Jason Đặng

Q: Unable to install Bootcamp and partition problem

Hello guys, I really need your help. I can't install Windows to Bootcamp partition anymore.

So I did read lot of posts about the partition problem but seems like I can't fix the problem at all and I think my problem is very critical. Here is how things all went wrong:

- I was trying to update OS X version 10.11.5 from the Mac App Store.

- After rebooting my Macbook I got the error message "OS X could no be installed on your computer...".

- I tried to find the solution and I found this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203482

- I did what the website told me, I used Disk Utility to resize the Mac's partition (at that time i was having Windows 10 Bootcamp on my Mac). So the trick did help I was able to update OS X to 10.11.5. After that I had resized the Mac's partition to its normal size. (I was very careful not to touch anything else like Bootcamp)

- The next day I rebooted my Mac to use Windows but from the boot screen i only saw "Macintosh HD", I booted back in OS X and went in setting to set my startup disk as BOOTCAMP, after restarting the black screen said:" No bootable device..."

- I went to the web and find every solution and I have formatted BOOTCAMP partition and erased all of its data, now my Bootcamp Assistant said: "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.". I have tried installing Windows 7 from USB stick, i selected Bootcamp (Partition 4) but now i have this: "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. the selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, windows can only be installed to GPT disks MBR can’t support...."

Now I can't find any way to install back my Windows to the partition, i read on the internet that OS X sees the partition as GPT and Windows sees it as MRB. Here are some pictures may help: Screen Shot 2016-07-08 at 2.58.04 PM.png

 

Screen Shot 2016-07-08 at 2.59.51 PM.png

My Macbook HDD has 3 parts: Macintosh HD (use for OS X), Bootcamp (used for installing Windows), and DATA( use to store large data)

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jul 8, 2016 1:09 AM

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Q: Unable to install Bootcamp and partition problem

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  • Helpful answers

  • by chris_g1,Helpful

    chris_g1 chris_g1 Jul 9, 2016 11:27 PM in response to Jason Đặng
    Community Specialists
    Jul 9, 2016 11:27 PM in response to Jason Đặng

    Hi Jason Dang,

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. What a great way to try and get this issue resolved on your own! The best resolution would be to format the drive outside of the Bootcamp utility. Your drive will need to be formatted using the Recovery partition. Once you format the drive, you will be able to use the Boot Camp assistant to re partition and re install Windows. Please try the link below and select  "Erase a drive and Reinstall OS X"

     

    How to reinstall OS X on your Mac

     

    Restoring your Mac to factory settings should get your Windows installed successfully.

    Have a great day.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 9, 2016 5:28 AM in response to Jason Đặng
    Level 7 (24,419 points)
    Safari
    Jul 9, 2016 5:28 AM in response to Jason Đặng

    The "DATA" partition is not allowed on Macs older than 2012, because Windows uses legacy BIOS/MBR method of installation. There are work arounds. If Windows is installed, any partitioning/resizing can cause boot issues on a Mac, depending on your model.

     

    Please post the output of the following OS X Terminal commands.

     

    diskutil list

    diskutil cs list

  • by Jason Đặng,

    Jason Đặng Jason Đặng Jul 9, 2016 6:42 AM in response to chris_g1
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 9, 2016 6:42 AM in response to chris_g1

    I have reinstalled my OS X via Internet Recovery( erased my HD to make a clean install). My hard drive had only 1 partition. I began to do the Bootcamp step again( I use my USB as an install disk). The process went well until my Mac restarted. My boot screen now has "Macintosh HD","Windows","EFI Boot". Go to "Windows" it gave me "No Bootable device..." message so I go to EFI Boot option. The windows installation showed up and the same error happens again:

    the-selected-disk-has-an-mbr-partition-table-on-efi-systems.gif.jpeg

  • by Jason Đặng,

    Jason Đặng Jason Đặng Jul 9, 2016 6:49 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 9, 2016 6:49 AM in response to Loner T

    Hi Loner T, my Macbook is 13 inch, Mid-2012.

    I did what Chris_g1 told me. I've reinstalled OS X with my Hard Drive wiped fully(1 partition). But the MBR, GPT problem is still there when I try to install Windows with bootcamp(Bootcamp made another partition).

    Here is the output:

    Screen Shot 2016-07-09 at 8.45.31 PM.png

  • by Loner T,Solvedanswer

    Loner T Loner T Jul 9, 2016 10:51 PM in response to Jason Đặng
    Level 7 (24,419 points)
    Safari
    Jul 9, 2016 10:51 PM in response to Jason Đặng

    1. Do not interrupt the installation process.

    2. I suggest using BC Assistant to remove the current BC partition and starting the BCA procedure again.

    3. Please run the following two steps prior to the next attempt of Windows installation.

         Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

         How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Jason Đặng,

    Jason Đặng Jason Đặng Jul 9, 2016 11:26 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 9, 2016 11:26 PM in response to Loner T

    Oh thank you Loner T . Your instruction finally solved my problem ! After resetting the SMC and NVRAM, I booted in to "Windows" this time and the installation opened up instead of the "No bootable device..." message. I selected Partition 4, formatted it, was able to click "next" and installed Windows 10 successfully. Thank you so much.

     

    Can I ask you some additional questions ? :

    - Should I make a "DATA" partition (exFAT) to share files between OS X and Windows? (I'm afraid if I do that Bootcamp will be damaged). Or should I just stick with 2 partitions now ? (I don't know how but when I first bought this Macbook years ago from the old user, somehow he could make 3 partitions: Macintosh, DATA and Bootcamp, i saw that my mac had something like "FUSE..." plug-in in my setting before the full wipe)

    - What if I booted into "EFI Boot" instead of "Windows" ?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 10, 2016 5:50 AM in response to Jason Đặng
    Level 7 (24,419 points)
    Safari
    Jul 10, 2016 5:50 AM in response to Jason Đặng

    I suggest using an external disk for DATA. It is possible to create a third partition, but it needs to be created prior to W10 installation and requires very careful back ups. Your specific model does not natively support UEFI/EFI Boot.

     

    In your W10 installation, can you run msinfo32 and check the installation mode?

  • by Jason Đặng,

    Jason Đặng Jason Đặng Jul 12, 2016 1:59 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 12, 2016 1:59 AM in response to Loner T

    Sorry for the late reply, I had a lot of software to install.

    How can I check the installation mode in W10 installation  ? I tried using cmd.exe by pressing Shift-F10 but I didn't know how. Do you mean System Information in Windows ? Here is the msinfo32 that I opened up:

    Capture.PNG

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 12, 2016 2:36 AM in response to Jason Đặng
    Level 7 (24,419 points)
    Safari
    Jul 12, 2016 2:36 AM in response to Jason Đặng

    In the right-hand pane, BIOS Mode is legacy. You have BIOS Version/Date and SMBIOS version as 2.4. This is a MBR/BIOS installation. I do not recommend creating an additional partition. It is safer to use an external disk.