Folks, Boot Camp is broken in 2011.

Question

Level 1

10 points

Folks, Boot Camp is broken in 2011.

I don't know what happened. But something did.

This is my fourth MacBook Pro and my seventh Mac computer. In all of these machines I have always been able to set up Boot Camp without an issue doing the exact same things each time. For some reason though, all of a sudden I am unable to on my 2011 MacBook Pro 17". Works fine on my 2010 27" iMac, but not the 2011 MBP. For the record, I am using Windows 7 64 bit, but at this point I really don't care what OS I use, because none of them are working. It's not the Windows disks, it's the MBP.

Open up Boot Camp Assistant.
Don't need the software downloaded, I have the Snow Leopard install disc.
Tell it to partition the drive. I select 20GB, because Windows 7 will use approximately 7GB of that storage. I don't need to store anything directly in Windows and don't plan to keep it for the long term as I use VMWare/Parallels.
Asks me to insert the install DVD and then restart. I do so.
On restart, it sits at a gray screen for 1-3 minutes. I hear the drive spinning during this time, then slows, then the screen starts flashing the folder with the question mark, which I understand to mean that it can't find an operating system. Well, that's because I haven't loaded it yet.
Force power down with the power button, power back on while holding Option. The Mac OS drive comes up, then the SuperDrive spins up and two other opticals show up: "Windows" and "EFI Boot". If I select Windows it repeats step 5. If I select EFI boot it freezes and does nothing. I can boot into Mac OS normally and the partition is configured correctly in Disk Utility - FAT32, properly named, etc.

So for some reason the Mac does not know how to boot the DVD even though I confirmed it IS a properly bootable DVD by attempting to load it from one of my Windows VMs, and was able to do so without a problem. Mac OS is all patched up so I know it's not a missing firmware update.

Question is what do I need to do to fix it? Note, I am not interested in workarounds like USB or Terminal commands. I want it to work via the standard method because there's no reason it should not work.

Posted on May 3, 2011 10:10 PM

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Answer 1

Mac_Win

Level 1

25 points

May 4, 2011 1:08 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

Try zapping ur pram to start.

Check again for any firmware and software updates

Try a different DVD. Urs could be scratched.

Try a bigger partition size cause win7x64 takes up to 18gb alone

Last resort

Reinstall ur macos software

Possible problem could be a bad hdd. The apple store will replace the hdd for free

Good luck!

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

May 4, 2011 4:20 AM in response to Mac_Win

I select 20GB, because Windows 7 will use approximately 7GB of that storage.

Totally not true.

Even the SP1 update will need an extra 9GB to install. And there are half a dozen other reasons.

There is a BC 3.2 update from apple for 2011 already.

Boot Camp Frequently asked questions

Apple Boot Camp Support

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Answer 3

ReVeLaTeD Author

Level 1

10 points

May 4, 2011 6:34 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

I see you guys don't read.

All firmware updates have been applied. I said that already.
Regardless of what Windows does or does not need, the fact is that it doesn't need more than 20GB - and even if it did, that has NOTHING to do with the inability to boot the disc.
This is a clean install of Snow Leopard. Reinstalling is not going to make a difference. In any event, the 2010 iMac has never been reinstalled and it worked just fine.
DVD was freshly burned and I already said it loads and boots just fine on a Windows VM. There is nothing wrong with the disc.
As I also stated it does not matter what OS I select. Windows 7 32 bit doesn't work, Windows 7 64 bit doesn't work. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE MACHINE WILL NOT BOOT WINDOWS DISCS PROPERLY.
Hard drive (in my case, solid state drive) has NOTHING to do with the inability to boot a disc.

Boot Camp is broken. Period. I need to know why it's broken. The Windows side of things I can deal with as soon as I get it to read Windows discs correctly.

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Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

May 4, 2011 7:10 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

This was mentioned before? it matters:

DVD was freshly burned and I already said it loads and boots just fine on a Windows VM. There is nothing wrong with the disc.

Disk Utility doesn't work to burn Windows 7 unless you use 2x reduced burn speed.

A VM doesn't care.

