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windows 7 demands NTFS drive

I'm trying to install Windows 7 through Boot Camp. I get all the way to installing Windows and it fails because it needs an NTFS-formatted drive. I don't see anywhere in the BootCamp setup assistant that allows me to make that (or any, for that matter) choice about how the Boot Camp partition should be formatted. How do i do this?

Posted on Feb 28, 2012 10:11 PM

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26 replies

Feb 28, 2012 11:40 PM in response to JL@Technicolor

It tells you. It is spelled out. There is a button below the box where you choose where to install. Click on Advanced Options. It tells you in the manual pdf guide. Somewhere right after page 21.



http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

Mar 6, 2012 5:02 PM in response to JL@Technicolor

Also, when Windows 7 Install is telling you that it can't install on a FAT partition, there's an option to format it with NTFS without having to go back to Boot Camp and re-do it from scratch.


In the window that gives you a list of partitions and asks you where to install, select the bootcamp / FAT partition you want to use, then click "Drive options (advanced)" on the bottom-right. Then select "Format" to format it for NTFS.


This guide might be helpful (it has screenshots) http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/02/05/exploring_windows_7_on_the_mac_ins tallation_via_boot_camp/

Mar 7, 2012 12:20 PM in response to condie1

Then..... you didn't read what to do.


When you get to where you choose "BOOTCAMP" (page 22 in pdf manual), click on the button below (Advanced Options) where you convert/format MSDOS to NTFS.


It is easy, it is what everyone does, and has been part of install process since Vista and since Jan 2008 at least (or the release of Leopard and Boot Camp 2.0).

Mar 7, 2012 3:34 PM in response to condie1

Wow, yeah, that's not supposed to happen.


Condie, after doing a little research (Searched google for "setup was unable to create a new system partitition.") there could be a couple solutions.


Are you by chance installing Windows from a USB drive (not DVD) as the install disk? Or, do you have other external drives attached? Try pulling them all out, and trying again. That info was in here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3259726?start=0&tstart=0

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=83939

And: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2201043 which suggests that maybe you don't have to unplug the USB drive if you're using it to install Windows, just everything else.


Or, maybe you used a USB drive to copy the support files in Boot Camp Assistant, and left it plugged in? If so, try unplugging it and trying again.


If none of these apply to you, you could try going into the Windows command window by hitting Shift-F10, then doing the following:

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_linux_linux_is_already_installed.ht m?page=4


Hope this helps!

Mar 8, 2012 5:00 AM in response to Kid Dynamic

Got it, finally, with a couple of mis-steps :-)


Extra USBs seems to have been the problem indeed!


I unchecked the USB option the first time, hoping to boot from external DVD. But Bootcamp still demanded a USB that it couldn't fiind.


Enabled just one USB the second time, and Windows installed off the DVD!


As long as it works . . .


Was delighted with installing the Support stuff on Windows, all those drivers just zapping in, plus the Taskbar bootcamp/Bluetooth.


This is better than most PCs!!!!!


OFF-topic, but while I've got you: Could I have used 64-bit? I can use only 2G of my 8G RAM.


Again,


THANK YOU!!!

Mar 8, 2012 8:40 AM in response to condie1

Consider that install to be a test or trial run.... no way do you want 32-bit version, and yes you need 64-bit to make use of your hardware fully. Anyone with 4GB or greater.


Make sure you will have enough drive space, something like 60GB preferably if you want hibernation (8GB alone), 10GB temp (for updates), 20GB for just 'core' Windows. Plus page, apps, cache, data and stuff. I keep all the drivers and downloads as well.

windows 7 demands NTFS drive

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