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Ewan Murray
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Q: Failed Bootcamp Windows Installation - MacBook will not restart

I have recently set up a new bootcamp partition and tried to install windows xp pro. When windows tried to install it failed to find the new partition and I had to cancel the installation. Now my MacBook will not restart - I'm getting a black screen with a horizontal curser and nothing else. If I try and restart with the windows disk in I get asked if I want to boot using the CD, though the keyboard isn't working so I can't do anything here either. It looks to me like the macbook is still stuck in windows.

A:How do I restart my macbook again to get my Mac OS back.
B:Any idea why my new bootcamp partition isn't appearing.

Using macbook with SL10.6.2

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 29, 2009 4:24 AM

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Ewan Murray

Q: Failed Bootcamp Windows Installation - MacBook will not restart

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  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Dec 29, 2009 5:50 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 5:50 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    When you cancel during install, you need to boot from OS X DVD or external drive with OS X installed. And you made need to use that backup you were 'asked' to create before starting.

    Eject the CD and insert Mac DVD.

  • by Doctor Pangloss,

    Doctor Pangloss Doctor Pangloss Dec 29, 2009 8:30 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 8:30 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    Have you tried holding the option key down during startup? When you launch a Windows install from Boot Camp it will default to booting into Windows to facilitate installation.

    Holding the option key down should allow you to select OS X and from there you can pick OS X in Startup Disk

  • by Ewan Murray,

    Ewan Murray Ewan Murray Dec 29, 2009 11:22 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 11:22 AM in response to The hatter
    This isn't working I'm afraid. When I use the OSX DVD, after taking a few minutes to load, it goes straight the to install OSX select language screen. The next screen asks for a target disk to install to - and no target disk is available to select - the screen is blank! There are no other options available.

  • by Ewan Murray,

    Ewan Murray Ewan Murray Dec 29, 2009 11:23 AM in response to Doctor Pangloss
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 11:23 AM in response to Doctor Pangloss
    Tried using the option key on startup - only choice of OS I get is windows!

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Dec 29, 2009 12:31 PM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 12:31 PM in response to Ewan Murray
    There is a Utility menu you can access also, before you choose and click on Install. That is what I wanted you to do.

  • by icedeer,

    icedeer icedeer Dec 29, 2009 12:53 PM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 12:53 PM in response to Ewan Murray
    I have the exactly same issue. Have you figure it out way back to Mac OS wihtout destroying the whole disk? I am worry about losing my mac data.

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Dec 29, 2009 12:54 PM in response to icedeer
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 12:54 PM in response to icedeer
    Step #1 before even using Boot Camp Assistant: use TimeMachine or Apple Restore to clone and backup! (read the pdf guide and FAQ for Boot Camp)

  • by icedeer,

    icedeer icedeer Dec 29, 2009 2:19 PM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2009 2:19 PM in response to Ewan Murray
    I know. Just I don't have second drive, so didn't turn on the timemachine.

    However, I thought BootCamp should have basic machinism to prevent this from the first place (partitioning with 32GB, but under window installation process, it couldn't find that partition, no way back?)?

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Dec 30, 2009 7:42 AM in response to icedeer
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Dec 30, 2009 7:42 AM in response to icedeer
    When Boot Camp Asst fails:
    http://www.macgeekery.com/tips/troubleshooting/whenthe_boot_camp_assistantfails

    Backups aren't just an option
    And a bootable 2nd drive or media, and not just your OS X DVD, is an essential to a healthy system to run Mac OS.

    Boot Camp Asst. is not a solid partitioning tool, and is a one-trick pony at best that can only take a slice of free space. What I'd like is to see its feature rolled into Disk Utility itself, where it rightfully belongs probably!

  • by icedeer,

    icedeer icedeer Dec 30, 2009 8:34 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2009 8:34 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    Thanks "The Hatter" for your all responses.

    In my case, my iMac has 450G harddrive and has 130G freespace. During BootCamp assisstant process, I selected the 32G option.

    When got into the XP setup window, it shows only one partition available which is "C: Partition1 [Unknown] 130G". I stopped here then since it didn't show the correct size and didn't show<BootCamp> neither.

    However, I want to know if I have a little chance here, since it didn't display the whole harddrive 450G, but shows only 130G, would it be possible that if I continue select the "C" and finish the installation. It will use the whole freespace as window partition but not touch my MacOS? Please advise.

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Dec 30, 2009 8:47 AM in response to icedeer
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Dec 30, 2009 8:47 AM in response to icedeer
    Some version/copies of XP actually don't work, not sure why. You were lucky in that some will just go straight into install of Windows without stopping to ask WHERE.

    I'd boot from another Mac OS drive or DVD and inspect and repair your drive first, before doing more.

    There should be:

    GPT 200MB
    Mac OS X 300GB?
    EFI 128MB
    FAT BOOTCAMP 32GB

    ... something like that.

  • by icedeer,

    icedeer icedeer Dec 30, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Ewan Murray
    I see. Thanks and I will try to find another XP and give a try.

    I am planning to buy another MacBook Pro. If I have two Mac, can it help to save my existing iMac drive? I have more than 100G pictures and I will try all to not lose it.

  • by Bosco836,

    Bosco836 Bosco836 Jan 1, 2010 7:22 PM in response to icedeer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 1, 2010 7:22 PM in response to icedeer
    If you have another mac, you can try connecting a firewire cable between the two of them. On the broken mac, when you go to turn it on, hold down the "t" key (no quotes). This will attempt to put the Mac into target disc mode; thus, allowing it to mount as an external drive on your other (working) mac.