This is well known when using electronic downloads, ISO, edu copy.

It can be burned from VM, just Apple doesn't.

And I hope you take the 20GB as a joke on Microsoft's part.

20GB maybe for minimum install does not leave any room for SP1, for pagefile, for hibernation, cache, temp, apps, data, etc.

I can get it down to 32GB USED but it needs 50GB.

Too many come back "how can I resize and increase my tiny partition" because sometimes you can find you cannot even login to Windows when it boots.

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Answer 5

May 4, 2011 7:19 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

You seem to know what the problem is. "Boot Camp is broken. Period. I need to know why it's broken. The Windows side of things I can deal with as soon as I get it to read Windows discs correctly."

Why bother coming to a user-to-user help forum if you know the answers.? It appears you want to rant to Apple. There is a "feedback" link on Apple's site. Apple does not monitor or participate in this help forum. And, there is a Boot Camp help guide.

Windows 7 and Boot Camp Assistant work fine. Those who posted and hundreds/thousands of others have working Windows installations. It would probably be wise if you want help not to insult those trying to provide you help. Hopefully Apple will respond to you and fix Boot Camp, but I doubt it since it is not broken.

Good luck resolving your problem.

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Answer 6

ReVeLaTeD Author

Level 1

10 points

May 4, 2011 11:06 PM in response to ReVeLaTeD

I swear, it's like talking to a computer terminal. Let's try this again.

"

Disk Utility doesn't work to burn Windows 7 unless you use 2x reduced burn speed.

A VM doesn't care.

This is well known when using electronic downloads, ISO, edu copy.

It can be burned from VM, just Apple doesn't. "

The disc was burned on a WINDOWS MACHINE. It boots on a WINDOWS MACHINE. It does not boot on the MacBook Pro. Therefore, something is wrong with the MacBook Pro, NOT THE DISC. That's basic logic 101. I'm ignoring the rest about partition sizes because again, if the disc doesn't boot, the partition size means nothing.

"

ou seem to know what the problem is. "Boot Camp is broken. Period. I need to know why it's broken. The Windows side of things I can deal with as soon as I get it to read Windows discs correctly."

Why bother coming to a user-to-user help forum if you know the answers.?"

If you read what you just quoted - which you didn't - you should have seen the part that says...

I NEED TO KNOW WHY IT'S BROKEN.

That's the only answer I need. Why is Boot Camp broken now? What is wrong with it? Why does it not boot the Windows disc?

Replies about partition size are moot because THE DISC WON'T BOOT. It doesn't matter what the partition size is yet because THE DISC WON'T BOOT.

Replies about scratched DVDs are moot because THE DISC BOOTS FINE IN WINDOWS. It also BOOTS FINE IN A WINDOWS VM ON THE SAME MACBOOK PRO. Therefore it is not a read issue. In any event it is, as I have already stated, FRESHLY BURNED. Meaning, no scratches.

Replies about Boot Camp updates are moot because they matter AFTER WINDOWS IS INSTALLED. Since THE DISC WON'T BOOT, Windows is not installed. In any case, I've said multiple times that Software Update has no additional updates that I have not installed.

Replies about double checking firmware updates is moot because I've already stated clearly that all patches and firmware and updates have been applied from Software Update. I've actually said so multiple times.

Hard drive is not broken because it's the same hard drive I've had in the 2010 model which loaded Boot Camp fine once upon a time. And before someone asks....

When the drive was loaded into the 2011 model, it was erased and a fresh copy of Snow Leopard installed, rendering replies about reinstalling Snow Leopard as moot.

Zap PRAM is not the problem. Done, no change.

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Answer 7

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 5, 2011 5:45 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

Get another windows disc, it is not relevant whether it boots on other machines, only on yours.

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Answer 8

ReVeLaTeD Author

Level 1

10 points

May 5, 2011 9:02 PM in response to Csound1

already tried three different Windows 7 discs. Two 64 bit, one 32 bit. Do not work.

