and is recognized.

     

     

    One more thing worth mentioning: Those 2 DVDs, that I've burned on my laptop. They were successfully burned with no errors. Later on, I've tried using them as an installation DVD (that was when I didn't even thought about installing Windows using USB flash drive). Even after all that, while trying to install Windows - I still got the "no device drivers" message.

    Can I suggest a SMC Reset and NVRAM Reset before the next Windows installation attempt using a DVD/USB or a combination thereof?

     

    Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 16, 2015 6:51 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2015 6:51 AM in response to Loner T
    If you burnt the DVD on Windows machine, did these work on the PC or on the iMac?

    Well, I've only tried the burned DVD only on iMac, which, to no surprise, failed.

    The RW media may have issues on older iMacs. Insert your DVD-RW and check in System Report -> Disc Burning if it show up properly and is recognized.

    Not quite sure, but I think it has been recognized properly. Here is the screenshot, just in case if I'm incorrect.1.jpg

    Can I suggest a SMC Reset and NVRAM Reset before the next Windows installation attempt using a DVD/USB or a combination thereof?

    I will follow absolutely any suggestion you will post, as long as it's not going to do any harm to my iMac or optical drive. (kinda got scared back when I wiped out my entire HD). Before I proceed, are you sure this SMC Reset and NVRAM Reset will not harm? Thank you.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 16, 2015 7:45 AM in response to VglantCtzn
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Mar 16, 2015 7:45 AM in response to VglantCtzn

    From the SMC link...

     

    The System Management Controller (SMC) is responsible for many low-level functions on Intel-based Macs. These functions include:

    • Responding to presses of the power button
    • Responding to the display lid opening and closing on portable Macs
    • Battery management
    • Thermal management
    • The SMS (Sudden Motion Sensor)
    • Ambient light sensing
    • Keyboard backlighting
    • Status Indicator Light (SIL) management
    • Battery status indicator lights
    • Selecting an external (instead of internal) video source for some iMac displays

     

    From the NVRAM link...

     

    A small amount of your computer’s memory, called “non-volatile random-access memory” or NVRAM, stores certain settings in a location that OS X can access quickly. The settings that are stored in NVRAM depend on the type of Mac you're using, and the types of devices connected to it.

    Information stored in NVRAM can include:

    • Speaker volume
    • Screen resolution
    • Startup disk selection
    • Recent kernel panic information, if any

    If you experience issues related to these features, you might need to reset the NVRAM on your computer. For example, if your Mac starts up from a startup disk other than the one you've specified in Startup Disk preferences, or if a question mark icon appears briefly when your Mac starts up.

     

    I suggest you take a back up of your OSX installation via Time Machine, to be safe.

  • by VglantCtzn,

    VglantCtzn VglantCtzn Mar 17, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Loner T

    Okay, so I did both SMC and NVRAM resets, which went pretty strange. After resetting NVRAM my computer decided to choose the EFI boot of Windows 8.1, when most of the times I'd have to hold down Option key to select the partition. After all that, I've loaded up into OS X and tried burning the Verbatim DVD-RW, which took about 2-4 minutes at the speed of 4x and after that it just failed to verify the disc itself. I ended up with blank DVD (as always). So after that, I decided to install Windows 7 with a DVD-R disc I've used back in 2011. Went through all the steps correctly - same error.

     

    Again, it was making chugging noises, like it was trying every second to insert a disc into the drive or trying to spin it in there. I have an audio file of the noise itself, but don't know where I could upload it too.

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