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Windows 8.1 install fails on new 2013 Retina MacBook

I doubt there are many people out there who can help with this yet. I was able to pick up my 2013 Haswell Retina MacBook Pro from my local Apple store this morning (yay!), and so far everything has been stellar. However, I'm unable to install Windows 8.1 via Bootcamp. I have not tried Windows 8 or 7.

I've tried installing both via USB thumb drive, and via DVD on external SuperDrive, with the same results. I know that 2013 MacBook Airs have to install via UEFI so I've tried that as well. What I've tried:

Booting into UEFI:

- After creating the partition in Bootcamp, I boot holding OPTION

- At the boot selection screen I select "EFI BOOT"

- I go through all the motions, including formatting the BOOTCAMP partition

- After all the files have been copied, I get a message that "Windows cannot update the boot partition and that my progress won't be saved" (not the exact message).

Booting via BIOS:

- After creating the partition in Bootcamp, I boot holding OPTION

- At the boot selection screen I pick "WINDOWS"

- When I get to the partition selection/formatting screen it won't let me proceed, when I expand the error message it tells me that partition can't be used because it has a GPT partition table.

So, I'm stuck =( Any ideas?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 23, 2013 8:56 PM

602 replies

ganomi

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Oct 24, 2013 10:57 AM in response to WestCoast.

Question is: Does it work with the 13" ? All posts mention a 15" or dont specifiy which rMBP it is.

Oct 24, 2013 12:00 PM in response to jdhiro

I'm having the same problem. High Spec Macbook Pro Retina 15 . Tried Windows 8 and 8.1

Guess the computer is tooooo advanced for Windows 🙂

jdhiro Author

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Oct 24, 2013 12:03 PM in response to ganomi

Ganomi- I don't know, buy one and let us know =)

Oct 24, 2013 12:27 PM in response to jdhiro

Me too, same new machine just picked up. Someone can help?

Oct 24, 2013 12:35 PM in response to OmerNisar

I probabbly tend to say this MAC, along with Mavericks, is new rather than advanced

Oct 24, 2013 12:45 PM in response to jdhiro

I have a 2013 rMBP 15" with every upgrade, and I got Windows 8.1 installed by doing a clean install on my old 2012 rMBP and then using winclone to transfer to my new rMBP. The only issue im having now is finding the drivers for everything, because the bootcamp drivers arent updated yet. Hope this helps someone!

jdhiro Author

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Oct 24, 2013 1:14 PM in response to avalanche208

You tried the Win8 drivers and they didn't work? =(

KenEE

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Oct 24, 2013 1:22 PM in response to jdhiro

Having same exact issue. On hold with Apple Care. Said they had heard there was a problem. Will report any progress... Ok, AC transferring me to Microsoft's Mac specific Windows Help Desk... First whoops its the Windows Office for Mac dept and they don't have a clue... transferring me to Windows 8 dept... Ok ten min on hold and John is looking up error msg... Ok say's MS can't help... back to AC... Ok Katy now on it...Katy giving up and escalating to Senior support Candy. Candy say's 8.1 not supported. I say it doesn't work with 8.0 either and finally convice her it's the new MBP and not Windows... Candy off to talk with Engineers... Ok Engineer says it sounds like a real issue and asks Candy to Open an Engineering Ticket. Ok Candy says usually 24-48 hours on something like this. (maybe more as case volume is up due to new releases...)

Will let you know if/when I hear back.

Oct 24, 2013 1:30 PM in response to jdhiro

I got every driver working with my 2013 rMBP with windows 8.1 installed, except my gt 750m graphics card. I tried installing the boot camp drivers and even beta drivers from nvidia.com. Has anyone got the 750m working under windows?

Oct 24, 2013 1:31 PM in response to jdhiro

Me again. I got 8.1 up and running. Create the partition through bootcamp, format it to ntfs through disk utility, then format it one last time using the native windows installation application. After that, you should find that everything works and that the error is gone. Give it a shot and report back to help everyone else out.

jdhiro Author

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Oct 24, 2013 1:37 PM in response to KenEE

KenEE - Nice work getting AC on this!

WestCoast - Sweet, I'll try that now and report back!

jdhiro Author

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Oct 24, 2013 1:40 PM in response to WestCoast.

Er, wait, Disk Utility can't format as NTFS. Do you mean to format it as ExFAT in Disk Utility, then reformat as NTFS in Windows setup?

Oct 24, 2013 1:41 PM in response to jdhiro

Woops, I forgot to mention that I used tuxera. Perhaps its unneccessary, try your hand at it the way you proposed.

jdhiro Author

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Oct 24, 2013 1:54 PM in response to WestCoast.

Bah, I tried formatting as ExFAT first and it still doesn't work.

Oct 24, 2013 1:57 PM in response to jdhiro

Did you format the partition as NTFS once you booted the windows installation? Also, remove any nonessential external usbs, hdds, anything of that sort AND shut off your bluetooth.

Windows 8.1 install fails on new 2013 Retina MacBook