hodsonus

Q: "Missing Operating System" Error

     Hello all. I am attempting to dual boot a late 2013 macbook pro with windows 10 and el capitan. I need to be able to run windows 10 to use certain programs required by my university. I have actually been able to setup my computer fully, so that it is working on both partitions perfectly, but within a few days the windows partition seems to fail. This has happened three times now, and with each failure I have completely wiped the partition and started from scratch. The error I receive seems to be completely random, and occurs when I turn my computer off, turn it on, and try to boot the "Windows" partition. It reads "Missing Operating System _".

     To install Windows 10 to begin with, I used the boot camp assistant tool to make a partition of 100GB out of my 500GB drive. I went through the process in boot camp and created a bootable usb from the windows 10 iso image. I booted from the USB, and installed windows and everything was working perfectly. I did have to delete the partition that the boot camp assistant created and create a new one from the unallocated space on my hard drive with the usb boot because it would not allow me to install windows on the partition that boot camp originally created. I installed all the drivers through the bootcamp tool that popped up once windows 10 was installed and everything was all good. I performed all of the updates to Windows 10 through the settings and then I performed all of the app updates through the store. I installed about 4 basic applications; this includes chrome, iTunes, and uTorrent.

     There seems to be no problems with my el capitan partition whatsoever, and I have been completely unable to find anything on the internet to help me with this problem. I have chatted with both microsoft support and apple support. I was told that "It seems that the operating system on the Windows side is having an issue staying setup and that is causing the issue" by apple support. I was also told by the microsoft that "maybe microsoft and apple cannot work together in one machine :-)".

 

     Any help at this point would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

          John

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Windows 10 as well

Posted on Jul 12, 2016 9:12 PM

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Q: "Missing Operating System" Error

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  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 16, 2016 5:32 PM in response to hodsonus
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Jul 16, 2016 5:32 PM in response to hodsonus

    I had previously mentioned the two modes of installation - BIOS/MBR vs EFI/GPT. Your installer was asked to start in BIOS mode, but your disk is GPT and these two methods are mutually exclusive.

     

    EFI/GPT has advantages over BIOS/MBR in terms of partitioning and expandability. Specifically on 2013 models, the USB Installer has both options.

     

    The output of Fdisk command you have posted earlier was for a BIOS/MBR installation. My recommendation is to install using EFI/GPT. It will require

     

    1. Cancelling this installation.

    2. Resetting SMC/NVRAM

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

         How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

    3. Erasing the current BC partition to be Free Space.

         diskutil eraseVolume free free disk0s4

         Do not run this command more than once and it will return an error because Free Space has associated disk.

    4. Booting from the USB using Alt/Option key and choosing EFI Boot from USB and the Free Space from step 3.

     

    The Free Space will be split into MSR (Microsoft Reserved) and MSD (Microsoft Data) by the EFI Installer.

  • by hodsonus,

    hodsonus hodsonus Jul 16, 2016 5:37 PM in response to hodsonus
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 16, 2016 5:37 PM in response to hodsonus

    how likely was it that the deleting of the partition caused the error? I have been able to bypass this error in the past by deleting and recreating the partition. could it be the automatic windows updates? or should I try another solution to bypass this error?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 16, 2016 5:50 PM in response to hodsonus
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Jul 16, 2016 5:50 PM in response to hodsonus

    It is hard to tell now. Your BCD can be in the Bootcamp partition or the Mac's EFI partition. I have seen quite a few cases where El Capitan (or future upgrades) change the EFI partition, which is being detected as BCD corruption by Windows.

     

    Your deletion/recreation process can leave a conflict between NVRAM and the Installer, which can lead to future complications. Windows installation requires 4-5 reboots, this 'state' is managed in the NVRAM and conflicts can lead to some very strange results. For example, I have seen W10 say it is (u)EFI, but there is a MBR on the same disk.

     

    You have used this approach and found corruption eventually. EFI and (CSM-)BIOS discover devices differently, which can lead to driver database issues and possible corruption of Windows Registry.

     

    Can you try the method that I have suggested and monitor it? Worst case scenario is that you will have to install W10.

     

    If you want to use the legacy method, GPT Fdisk can be used to create a MBR and work around this error message as well.

  • by hodsonus,

    hodsonus hodsonus Jul 16, 2016 10:33 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 16, 2016 10:33 PM in response to Loner T

    Sorry, as you have been probably been able to tell by now, I am very inexperienced in this field. When I go to my boot menu, I have several options. There are two options from my USB boot, "Windows" and "EFI Boot." Both of these options lead to installation of Windows 10. I assume that you wanted me to go through this process with the EFI Boot option, is that correct? I was able to install Windows through this boot option without deleting the partition, but formatting it.

     

    John

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 17, 2016 6:30 AM in response to hodsonus
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Jul 17, 2016 6:30 AM in response to hodsonus

    hodsonus wrote:

     

    Sorry, as you have been probably been able to tell by now, I am very inexperienced in this field.

    No worries. You are doing swimmingly.

     

    When I go to my boot menu, I have several options. There are two options from my USB boot, "Windows" and "EFI Boot." Both of these options lead to installation of Windows 10. I assume that you wanted me to go through this process with the EFI Boot option, is that correct? I was able to install Windows through this boot option without deleting the partition, but formatting it.

     

    Choosing EFI boot was the correct next step. After W10 was installed and BC drivers were installed, did you create a Windows System Restore point? If not, I suggest you do, before you allow the Mac to connect to the network.

  • by hodsonus,

    hodsonus hodsonus Jul 17, 2016 2:14 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 17, 2016 2:14 PM in response to Loner T

    I have already connected to the internet and installed all the updates through the settings and updated all the apps through the store. I have booted in/out of windows ~10 times with no problems so far. It seems that the issues that I was having earlier are gone now, I'm not completely too sure though. I would guess that it is too late to create a restore point now?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 17, 2016 2:17 PM in response to hodsonus
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Jul 17, 2016 2:17 PM in response to hodsonus

    No, it is not too late to create one now. Since W10 is stable and working now, a Restore point would help if you have future issues.

  • by hodsonus,

    hodsonus hodsonus Jul 17, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 17, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Loner T

    Would it be best to create a restore point through the windows settings or to use a program like clonezilla or winclone?

  • by hodsonus,

    hodsonus hodsonus Jul 17, 2016 3:18 PM in response to hodsonus
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 17, 2016 3:18 PM in response to hodsonus

    I would prefer to use a free application if possible.

  • by Loner T,Solvedanswer

    Loner T Loner T Jul 17, 2016 3:35 PM in response to hodsonus
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Jul 17, 2016 3:35 PM in response to hodsonus

    A Windows System Restore point is not the same as a backup. Winclone will give you a backup, while a Restore point is closer to a snapshot.

     

    Please see

     

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/instantanswers/e6bbddb0-9db4-4d88-9063-42c52 c79a96e/create-a-system-restore-point

    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa378910(v=vs.85).aspx

     

    Clonezilla would also work, but it will clone the entire disk.

  • by hodsonus,

    hodsonus hodsonus Jul 17, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 17, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Loner T

    I've created a system restore point and plan to use winclone to create a backup of my partition. I'll come back if I have anymore trouble. I appreciate all the help.

     

    John

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