Boot Camp on Snow Leopard can't install Windows-Stuck on black BIOS screen

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Boot Camp on Snow Leopard can't install Windows-Stuck on black BIOS screen

I'm running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on an early 2008 Mac Pro (dual 3.2Ghz Harperton CPU's, 10gb RAM) with Boot Camp version 3.0.4 (all updated). I've successfully had a Boot Camp partition in the past, running WindowsXP32 Bit. I just purchased Windows7 Professional and can't install either the 32bit or 64 bit version. Neither can I install any of my original Windows disc. Boot Camp successfully creates the partion, then asks me to install the Windows install DVD/CD which I do, and then when it reboots, it gets stuck in a black BIOS screen that says "Initializing..."

I've tried all my Windows discs: WindowsXP-32bit, Vista-32Bit, Vista-64Bit, Windows7-32Bit, Windows7-64Bit. Same problem...gets hung on the black BIOS screen. I disconnected all my USB hardware except for my keyboard/mouse. All my other internal drives are disconnected.

The only thing that I can think of is that is different is my MacHD is a 500GB Seagate MomentusXT solid state hybrid drive.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

Thanks

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Boot Camp 3.0.4

Posted on Dec 25, 2011 7:01 AM

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Answer 1

SPY500 Author

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Dec 26, 2011 7:03 AM in response to SPY500

Tried to install again on a spare 500GB drive, this time with a full clean install of Lion. Launching Boot Camp in Lion actually does download the Window setup files (unlike Snow Leopard who said it couldn't do it). And Lion also gives you the option of installing Windows on another internal disk if desired.

Same issue: Boot Camp asks for the Window disks, it reboots, then sits on a black BIOS screen with "Initializing......." and goes no further.

I've checked everything in my Mac with regard to hardware (made sure any external devices are all unhooked, reset the ram cards, etc. Any ideas???

Frustrated

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Answer 2

Dec 26, 2011 9:59 AM in response to SPY500

This might sound like voodoo, but I would try zapping the PRAM (command-option-P-R at the startup chime and hold until you get another startup chime). This zeros out NVRAM, which is used by EFI to determine startup behaviors. I don't know how Bootcamp Assistant affects NVRAM, but the fact it wants your Windows disk, and then it reboots, indicates it might write some custom line in NVRAM to affect startup behavior - and it's possible for whatever reason it's conflicting with what's already in there.

Next, at the 2nd startup chime, hold down the option key to get the startup disk menu. Insert the Windows 7 64-bit (or 32-bit if you prefer) inserted. You should eventually see two CD/DVD icons appear: one labeled "Windows" and one labeled "EFI Boot". Choose the one labeled "Windows" and select the arrow underneath (or hit return).

See if this gives you any difference in behavior and if you can install Windows. If you can, you will probably need to make a USB stick or CD of the driver download that Bootcamp Assistant downloaded, and install them from within Windows (once you've installed Windows).

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Answer 3

SPY500 Author

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Dec 26, 2011 1:30 PM in response to Christopher Murphy

Chris,

I'll give that a shot and report back. I had tried powering cycling the mac and the screen would come back to the same block BIOS screen. Holding down option when rebooting would show the three choices: Mac,Windows, EFI.

I tried both Wondows and EFI with no luck. But I'll give it a second attempt zapping the PRAM as you mention, and perhaps also the SMC reset switch on the motherboard:

Resetting Mac Pro Logic Board | Mac Users Guide

I'll report back after I try those options. Thanks for the reply...much appreciated!

SPY500

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Answer 4

Dec 26, 2011 1:41 PM in response to SPY500

Also make sure you have the latest firmware. There is one listed for the MacPro 3,1 from March 2008, so presumably you've already applied it, but need to cover all bases.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237

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Answer 5

The hatter

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61,031 points

Dec 26, 2011 1:49 PM in response to SPY500

I'd suspect the disk if it is a hybred SSD.

As for Windows, you don't need anything but a good DVD drive and Windows, and to remove all the other disk drives present except the one you use.

No need for boot camp assistant. Do all the formatting needed from within Windows installer, that is what I have done for over 5 yrs.

Windows is more sensitive to RAM area.

Your 2008 should just take Windows 7 Pro 64-bit.

I have read of a few that couldn't use SP1 and had to find Windows 7 Pro

Burning the DVD with OS X is always an issue.

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Answer 6

SPY500 Author

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Dec 26, 2011 1:49 PM in response to Christopher Murphy

Thanks for the heads up...just looked at my system info. It looks like I'm up to date on the firmware.

Just about to give it the PRAM zap, and other tests. I'll report back within the half hour.

SPY500

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Answer 7

Dec 26, 2011 1:53 PM in response to The hatter

The Windows installer cannot shrink a jhfs+ partition. The Windows installer also cannot create a hybrid MBR for a GPT disk. That's the two major things Boot Camp Assistant does. Your recommendation to not use Boot Camp, or a tool that can do the equivalent and necessary tasks, is puzzling.

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Answer 8

Dec 26, 2011 2:01 PM in response to SPY500

I agree with 'The hatter' that the problem may be with the hybrid drive. You might consider disconnecting it as well, and seeing if you can boot off the Windows 7 DVD. I would think the hybrid drive wouldn't inhibit booting Windows off a DVD, but rather later on (installing or rebooting). So it's also a valid concern whether the Windows DVD is valid (is it from a box? or downloaded and burned?).

