Level 1

8 points

Unable to install Windows 10

I have a late 2014 iMac and have been trying to install Windows on it.

Bootcamp wouldn't make a bootable USB with the October 2018 update, but it did with the April 2018 update. Everything seems to work fine until it reboots and tries to restart in Windows. I just get the SYSTEM_SERVCIES_EXCEPTION stop code with "What failed: win32kfull.sys"

I have also tried to reboot by pressing the option key on startup. When I choose the "EFI" option, it gives me the same BSOD. When I choose "Windows" it takes me to Windows setup but it tells me that the partition is the wrong format, and that it's a GPT partition. I can format the drive to NFTS, but the GPT error remains.

I've tried erasing and remaking the partition without bootcamp, but it doesn't work.

Any thoughts or solutions?

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 25, 2019 9:58 AM

Top-ranking reply

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Posted on May 26, 2019 8:34 PM

Download and install GPT FDisk from https://sourceforge.net/projects/gptfdisk/ .

Rebuild MBR to match the new GPT information thus resetting the Hybrid MBR. Use defaults for other questions (like partition codes). The only values that need modifications are the Boot flags and step 10. Accept all other defaults that Gdisk offers. Please see thesample Q&A as an example. These steps can be repeated if you make a mistake before you get to Step 12, otherwise start from Step 1 for these steps. Step 6 has numbers which are typed with a space between the numbers. Please see the sample Q&A before you execute these steps.

Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0
P (Print list of parts)
R (Recover)
O (print current Hybrid MBR)
H (chooses Hybrid)
Partitions numbers to be hybridized: 2 3
Y (Good for GRUB question)
N (part 2 boot flag)
Y (part 3 boot flag make NTFS bootable partition)
O (print current Hybrid MBR)
W (Write the new MBR)
Y (Yes! write the new MBR)
Reboot

Here is sample Q&A for this section. Please notice the Press Enter/Return.

Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): Y

Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

Enter an MBR hex code (default AF): Press Enter/Return

Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N

Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

Enter an MBR hex code (default 07): Press Enter/Return

Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): Y

Test 1 - Does Bootcamp Volume show up in Finder?

Test 2 - Can you see files in Bootcamp Volume?

Test 3 - Can you select Bootcamp in System Preferences -> Startup Disk?

Test 4 - If Test 3 is successful, select Bootcamp and Click Restart.

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73 replies

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 27, 2019 6:49 AM in response to Ananbe

Multiple W10 ISO causing BSODs, points to other causes.

What brand/model is your USB2 Flash drive?
What is the GPU on your iMac?
If Windows was previously installed, do you know if it was installed on a pre-Mojave macOS version? Mojave has EFI updates bundled as part of the macOS update.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 27, 2019 10:22 AM in response to Ananbe

The AMD GPU is the most likely one causing issues. I have stayed with Sierra on this specific iMac model, partly due to APFS Fusion.

Do you want to consider falling back to Sierra, because High Sierra and Mojave both have APFS.

Ananbe Author

Level 1

8 points

May 24, 2019 8:22 PM in response to Loner T

Ok I've installed it. I wasn't sure if you meant GPT fdisk or not.

I'm just curious. Is this really a good idea? It seems like it'll be a downgrade to go from GPT to MBR. I don't know why I couldn't install windows before with EFI and GPT. Do you have an idea why?

Ananbe Author

Level 1

8 points

May 26, 2019 8:11 PM in response to Loner T

gpt show: /dev/disk1: mediasize=1000204886016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1953525168

gpt show: /dev/disk1: Suspicious MBR at sector 0

gpt show: /dev/disk1: Pri GPT at sector 1

gpt show: /dev/disk1: Sec GPT at sector 1953525167

start size index contents

0 1 MBR

1 1 Pri GPT header

2 32 Pri GPT table

34 6

40 409600 1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

409640 1370079192 2 GPT part - 7C3457EF-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1370488832 583034880 3 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

1953523712 1423

1953525135 32 Sec GPT table

1953525167 1 Sec GPT header

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 29, 2019 8:53 PM in response to Ananbe

Your GPT is fine.

The problem is due to the entry at MBR 4. Since GPT FDisk is no longer available, we can destroy the existing GPT (which also removes the MBR), rebuild the GPT and try to boot normally. Once it boots normally, then rebuild the MBR correctly.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 30, 2019 3:14 AM in response to Ananbe

Ananbe wrote:

What's the best way to remove the GPT and rebuild it?

Let us do the Internet Recovery method. In IR, click on Utilities -> Terminal.

Destroy the current GPT
- diskutil unmountDisk disk0
- sudo gpt destroy /dev/disk0
Create an empty GPT
- sudo gpt create -f /dev/disk0
Add GPT entries in sequence, and unmount as necessary.
EFI
- diskutil unmountDisk disk0
- sudo gpt add -i 1 -b 40 -s 409600 -t efi /dev/disk0
macOS
- diskutil unmountDisk disk0
- sudo gpt add -i 2 -b 409640 -s 1370079192 -t apfs /dev/disk0
Bootcamp
- diskutil unmountDisk disk0
- sudo gpt add -i 3 -b 1370488832 -s 583034880 -t windows /dev/disk0
Post the output of
- sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0
- diskutil list

For rebuilding the MBR, would I just be doing what you wrote before with GPT Fdisk?

Yes, but not say 'y' to the additional space question. GPT to MBR is a 1:1 mapping.

Ananbe Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 25, 2019 4:48 PM in response to Loner T

Yes. 10.14

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 26, 2019 7:59 PM in response to Ananbe

The newer builds have more issues. I recommend trying 1607 and older builds, till you find a working one from http://windowsiso.net .

Ananbe Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 27, 2019 10:08 AM in response to Loner T

USB: SanDisk Cruzer Glide SDCZ60 32 GB

GPU: AMD Radeon R9 M290X 2 GB

Windows was previously installed a long time ago, long before Mojave. From my memory, it was probably on El Capitan or Sierra.

Ananbe Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 27, 2019 10:42 AM in response to Loner T

Sure.

Would I be able to install Sierra, install Windows (assuming it works), then upgrade to Mojave again? Or would I have to stay on Sierra for Windows to continue to work?

Ananbe Author

Level 1

8 points

May 21, 2019 7:37 AM in response to Loner T

I can see the folders but no files in Finder.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 27, 2019 10:35 AM in response to Ananbe

This is incorrect.

You should not have the fourth entry.
Entry 2 cannot be HFS+. Did you manually enter ‘AF’ for entry 2? You should use the default value.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

May 28, 2019 3:13 AM in response to Ananbe

We will need to rebuild the GPT using gpt commands in Recovery under Utilities -> Terminal. What are the disk numbers for each of the internal disks in Recovery?

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Unable to install Windows 10