I cannot install BOOT CAMP on my Mac Pro (2009)

Hi there! I am trying to install windows 7Ultimate (because that's the only DVD with original copy I have on my own) on my Mac Pro running High Sierra (with all updates on it), 64Gb of memory 4T of hard drive. I have followed many on these explanations here in the community regarding this error that seems it is very common (I had already two other iMacs 27" and MacBook installed Windows 7 without any problem like this one!). I am trying to install Windows without using the BootCamp Assistant because it just gives me the option to download files and nothing else (and still getting that annoying message about the partition).


So I decided to create a partition with 1T for my BootCamp (created many times as ExFat, MS-DOS (FAT32), MacOS journaled non-encrypted) with all the previous types and nothing. When I create the partition and reboot my machine using "OPTION" key down to get access to my bootable DVD the Windows installation disk began but then when I get to the option of which drive to install, tells me an error regarding GPT. I tried to format it (partition 4), and still shows me GPT error. Then went back to TERMINAL and used the disk and disk and got an error on partition 4 as this partition does not exist or it is toot big.


Ok, any help on how to install this W7 Ultimate? I have reinstalled (fresh installation) of the Mac OS X 10.13 already 3 times (as recommended in some of the community feedback)


Thank you.

Mac Pro, macOS 10.13

Posted on Mar 20, 2020 12:24 PM

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Posted on Mar 20, 2020 3:43 PM

A 4T physical disk is not supported for Windows via Bootcamp on a 2009 MP. You need a 2T or smaller physical disk. This is because a 2009 Mac supports only BIOS mode installations using an MBR, which is limited to 32-bit numbers (hence the 2T limit).

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27 replies

Mar 21, 2020 12:24 PM in response to Loner T

Sorry Loner T, you just got me on CoreStorage (I have no idea what is this - my limitation of knowledge). Let me explain what I did so far:

Created partition with 900G, then created another partition with 999G. So remaining is for MacOS (2T).

Then before I tried t install the Windows, I tried the BC Assistant again (it show only the option to remove Windows 7 or 8 - obviously I did not remove it). Then looking to one of your previous post, I used the f disk and g disk recommendations. Ok, I got it thru. on Sudu fdisk /dev/disk0 shows 4 entities, with 1, 2 (with *) and 3 and 4 with 0s. Tried to start with my Windows 7 DVD startup disk, then it did not come up just told me to "click any key to startup from DVD/CD....." my keyboard was not working, rebooted the machine again. Then I went to DiskUtility again and erased the both Windows partition as MS-DOS and tried the Windows 7 DVD again, and same message: "click any key to startup from DVD/CD..." and my keyboard was still frozen. Rebooted the machine again and now I am here completely stuck. I know there must be something small that I am missing all of this, but can't figure it out (even the CSRutil I was able to disable prior using the F/Gdisk).


If it is not too much, could you please guide me on every step of the way? I only need between 0.7~1T for Windows at most anyways.


Thanks.

Mar 22, 2020 2:01 PM in response to Loner T

Lake-Nona-Mac-Pro:~ lakenonapowermac$ diskutil partitionDisk disk0 4 GPT FAT EFI 200MiB EXFAT WINDOWS 999GiB %Apple_Boot% "Recovery HD" 650MB jhfs+ "Macintosh HD" R


FAT does not appear to be a valid file system format or partition type


Use diskutil listFilesystems to view a list of supported file systems





Lake-Nona-Mac-Pro:~ lakenonapowermac$ diskutil list


/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):


   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER


   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *4.0 TB     disk0


   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1


   2:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD            3.0 TB     disk0s2


   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk0s3


   4:                  Apple_HFS Untitled                999.2 GB   disk0s4




Lake-Nona-Mac-Pro:~ lakenonapowermac$ 





OBS: I did not erase the 1T partition for FAT32 yet


Mar 22, 2020 5:57 PM in response to Loner T

diskutil info /


   Device Identifier:        disk0s2


   Device Node:              /dev/disk0s2


   Whole:                    No


   Part of Whole:            disk0




   Volume Name:              Macintosh HD


   Mounted:                  Yes


   Mount Point:              /




   Partition Type:           Apple_HFS


   File System Personality:  Journaled HFS+


   Type (Bundle):            hfs


   Name (User Visible):      Mac OS Extended (Journaled)


   Journal:                  Journal size 311296 KB at offset 0x3a3a000


   Owners:                   Enabled




   OS Can Be Installed:      Yes


   Booter Disk:              disk0s3


   Recovery Disk:            disk0s3


   Media Type:               Generic


   Protocol:                 SATA


   SMART Status:             Verified


   Volume UUID:              BD502E2D-5958-33FE-9F21-699573F3D2E0


   Disk / Partition UUID:    5F4855BA-0957-45C5-808B-6D3DC05BC310


   Partition Offset:         209735680 Bytes (409640 512-Byte-Device-Blocks)




   Disk Size:                3.0 TB (3001577267200 Bytes) (exactly 5862455600 512-Byte-Units)


   Device Block Size:        512 Bytes




   Volume Total Space:       3.0 TB (3001577267200 Bytes) (exactly 5862455600 512-Byte-Units)


   Volume Used Space:        73.5 GB (73505923072 Bytes) (exactly 143566256 512-Byte-Units) (2.4%)


   Volume Free Space:        2.9 TB (2928071344128 Bytes) (exactly 5718889344 512-Byte-Units) (97.6%)


   Allocation Block Size:    8192 Bytes




   Read-Only Media:          No


   Read-Only Volume:         No




   Device Location:          Internal


   Removable Media:          Fixed




   Solid State:              No


   Hardware AES Support:     No


   Device Location:          "Bay 1"



Mar 22, 2020 6:11 PM in response to Loner T

This is the only disk in MC.

The interesting thing is when I partitioned the hard drive in 3 parts before, I was able to at least boot from the Windows DVD and format the partition that I want to install, but then the Windows installation stops.



Also in the last command the partition that I created for the bootcamp (999GiB), this partition does not show up anymore. So, it was unmounted (at least shows that way in the Disk Utility).

Mar 21, 2020 10:21 AM in response to MorcegoVermelho

Let us pick a number less than 2T fo r your Windows installation, let us say 1.9T. When a disk is erased using Disk Utility, the typical size of EFI is 200-300MB, and it is the first partition.


In layout 1, you will have EFI (200-300MB), Windows (1.9T), macOS (3.1T). The Windows FAT/exFAT is created on the disk first and it is the first partition. Remainder is dedicated to macOS.


In layout 2, you will have EFI (200-300MB), macOS (1.9T), Windows (1.9T), macOS-Remainder (200G). The Windows FAT/exFAT is created on the disk second and it is the second partition which starts within the first 2T of the disk. Remainder is dedicated to macOS. You can build a CoreStorage (not APFS) Fusion drive using this layout.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

I cannot install BOOT CAMP on my Mac Pro (2009)

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