Bootcamp installation on Big Sur 11.1

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Bootcamp installation on Big Sur 11.1

I have a MacBook Pro A1398. i7 2.5ghz, 500gb SSD, Big Sur V11.1 installed with all updates.

I’m attempting to bootcamp Windows 10 Home on a 128gb created partition on the main volume using Bootcamp assistant.

Downloaded Windows 10 iso from Microsoft website.

Used Bootcamp assistant to create bootcamp USB disk. Usb 16gb capacity formatted with MS-DOS file format (I did previously try exFat as well incase this was a factor).

Decrypted filevault prior to bootcamp. No firmware password on the machine.

BootCamp assistant creates Windows 10 boot usb and then progresses to partition wizard as normal; 128gb windows partition created, machine reboots (boot usb still in machine), but never boots into windows setup, always goes back into Mac Os, where the bootcamp assistant tells me I can remove the partition and start again if I wish, so stuck in a loop every time.

Checked on disk utility and bootcamp partition is showing with correct size, mounted, and 128gb NTFS partition. I don’t see the Bootcamp partition through the Startup disk option and pressing ALT on startup only gives me the MAC OS and I’m presuming the Windows USB boot device, which gives me the ‘non system disk’ error and to reboot.

I have read on similar articles even on this community that Big Sur has issues with installing Bootcamp, but have been unable to find one that specifically says that it never manages to get to Windows Setup. Is this something that Apple are still planning to address in an update or is there a workaround? Thanks in advance.

Diskutil list on my machine is as follows, and all looks normal as far as my knowledge goes:

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *500.3 GB disk0

1: EFI ⁨EFI⁩ 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk1⁩ 372.0 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data ⁨BOOTCAMP⁩ 128.1 GB disk0s3

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +372.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD - Data⁩ 23.0 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume ⁨Preboot⁩ 317.9 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume ⁨Recovery⁩ 1.1 GB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume ⁨VM⁩ 1.1 GB disk1s4

5: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD⁩ 15.0 GB disk1s5

6: APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.0 GB disk1s5s1

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jan 10, 2021 4:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

paul_smith30 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 14, 2021 2:35 PM in response to Loner T

Hello Loner T. That was the issue. The USB being used was a USB 3.0 device. Managed to get hold of a USB 2.0 and installed. What is the reason why USB 3 will not work?

The Windows Assistant still didn't start up automatically however, had to 'alt' on startup and this time I could select EFI boot and Windows 10 installed without any issue.

Thank you for your assistance on this, it's really appreciated.

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 1, 2021 4:26 PM in response to SunDevil_TX

EFI Boot is a very different animal from the legacy BIOS boot. If you can find a different USB2.0 Flash drive, we can test it. I recommend a Sony/Lexar/SanDisk. I have had issues with several other name brands.

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 1, 2021 12:35 PM in response to SunDevil_TX

Your drive should be a USB2.0. USB3 will not work. However, not all USB2 flash drives support booting off of them. If you use Alt/Option and and are unable to see and/or select the Windows installer, I suggest you find a different USB2.0 Brand/model.

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Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 10, 2021 6:52 AM in response to paul_smith30

A1398 (https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=a1398) is used for Macs across multiple years. Click on About This Mac and post the year/model (not the serial number). There are known issues with Big Sur and BC Assistant. Also, Bootcamp UI varies with Mac models (Bootcamp User Interface - Apple Community).

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 23, 2021 2:05 PM in response to jasonfweb

Disconnect the USB, run SMC and NVRAM Reset, connect the USB, and re-run BC Assistant to try and install Windows.

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Answer 6

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 10, 2021 8:19 AM in response to paul_smith30

My assumption is that your 2014 MBP has dual-GPU configuration (Intel and nVidia). On your MBP, you will need to follow Install Windows on your older Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support. The 128Gb disk0s3 is the Windows installation destination. The USB2 Flash drive that BC Assistant builds using Create+Download is the Windows installer.

If you already have built the USB2 Installer, then disconnect all external peripherals, run a SMC and NVRAM Reset, connect the USB2 Flash drive Windows installer, choose only the Install option and follow the prompts.

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 14, 2021 4:21 PM in response to paul_smith30

paul_smith30 wrote:

What is the reason why USB 3 will not work?

There are no USB3 drivers in the Windows installer. The USB3 drivers are installed when the Bootcamp drivers are installed.

The Windows Assistant still didn't start up automatically however, had to 'alt' on startup and this time I could select EFI boot and Windows 10 installed without any issue.

