Bootcamp and "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one . . ."

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Level 1

10 points

Bootcamp and "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one . . ."

While using Boot Camp Assistant [version 6.1.0] on a 2015 Intel based 256GB MacBook Pro [using Mac OS 11.4 Big Sur] to install Windows 10 Pro I obtained the following error from the Windows Installer: "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one. For more information, see the Setup log files." An image of one of my many attempts to overcome this is below.

1. As this is a Windows issue I normally would not bother an Apple community board about it. However the creation of the Bootcamp partition [to install Windows onto] is a Boot Camp Assistant function in size, location and format.

2. I have no idea where to find the "Setup log files" or how to access them in the middle of a Windows installation procedure. Even if I did find them would I understand them?

3. From the image below the BOOTCAMP partition appears to be present and at least 128GB as required. I can understand that the installer can't create a new partition because there is no more room left the 250GB drive to create it. Yet I can't understand why it can't locate it when it is clearly labelled "BOOTCAMP". Possibly it is not in the correct format?

4. I haven't installed Windows for many months but when doing it before I seemed to recall the Bootcamp partition was on partition 4, not 3 as in the image below.

5. I was able to back out of the screen and eventually use Bootcamp Assistant to restore the partition back to MacOS so it is recoverable from. Each time you try to use Boot Camp Assistant to do an install like this it downloads about 1.5GB of support software so after many attempts I'm getting a bit peeved at using about using half of my monthly internet download allowance.

6. I can "crowbar" my way past this screen below by using Delete and New buttons [maybe Format also] and Windows does install and appear to work correctly. Experience has taught me however that this is just creating more complex future problems for myself. When I returned to MacOS the Windows volume was referred to as "Untitled" and one of the normally hidden Mac system volumes was present on my Mac desktop also. Worse still Boot Camp Assistant didn't do the restore correctly.

7. I decided to wipe my SSD drive completely [the accessible portion of course] and reinstalled MacOS from scratch so I have a fresh system which is what I'm using now. Before trying again with Boot Camp Assistant I want to see if anyone on the community board knows what is causing this error message.

8. My previous fully working configuration left 100GB for MacOS and the rest went to Windows. I have tried to install Windows many times leaving the following left over for the Bootcamp partition 131GB, 137GB, 159GB, 171GB.

9. Also, I can't use the manual method for older Macs because Boot Camp Assistant on my newer Mac tells me to remove any USB drives.

Please help! [Image attached]

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Jun 28, 2021 11:40 PM

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Answer 1

brain_dead Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 1, 2021 3:51 PM in response to barberlives123

Hi barberlives123,

Thank you for acknowledging my reply and Apple Support will not now be needed. The good news is it worked this time as shown by the latest printout below.

diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *251.0 GB disk0

1: EFI ⁨EFI⁩ 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk1⁩ 104.0 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data ⁨BOOTCAMP⁩ 146.8 GB disk0s4

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +104.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD - Data⁩ 19.4 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume ⁨Preboot⁩ 282.5 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume ⁨Recovery⁩ 622.9 MB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume ⁨VM⁩ 1.1 MB disk1s4

5: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD 15.3 GB disk1s5

6: APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.3 GB disk1s5s1

The window where the error message came up still appeared but when I pressed "Next" it went through without any error. I took a picture of the window in question below and I was interested to find that there are now 4 partitions! Partition 1 EFI [Extensible Firmware Interface] was missing when I was getting the error messages in this window. The error message makes sense if Windows can't get to the EFI partition. Windows would not be able to find or create any partitions! However, if the EFI partition were actually missing I don't believe I'd even be able to boot any OSs even MacOS. So I don't think the EFI partition was actually missing but for some reason Windows could not see it.

In future if only 3 partitions come up in this window I won't press "Next" but will back-out and try to workout why the EFI partition is missing. I might not ever get to the bottom this but this might help another investigator.

Windows has booted up several times OK now. So the issue is not yet fully solved but it is no longer a problem for me.

Thank you for your assistance. [Picture attached below]

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Answer 2

Jun 30, 2021 7:37 AM in response to brain_dead

Hey there brain_dead,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. We understand you’re having some issues using Boot Camp to install Windows. We’ll be happy to provide some assistance with this.

It does appear there is an existing Boot Camp partition. Have you tried booting into that partition? If not, do so and see if Windows is still running with the steps here:

Restart your Mac in macOS or Windows

You may also want to review the steps in this link as they will guide you on what to do when you see that specific error message related to partitioning your device:

If Boot Camp Assistant says that your disk could not be partitioned

Go through this article as well. It covers a lot of helpful info when running into issues while setting up Windows using Boot Camp:

Troubleshoot Boot Camp Assistant problems on Mac

Take care.

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Answer 3

brain_dead Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2021 11:12 PM in response to barberlives123

Hi barberlives123,

Thanks for your reply. In relation to your many suggestions I'll number them starting from "10". Where I refer to a number "1" thru "9" please see my original posting.

10. In "7" I mentioned I've wiped my previous bootcamp installation attempts. Referring to your reference HT208123, right now when I use "Option (or Alt) ⌥ key as your Mac begins to restart", I only see one bootable drive; which is my Mac OS startup volume. I can't boot into another partition at the moment. When I next try a new bootcamp installation I'll see if I can do as you suggested.

11. To ensure you understand my current pre-bootcamp installation configuration the following is a printout of the "diskutil list" command using the Terminal app. Actually I use a different volume name than "Macintosh HD" but all the other details are correct. I don't like to broadcast the volume names on my system.

diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *251.0 GB disk0

1: EFI ⁨EFI⁩ 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk1⁩ 250.8 GB disk0s2

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +250.8 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD - Data⁩ 13.3 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume ⁨Preboot⁩ 282.5 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume ⁨Recovery⁩ 622.9 MB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume ⁨VM⁩ 1.1 MB disk1s4

5: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD 15.3 GB disk1s5

6: APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.3 GB disk1s5s1

12. Referring to your reference HT209102, to me the Bootcamp Assistant error message in quotes appears different to what I am getting even though they both relate to partitioning. Nevertheless I take you suggestion in running first aid in Disk Utility.

13. I don't use automatic backups in Time Machine I do all my backups manually.

14. Referring to the article "Troubleshoot Boot Camp Assistant problems on Mac" I spent some time going over this. Most of it relates to after Windows has fully booted up which I'm not up to. In relation to the sub-article "If Boot Camp Assistant stops responding or says that Boot Camp installation failed", I normally get Boot Camp Assistant to restore things back to normal after a failed installation and usually it goes well. I am a bit reluctant to delete partitions manually as I have found in the past that not much intelligence is programmed into automated installation procedures; if some file, folder, volume, etc is not exactly where it is suppose to be the procedure often "throws the towel in!" It is only after Boot Camp Assistant has done all it can will I attempt to repair things.

15. I haven't got any other replies to this issue so I'm going to attempt a new bootcamp installation tomorrow and see how it goes. Maybe having this fresh installation will be all that it needs!

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

Jul 1, 2021 7:10 AM in response to brain_dead

Hey brain_dead,

Thanks for the update and including all those details. Based off all the info you’ve provided, you may want to reach out to Apple Support if a new Boot Camp setup doesn’t resolve this. They can look into this with you in further detail and see what’s going on. You can use this link to reach out:

Contact Apple Support

Kind regards.

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Bootcamp and "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one . . ."

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