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Answer 9

philm80

Level 1

0 points

May 18, 2011 2:30 PM in response to ReVeLaTeD

I am having the exact same issue. I've been trying to get windows 7 64 bit to boot using boot camp for the past 2 days. I've never used boot camp before but everything I've read is telling me it should work. I work in IT for a university so I have access to many boot disks. I've tried XP, Vista, Windows 7, with a range of service pack options and all come to the same conclusion. A black screen with a blinking cursor in the upper left. Yesterday one was giving me the text "M76XT B22504 MXM GDDR3 256M 680E/750M" and then would freeze.

I've zapped PRAM, I've deleted and reinstalled OSX, I have my MBRFAT flash drive connected to the back of my iMac, I've tried almost every version of XP, Vista, and Windows 7 there is.

I'm about to throw my iMac out the window

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Answer 10

Star1

Level 2

465 points

May 18, 2011 6:31 PM in response to ReVeLaTeD

Hi,

don't burn the win disk ➞ buy one in store...

Windows OS disks are not to be coppied or burned by yourself...

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 19, 2011 5:13 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

ReVeLaTeD wrote:

I see you guys don't read.

All firmware updates have been applied. I said that already.

Regardless of what Windows does or does not need, the fact is that it doesn't need more than 20GB - and even if it did, that has NOTHING to do with the inability to boot the disc.

This is a clean install of Snow Leopard. Reinstalling is not going to make a difference. In any event, the 2010 iMac has never been reinstalled and it worked just fine.

DVD was freshly burned and I already said it loads and boots just fine on a Windows VM. There is nothing wrong with the disc.

As I also stated it does not matter what OS I select. Windows 7 32 bit doesn't work, Windows 7 64 bit doesn't work. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE MACHINE WILL NOT BOOT WINDOWS DISCS PROPERLY.

Hard drive (in my case, solid state drive) has NOTHING to do with the inability to boot a disc.

Boot Camp is broken. Period. I need to know why it's broken. The Windows side of things I can deal with as soon as I get it to read Windows discs correctly.

It's not broken, works perfectly for me and many others, the problem seems to lie with the user/operator, and although you know all, you are the one installing it and ignoring advice.

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Answer 12

philm80

Level 1

0 points

May 19, 2011 8:19 AM in response to Star1

As with most rules there are exceptions to this as well. For instance if you work at an institution that has a Windows site license. Then downloading, burning, and installing enterprise edition software is completely legal.

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Answer 13

philm80

Level 1

0 points

May 19, 2011 8:24 AM in response to Csound1

I don't know if boot camp is broken, something else on my computer, or operator error but I can not get boot camp to work and am very open to advice

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Answer 14

philm80

Level 1

0 points

May 19, 2011 8:55 AM in response to philm80

I finally got mine working! I think it was something to do with the USB drive or USB port I had the MBRFAT drive plugged into. I turned off the computer, unplugged my mouse and plugged the drive in there and it worked!!!!! YAY!

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Answer 15

ReVeLaTeD Author

Level 1

10 points

May 20, 2011 6:44 AM in response to ReVeLaTeD

I have solved my own issue. Boot Camp IS broken. I just don't know why. I suspect it has something to do with the new AHCI limitations and/or EFI strategy Apple has used that effectively forces the use of Windows 7.

Before, you could choose Vista or 7 it was a different interface for Boot Camp completely. It never asked you about downloading anything. It just worked when you selected the OS. Seems they excluded some stuff that should have been preloaded - and downloading/burning a disc doesn't help since you can't get the disc to boot without some of it.

Additionally, this whole SATA cable issue seems to also be part and parcel to the issue. Yanking my X-25M SSD and putting the garbage 5400 HDD back in and all of a sudden every DVD worked perfectly fine, including every burned DVD. That indicates a hardware issue, and it's not the X-25M, because I can drop that same SSD back into a 2010 MacBook Pro and do Boot Camp without an issue.

No...something is funky with the internals of the 2011 MacBook Pro. My next step is to buy a newer SSD - which should not be necessary - and retest. SATAIII one this time. If the newer SSD doesn't work it's definitely an issue with linking...and I will take it to Apple to swap for one of the newer ones that's been silently fixed.

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