Windows 7 install partition problem

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Windows 7 install partition problem

Been struggling to get Windows 7 Pro installed on the MacPro using Boot Camp. Here is my problem. After creating the partition using Boot Camp and inserting the Windows Install DVD in the drive. Windows install completes it's copying and asks where do you want to install the OS. Nothing shows up in the partition. It's blank. Windows can't find the partition that Boot Camp created. I've found a few blogs that says you have to format the partition as NTFS. Where do I go to do this? I've used a third party utility to format it as NTFS, but the windows install still can't find the partition. I'm beginning to think this is a bug in Boot Camp.

MacPro

Posted on Feb 25, 2011 10:40 AM

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Answer 1

satcomer

Level 4

1,545 points

Feb 25, 2011 6:58 PM in response to DWS123

When I create my Windows 7 partition (for work related) I just put another drive in my Mac and formatted that blank drive for NTFS using the Windows 7 disk. Windows 7 then installed just fine and upon the first boot I use the 10.6 disk to install the Boot Camp drivers.

The Boot Camp program in OS X is just a partitioning program. Since Microsoft doesn't license out the specs for NTFS Apple can only format in FAT.

If the partition is not recognized delete the Boot Camp partition and the repair you disk and then try to Boot Camp partition it again.

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Answer 2

DWS123 Author

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Feb 28, 2011 7:07 AM in response to satcomer

Thanks for replying. I've done that as well. I have two drives in the system. I partition the first drive for the mac and the second for windows7. Install Mac OS X 10.6. Used Boot Camp to create the boot process for Windows7. When it launches the windows install, it couldn't find either the second drive or the Boot Camp partition. I've looked and it says that in order to install Windows 7, I need to use Boot Camp 3.1. Is that for Mac or windows? And where do you get the upgrade to Boot Camp 3.1? Can't find it on Mac's download site.

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 28, 2011 7:46 AM in response to DWS123

What the reply above though is saying is to remove Mac OS also. Windows sees your OS X drive with GPT and that prevents installing.

You don't need Boot Camp Assistant. Just use Windows DVD.

Boot Camp 3 is on your OS X DVD but can only be accessed from inside Windows, they are .exe application files. After 3.0, you can manually download or use ASU in Windows to get 3.1/3.2

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Answer 4

DWS123 Author

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Feb 28, 2011 8:20 AM in response to The hatter

This might be a dumb question, but what is GPT and how do I go around it? Is there a way to format the first drive or second drive as NTFS without the GPT? The only option here is the install disk utility and it only supports FAT.

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Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Feb 28, 2011 8:36 AM in response to DWS123

Just remove OS X and any drive other than where you are installing Windows.

So follow what two people have recommended.

You already got an answer:

When I create my Windows 7 partition (for work related) I just put another drive in my Mac and formatted that blank drive for NTFS using the Windows 7 disk. Windows 7 then installed just fine

If you want to find more about GPT (Apple uses GUID while everyone else uses G(UID) Partition Table.

Google Apple and Microsoft GPT

http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/
http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn2006/tn2166.html

Microsoft has a good explanation on Using GPT Drives
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463524.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/GPT_FAQ.mspx

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Answer 6

The hatter

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60,990 points

Feb 28, 2011 9:43 AM in response to The hatter

I actually meant to start with this but forgot to include:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPT_Disk

SUPPORT tab takes you go
http://www.apple.com/support
just add bootcamp to find all the Apple help, how to, troubleshooting support articles and software links.

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Answer 7

DWS123 Author

Level 1

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Mar 7, 2011 6:16 AM in response to The hatter

I have tried the above steps and it isn't working. Windows7 just doesn't see the new partition. This reminds me when installing SCSI hard drive. Is there a hard drive controller driver that is needed for Windows7 install to see the partition created within Mac? Using the Disk Utility and third party NTFS formatter, I've changed the boot to master, reformatted the drive to be NTFS and tried it another time with FAT32 and none have worked.

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Answer 8

DWS123 Author

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Mar 7, 2011 7:02 AM in response to DWS123

I've been reading articles about requiring Boot Camp 3.1 in order to install Windows 7. Does anyone know where I can get this Boot Camp 3.1? I've updated the OSX to the most current version, but the Boot Camp is still at 3.0. Here is a copy of the Boot Camp for Windows 7 install.