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Answer 9

SPY500 Author

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Dec 26, 2011 2:18 PM in response to Christopher Murphy

Hi fellow Mac buddie,

I just zapped the PRAM, and also reset the SMC switch on the mother board.....no luck.

In refenece to the hybrid SSD drive, I've already taken that one out, put in a fresh 3.5" drive, formatted and installed a fresh clean version of Lion OS, and then attempted the Boot Camp install using Lion with the newest Boot Camp version (3.1 or 3.2) Please see my original post above.

Same issue, black BIOS screen.

Also tried Boot Camp Windows install on a second drive in drive bay 2 (an option now in Lion's Boot Camp)

same issue, black BIOS screen.

Lastly, I've tried all these interations using my three different Windows install disks (XP, Vista, Windows7).

XP is a "full install" disk, Vista and Windows7 are upgrade disks. But I've had XP installed previously using Boot Camp with no problem. So I'm confused I can't even install XP.

As another option, I went to a friend who has a PC, and I installed Windows 7 on a new hard drive. I'm about to install that in drive bay 2, reboot while holding down "option", and see if I can boot directly into that disk.

That's a workaround, as is VMWare Fusion which I have and Windows7 works fine as a virtual machine.

But when something doesn't work the way it's supposed to (in this case Boot Camp), it bugs me makes me want to know why it doesn't. I'll report back with regard to the 2nd bay Windows7 hard drive install.

SPY500

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Answer 10

Dec 26, 2011 2:22 PM in response to SPY500

Boot Camp Assistant is at version 4.0.1 on Lion. And version 3.0.4 on Snow Leopard.

The Windows 7 all by itself on a hard drive should work. Just beware you're not going to be able to install Mac OS X on it with any of the conventional tools because it's an MBR only disk. Mac OS X will refuse to install it.

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Answer 11

SPY500 Author

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Dec 26, 2011 2:49 PM in response to Christopher Murphy

Indeed, that's correct about the Boot Camp version on Lion...it is 4.0.1. Sorry for the confusion.

And also good to know about the Mac driver installs which I'd certainly need, but the Windows7 disk has served as a good test to see what happens during boot up.

I installed the NTFS formatted Windows7 hard drive (created on a PC) into drive bay 2 of my Mac, so now I on lt have two disks installed, my MacHD and the Windows7 HD.

I held down "option" when booting the Mac. It does shows the two start up hard drives, but choosing the Windows7 hard drive does the exact same thing....black BIOS screen:

So it appears that the Mac can't start up a Windows CD/DVD or hard drive. Is it perhaps a Mac BIOS setting? Is there a way to look as BIOS as on a PC (the delete key)?

Thanks again,

Spy500

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Answer 12

The hatter

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61,031 points

Dec 26, 2011 3:01 PM in response to SPY500

It is next to impossible to take Windows after it has installed all the device and chipset/motherboard drivers from one machine to a different mobo.

It can be done if it was just the base install. Once you add drivers for other controllers, not so easy. I've tried.

Paragon and maybe others do have tools to import a drive to anotehr (P2P, physical as well as virtual to/from physical) to 'adjust' the drivers, but you need to have Windows already on the new destination machine running.

Nothing to do with yours or the others firmware, though PC boards usually support, and use, Intel RAID driver that is enabled in BIOS, something your Mac cannot and will not do. But you can go to another PC with same motherboard family that uses Intel RAID for instance.

Boot Camp is basically the motherboard drivers. You would have installed those on the PC whether Gigabyte or Asus or someone else's. And they are not uninstalled.

Always best to plan for migration with programs, and do start over with a clean install on a different computer.

And PC Marvel controller etc if it does work in Windows can pose a challenge trying to boot Mac OS.

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Answer 13

Dec 26, 2011 3:09 PM in response to SPY500

Do you get this exact same "Marvell 88SE91xx Adapter......." message when booting off the Windows 7 DVD?

Do you have a Marvell 88SE91xx Adapter added onto your Mac Pro?

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Answer 14

SPY500 Author

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Dec 26, 2011 3:20 PM in response to Christopher Murphy

Yes, I do get the exact same message, regardless if it's a Window DVD, or Windows formatted hard drive. Again, if I get this going I plan to do a Boot Camp install again of Windows7, as opposed to the Windows7 formatted hard created on a PC.

As for the error message, I assumed it's a BIOS manufacturer name?

Could it perhaps be an interal PCI card I have installed? I have a Highpoint eSATA card, and a Blackmagic PCI card.

I'll try removing any internal PCI cards I've added and try again.

SPY500

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Answer 15

Dec 26, 2011 3:32 PM in response to SPY500

I will guess the Highpoint eSATA card is actually manufacturered by Marvell, because the Marvell 88SE91xx adapter is a SATA adapter. It would seem Windows either doesn't like that card, or its firmware, and doesn't know what to do and that's why it's getting stuck.

Since Apple's CSM-BIOS implementation lacks an interface like PC BIOS, it's not possible to configure it to simply ignore the card. You'll either need to pull the card, or find a Mac OS updater to update its firmware, or have a conversation with Highpoint tech support to figure out if it can be supported by Windows 7 as well as Mac OS X.

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