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Level 2

272 points

URGENT HELP NEEDED - Boot Camp Setup

Hello All

I know this is in the wrong forum but I am not getting any help in the Boot Camp one.

I have a 2009 27inch Core2Duo 8gb ram iMac. The hard drive is a brand new 3TB with a fresh install of 10.8.3. I want to install Windows 7 64bit.

I set up some basic settings and have a backup at the ready. When I open Boot Camp Assisant and click Continue to the second screen i get this:

There is only one partition formatted as Extended Journaled with 10.8.3 on it.

I have tried booting into recovery mode and repairing the disk. I also have done permissions and repair disk from safe mode.

What could be the issue here? I have no idea what to do and I REALLY need this to work ASAP.

Thanks in advance,

xeni

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 10, 2013 1:34 AM

21 replies

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 11, 2013 6:14 PM in response to XENiCraft

You are welcome (and give Virtual Box a try, not for gaming but good at all else, and free, and you can delete it when BC is ready)

XENiCraft Author

Level 2

272 points

Apr 11, 2013 6:16 PM in response to Csound1

Haha yeah I have given it, Parallels and Fusion all a try and have concluded that Boot Camp is best for my use. Currently using VirtualBox for my Ubuntu though.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 11, 2013 6:18 PM in response to XENiCraft

🙂, me too .......

rtheb

Level 1

140 points

Apr 11, 2013 7:40 PM in response to XENiCraft

From what I read here even though it is old...

http://darobins.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/native-uefi-windows-7-boot-on-mac-mini/

Conclusion

Until Apple upgrades its UEFI firmware to version 2.0 or higher, Windows 7 will not natively boot on a Macintosh. Bootcamp is the only solution and Apple has little motivation to upgrade their firmware.

However later on in the article he updates the info as follows...

Update: 7/20/2011

It appears that with the more recent Mac systems Apple is moving to UEFI 2.0. Notably the MacBook (Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010), and MacBook Air (Late 2010). Logically the 2011 versions as well?

If correct, these systems should be able to native UEFI boot Windows 7 (or Windows Server 2008 R2). Anyone have an extra machine they want to send me to test?

Eventually they may catch up with the UEFI community that has already released 2.3.1.

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

I would see if you need an EFI firmware update linked here

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

or explore if there is a later firmware update for your particular iMac.

I am no expert on EFI but the articles are an interesting primer just the same.

XENiCraft Author

Level 2

272 points

Apr 11, 2013 8:09 PM in response to rtheb

There is an SMC update for my iMac but when opened it says its not for my computer. However, many users have gotten this to work under similar conditions so it is possible with the current firmware.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 12, 2013 6:39 AM in response to XENiCraft

Here is an experience from another poster with the 3TB drive

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4962730

URGENT HELP NEEDED - Boot Camp Setup