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Level 1

47 points

Boot Camp - Setup was unable to create a new system partition....from Windows install

Hi folks. So I ran the boot camp wizard and made a USB install key for windows from that. I boot to it and everything works until I get to the install. I format the Boot Camp partition as indicated in the walkthrough and then I get "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the Setup log files for more information." from the Windows installer. What do I do? Thanks.

Posted on Aug 13, 2011 7:27 AM

Best reply

antoniofromlas vegas

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Aug 20, 2011 5:49 PM

Same thing happened to me. After repeating the same step many times (and formatting the partition several times) and getting the "Setup was unable to create ..." message over and over again, I decided to abort the install and back out using the back arrow <- (upper left corner of the Windows dialog box). After I got to the first Windows 7 screen, I decided to try the install one more time, and went forward in all the windows. This time it worked!

Remember to select the right partition (in my case disk 0 partition 4). Also, remember since the originally Mac created BootCamp partition was formatted, it will no longer be called BootCamp.

Good luck

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77 replies

RabidCow

Level 1

8 points

Jan 11, 2014 9:48 AM in response to Rehan_Ahmed

Brand new 27" iMac and removing the Autounattend.xml file from my windows install drive totally did the trick. Thanks!

Feb 11, 2014 3:46 AM in response to RabidCow

This bit of "black magic" (disconnecting AirPort Time Capsule and unplugging it, removing USB with Windows support software, and switching the external drive from right-side to left-side) did the trick for me.

Many thanks for the help and guidance.

nhsw

Level 1

0 points

Feb 20, 2014 12:27 AM in response to R_J_S

Moving the USB from right to left solved this issue and you can format the Partition 4 as per instructed. the rest is as per the Bootcamp Instruction

Apr 24, 2014 4:37 AM in response to markspark

At which point must i remove the USB drive?

May 9, 2014 10:54 PM in response to Terence_10n

Best and safest to remove any media when computer is off or you eject it.

I had same issue with new iMac i7 3.1ghz 21" with Mavericks 10.9.2 and had to reboot then hold down alt key to boot to windows USB stick. Tried everything, formatting USB stick, format/delete partition... Nothing worked except for one thing!

Before I rebooted, while Mac was off, I unplugged all media and devices except USB Windows stick which I placed in far left USB port on back of Mac. Rebooted and pressed alt a few times to select Windows USB stick to boot to. Then install Windows, then I could finally install Windows no more problems.

This seems to be a known issue that Apple should fix to make it easier to install Windows. I think no matter what they assume this process is for techies and why bother. Keep buying Mac and forget Windows.

themarxx

Level 1

5 points

Jul 17, 2014 1:26 AM in response to ridergroov

After spending 2 solid days of checking out forums and at least 20 attempts I'll detail how I managed to install windows 7 on a late 2013 27"iMac using BOOTCAMP ASSISTANT. Previously I have never encountered problems installing Windows 7 on a 2010 iMac, 2011 iMac, 2011 Macbook Pro, 2011 Mac Mini.

You will need

1) windows 7 iso

2) 8GB Thumbdrive (make this the bootable windows installation USB stick)

3) 4GB Thumbdrive for the Apple support files (step 2 of the Bootcamp Assistant)

4) USB keyboard and mouse (I used a logitech wireless combi with a USB dongle)

Bootcamp Assistant will create 1) Windows 7 USB stick, 2) Apple Support files USB stick. 3) Partition your HDD 4) Reboot from the Windows 7 USB stick to install Windows.

Once the Windows installation started, I got the all too familiar "setup was unable to create system partition" message.

Switching the USB sticks from right to left and left to right and every other combination didn't work for me.

Removing the Apple Support USB Stick meant that I was unable to use my mouse and keyboard (plugged into the USB ports) when the installation reached the part where I was supposed to key in the name of the PC/Serial number. This is because the Win7 installation does not natively recognize USB 3.0 and needs the drivers from the Apple Support USB.

My hypothesis

1) you can only stick one USB drive in the iMac during installation.

2) you need the drivers on the Support USB in order for the USB 3.0 ports to work.

My workaround:

I copied all the files from the Apple Support USB stick into the Windows 7 USB stick (root directory - didn't create any folder) so that

there was only 1 usb drive and the system was able to access the usb 3.0 drivers.

Final results: Using only 1 8GB thumbdrive that contained BOTH the windows 7 files (created using bootcamp and a windows iso.) as well as the support files I was able to install windows 7 premium 64bit on the iMac without further ado. At no point during the installation did the USB keyboard and mouse cease to function.

Note: I did not try out this installation process with Bluetooth keyboard/mouse.

Jul 25, 2014 8:34 PM in response to themarxx

I fixed it, the problem was windows 7 it can't be installed with a 3.0 USB, so I tried windows 8 and it worked 🙂

Aug 16, 2014 4:23 PM in response to bachverdi

I solved this issue with my 2012 Mac Mini, and it definitely IS the USB port. I solved the issue by making an ISO disk image using my SuperDrive onto a flash drive then removing the SuperDrive. I installed the Mac support drivers on the same flash drive as the image. I then put the flash drive in the far left (when facing from behind) USB port. It all worked from there! I was getting the same error before.

romrome

Level 1

0 points

Aug 17, 2014 5:19 PM in response to ridergroov

I had the same problem, i try changing the usb key from left to right and din't work.

I start having problem since i use my new usb3.0 key, so I try making the windows install disk on a SD card (usb card reader) and had no problem at all. So try a different USB key or use a usb sd card reader 😉

lets me know if it work for you

mujom

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2014 1:22 PM in response to ridergroov

Hey guys! I have been dealing with this issue for a while now (take in account that I'm very new on mac and apple software)

So I decided to install Win 7 on my macbook. It's the macbook pro 13" retina 2013 version. Maybe if I tell you what I am doing, there might be an easy fix to it:

So I have the Win 7 on an iso file on my desktop, and an USB flash drive that is in the right format.

1) I go to Boot Camp Assistant. At this time all the 3 options are checked.

2) I choose the the correct destination for my Win 7.iso file, and the correct USB flash drive.

3) Press continue and partition the ammount I want (in this case, 48 GB) and continue with the partitioning.

4) Win 7 setup starts, I follow the instructions. On selecting the drive, I press the correct and format it. Then the error message appears "setup was unable to instal...."

Now, I have tried to change the USB flash drive from the right side to left, and back. I have gone back and forth, hoping one of the solutions will help it, but nothing. I have tried this multiple times.

I also checked the two first options in Boot Camp Assistant first, then deleted the Autounattend.xml and then checked the last option and tried with the "start" installing Win 7 option like previously stated, but that doesnt help either.

Does anyone have any takers on this? Would be really great if someone had the solution!

Oct 11, 2014 8:40 PM in response to ridergroov

Yep, changed the usb install key to the other usb port at the point of trouble,tried again and it worked.

Seriously sad I cannot go to the APPLE forum using an APPLE ipad to respond because the apple forum uses flash, yes the same flash Apple took away from all there mobile devices !