Excellent!

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 11, 2021 3:11 PM in response to paul_smith30

Connect the USB, and check About This Mac -> System Report -> USB -> [Your USB] and check the speed. If it is not 480Mbps, your USB will not work.

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 11, 2021 2:33 PM in response to faris206

faris206 wrote:

i'm having the same issue, did you have any luck to solve it?

If you can, try to downgrade to macOS Catalina and install Windows.

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Answer 10

paul_smith30 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 10, 2021 7:31 AM in response to paul_smith30

Just for completeness, I've included what is currently displayed in the 'info' tab in the Bootcamp 128gb partition. Everything looks fine to me about from 'Bootable' being 'No', is that normal? I haven't checked my older 2008 Macbook for this option.

Volume name : BOOTCAMP

Volume type : Physical Volume

BSD device node : disk0s3

Mount point : /Volumes/BOOTCAMP

File system : Windows NT File System (NTFS)

Connection : PCI

Device tree path : IODeviceTree:/PCI0@0/RP05@1C,4/SSD0@0/PRT0@0/PMP@0

Writable : No

Is case-sensitive : No

Volume capacity : 128,067,829,760

Available space (Purgeable + Free) : 127,996,346,368

Purgeable space : 0

Free space : 127,996,346,368

Used space : 71,483,392

File count : 15

Owners enabled : No

Is encrypted : No

System Integrity Protection supported : No

Can be verified : No

Can be repaired : No

Bootable : No

Journaled : No

Disk number : 0

Partition number : 3

Media name :

Media type : Generic

Ejectable : No

Solid state : Yes

SMART status : Not Supported

Parent disks : disk0

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Answer 11

paul_smith30 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 10, 2021 7:22 AM in response to Loner T

Ah sorry about that, it's a Mid 2014 Retina, thanks for the reply. Yes I have read the issues regarding Big Sur, but none yet exactly what I experience. I have installed Bootcamp on a few machines now between home and work (on older OSx systems) and after a few glitches regarding getting all the Windows drivers to work, has been quite straight forward.

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.5 Mid-2014 (IG)

Intro.July 29, 2014Disc.May 19, 2015OrderBTO/CTOModelA1398 (EMC 2876)FamilyRetina Mid-2014 15"IDMacBookPro11,2RAM16 GBVRAM1.5 GB*Storage256 GB SSDOpticalNone*

The Bootcamp assistance version is listed as: Version 6.1.0 (6272.60.3)

This is the version that has all three options listed: 'Create a Windows 10 or later install disk' / Download the latest Windows support / and the 'Create'/'Remove Windows 10 or later.

I had hoped that the 'BOOTCAMP⁩ 128.1 GB disk0s3' being created who stimulate the correct reboot into the Windows setup assistant but it just seems to ignore it as it if isn't there.

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Answer 12

paul_smith30 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 11, 2021 9:40 AM in response to Loner T

Yes, did all the SMC and NVRAM resets, literally in that order and inserted the USB Flash Drive into after the second chime following the NVRAM, sadly same result.

Is it possible that it could be down to the USB Flash Drive itself? I haven't managed to try a second USB up to this point, its the only thing that I can imagine is proving to a bit a factor. Thanks for the assistance up to this point.

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Answer 13

paul_smith30 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 11, 2021 1:18 PM in response to Loner T

Selecting the Windows USB just brings up the 'No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key' error. It seems strange that the 'Bootcamp' partition is reported in Diskutil and can be seen in Disk Utility, with 70mb reported as being used, but always goes for the Mac bootloader.

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Answer 14

Feb 1, 2021 11:41 AM in response to paul_smith30

I have exactly the same Mac (15 Retina Mid 2014) and exact same problem when trying to install Windows 10. But my USB flash drive is USB 2.0 (Diesel OC2 16 GB). I have been trying to get it working for a couple of days. Very frustrating. Really regret I upgraded to Big Sur.

I did all the reset I can do. What else? Any other suggestions?

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Answer 15

Feb 1, 2021 1:47 PM in response to Loner T

Thank you for the quick reply, Loner! I will try to order a different USB 2.0 flash drive. I did try to use Alt/Option and I see exact boot up option (paul's screenshoot), I tried to select that and I got 'No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key'.

I tried the same flash drive on a newer MacBook pro and it is working (showing as EFI Boot). So I still highly doubt a different flash drive would work for me. I felt Big Sur has bug when dealing with order MacBook Pros. I will update back once I get the new flash drive.

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Bootcamp installation on Big Sur 11.1

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