"Windows 7 requires Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard and the Boot Camp 3.1 Update. For complete system requirements information, see this article"

The link only links back to Apple's download page and there is no mentioning of where version 3.1 is.

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Answer 9

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 7, 2011 7:13 AM in response to DWS123

Apple Software Update in Windows will update 3.0 twice, to 3.1 and then to 3.2.

I am guessing that Apple intended to be able to download and burn a CD of necessary drivers thru Boot Camp Assistant in 10.6.6 but that doesn't work.

You must not be looking - right side of page on Apple Boot Camp Support
http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

or

http://support.apple.com/downloads/#bootcamp

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Answer 10

Star1

Level 2

465 points

Mar 7, 2011 11:14 AM in response to DWS123

Hi DWS,
1/ You have to pull your Mac OS HD OUT off your Mac Pro
2/ You can install the BootCamp upgrade 3.1 + 3.2 only after your win 7 OS IS RUNNING.
3/ Download the BC 3.1 64-bit here: [http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1336] - (380Mb)
4/ Download the BC 3.2 64-bit here: [http://support.apple.com/kb/DL979] - (121Mb)
These are .exe files, you can download them in your mac HD & have to transfer them to your win7 HD.
So download them 1st, copy to mem. stick, then REMOVE your mac HD, insert win7 install DVD, repartition your (windows) HD to NTFS, install win7, and upgrade the Boot Camp, install win drivers (from MacOS DVD), etc...

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Answer 11

DWS123 Author

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Mar 8, 2011 10:19 AM in response to Star1

For anyone interested, RAID card needs to be removed from your MacPro if you want to use Boot Camp. Boot Camp does not support Raid. Would be nice when you run Boot Camp and it would simply say, "You have a raid configuration. In order to use Boot Camp, you will need to REMOVE the raid controller card." Now, anyone know where I can find a copy of Boot Camp 3.0? I downloaded Boot Camp 3.1 and 3.2, but in order to get to 3.1 I need 3.0. Since the Boot Camp install doesn't work on burning the DVD or CD, I can't install it on the Windows OS. Search through Apple download, but only see 3.1 and 3.2.

Message was edited by: DWS123

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Answer 12

Star1

Level 2

465 points

Mar 9, 2011 3:55 PM in response to DWS123

Hi again,
the original Boot Camp (v3.0.2) is on the Snow Leopard Instal DVD, it can't be downloaded from Apple.
I just re-installed the 10.6 from my install DVD (deleting the 10.7 {Lion} I was testing - there is still a lots that doesn't work) and got the BootCamp 3.0.2 back.

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Answer 13

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 9, 2011 5:14 PM in response to DWS123

Ah, that is well known, always has been the case, is listed if someone looked in the FAQ for Mac Pro RAID card even - years ago. Though I didn't see you include it in your questions (or .sig is helpful).

http://www.apple.com/support/macpro - link to Apple tech article on Pro RAID and lack of Boot Camp - a lot of people find running Windows, incl. Windows 2008 Server, on RAID controller with RAM and 8-cores and multiple VMs is what they need.

We or I have already said skip the step and just use OS X DVD 10.6 HAS BC 3.0.

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Answer 14

mschu01

Level 1

5 points

Mar 20, 2011 11:16 AM in response to DWS123

Hello DWS123,
I could not find the solution of your issue. Why is the Windows partition not shown up after the restart?
I try to install Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit on my Mac Mini 1.1 (late 2006). Firmware is up to date as well all other software incl.Bootcamp (3.0.x).
I chose the size of 32Gb proposed by Bootcamp for the Windows partition. It is visible on the desktop afterwards. Then I put in the Windows 7 DVD and selected the Installation button in Bootcamp.
I hear the DVD drive buzzing, the Mac Mini restarts, but the screen s t a y s b l a n k.
After a while the folder symbol with the question mark is displayed. What does it mean? What do I need to do that the Bootcamp WIndows partition is visible for the Windows 7 installation?

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