lion10
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Q: The ultimate way to install Windows 8.x in (U)EFI mode on Apple systems

Well, all these solutions regarding Windows 8 (or 8.1) installation methods in this forum seem to be quite complicated. Here follows my favourite way for installing Windows 8.x on Apple EFI systems.


 

First, once and for all, forget Boot Camp! Because Windows 8 is fully EFI compliant, Boot Camp is totally useless. You only need it to get all the Windows drivers. When using Boot Camp with Windows 8 in EFI mode you get very likely even greater problems. The root of the most Windows 8 install errors reported here is located in Apple’s special "hybrid MBR" GPT layout. Nothing else!


 

So, in consequence, you have just to remove / replace that "hybrid MBR" with a standard GPT "protective MBR". This change will NOT affect OS X or any other OS X program in any way!


1. Use the OS X Disk Utility to create a partition scheme of your wishes.

 

2. Download in OS X the tool "GPT fdisk". Install it and start it in terminal with:

    sudo gdisk /dev/disk0 or sudo gdisk /dev/disk1

 

    Type p to view the partition table (verify that you have selected the right drive)

 

    Type x to enter experts menu

 

    Type n to create a new clean "protective MBR" (GPT fdisk will NOT report any changes)

 

    Type w to save your changes

 

 

3.  Start Windows 8 setup in EFI mode; - switch to "Windows prompt" under "repair tools". Start command diskpart. Check your partition; - select that one with name "EFI". Add the drive letter "b" with the command assign letter=b. (Note, this point is perhaps not needed at some systems.)

 

 

4. Exit diskpart, start again Windows 8 setup installer from prompt with command setup.

 

 

In Windows setup you have now just to format the Windows partition, - the setup installer is now able to update the Apple EFI Boot record properly. You should not get the "Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed." message.

 

 

I can confirm that this install method has worked perfectly for several MacBook, iMac and Macmini computers. Furthermore you should be also able to install Linux smoothly with EFI mode in dual or triple boot configurations. (Don’t know but Linux may have the same troubles like Windows with Apple’s "hybrid MBR" GPT layout.)

 

 

Finally big thanks to Roderick W. Smith for his great GPT fdisk tool!! And also a big thanks to user "riseyth" which has given the diskpart EFI "assign letter =b" hint in this forum. (list of references: http://superuser.com/questions/508026/windows-detects-gpt-disk-as-mbr-in-efi-boo t/508454#508454)

Posted on Apr 16, 2014 11:58 AM

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lion10

Q: The ultimate way to install Windows 8.x in (U)EFI mode on Apple systems

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  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Aug 31, 2015 10:41 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 10:41 PM in response to Loner T

    I have few few questions.

    I have OS 10.10 and windows 10 already installed with bootcamp. Do I need to partition the disk again in step 1?

    In step 2 on which disk I do the sudo command. Below is the structure of the SSD?

    Thank you.

     

     

    This the structure of

    /dev/disk0

       #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER

       0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *512.1 GB   disk0

       1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1

       2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         99.3 GB    disk0s2

       3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk0s3

       4:       Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP                412.0 GB   disk0s4

    /dev/disk1

       #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER

       0:                  Apple_HFS Untitled               *98.9 GB    disk1

                                     Logical Volume on disk0s2

                                     AA65F74F-FF29-407E-B84E-55F4A35C7DFD

                                     Unencrypted

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 4:43 AM in response to Ole_Oie
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
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    Sep 1, 2015 4:43 AM in response to Ole_Oie

    Ole_Oie wrote:

     

    I have few few questions.

    I have OS 10.10 and windows 10 already installed with bootcamp. Do I need to partition the disk again in step 1?

    In step 2 on which disk I do the sudo command. Below is the structure of the SSD?

    Thank you.

    If you already have Windows installed, and it is functional, is there a need to do this at all?

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 6:43 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 6:43 AM in response to Loner T

    It fully functional just the SSD is running in IDE in windows. I would like it to use the AHCI.

     

    It is early 2011 macbook pro. I tried the BOOTICE it installs the AHCI and the SSD goes from 340Mb/s to 560Mb/s, but affects the sleep/wake mode of the windows.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 8:53 AM in response to Ole_Oie
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
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    Sep 1, 2015 8:53 AM in response to Ole_Oie

    Sleep/Wake under Windows is buggy till W10. Even W10 has issues. I suggest that you disable sleep/wake.

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Loner T

    The problem is not in windows. On my mac the wake/ sleep of windows is flawless on 8 and 10. On PC windows 7 has also no issues.

    But the boot camp is creating ****** MBR I guess.

     

    I am hoping that installing it in efi would make things smoother.

     

    I need the sleep/wake its a laptop afterall and would like to have the AHCI also.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 10:02 AM in response to Ole_Oie
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
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    Sep 1, 2015 10:02 AM in response to Ole_Oie

    This seems to be an issue with AHCI drivers. What is the version of the driver?

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 10:30 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 10:30 AM in response to Loner T

    Untitled.png

    As I understand it before windows boots something needs to tell what to use IDE or ACHI.

    http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/tutorial-enable-sata-ahci-mode-in-windows-7- 8-8-1-10.1908034/

     

    The driver that I have is:

    Intel(R) 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 1C01

    service pciide

    Intel 2013

    version 9.2.0.1035

    I guess bootcam (5.1) has installed it. The OS is Yosemite and is updated.

    And no modifications. Clean installs.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Ole_Oie
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    Sep 1, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Ole_Oie

    Can you check Windows Device Manager -> Disks and also check what are the controllers?

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Loner T

    Untitled.jpg

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Ole_Oie
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Ole_Oie

    Controllers are IDE.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 2:06 PM in response to Ole_Oie
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
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    Sep 1, 2015 2:06 PM in response to Ole_Oie

    This is from my rMBP 2013 with W7.

     

    rMBP2013-AHCI-Drivers.PNG

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 2:18 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 2:18 PM in response to Loner T

    Untitled.jpg

     

    You have SSD from apple and your mac is newer.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 2:20 PM in response to Ole_Oie
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    Sep 1, 2015 2:20 PM in response to Ole_Oie

    I have a 2012 13-in MBP which I had put in a 256 840 Pro. I will check, but it also has Windows 7. I will post a screen shot later tonight.

  • by Ole_Oie,

    Ole_Oie Ole_Oie Sep 1, 2015 7:58 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Sep 1, 2015 7:58 PM in response to Loner T

    I followed the steps here to install windows in efi.

    The AHCI is enabled now, the sleep/wake mode is fine.

    But windows says theres no sound card and I istalled the boot camp drivers.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 8:04 PM in response to Ole_Oie
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
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    Sep 1, 2015 8:04 PM in response to Ole_Oie

    EFI mode is not valid for Macs prior to Late 2013 models. The Audio devices are not exposed via EFI on such machines. You may also see GPU issues.

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