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jdhiro Author

Level 1

0 points

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

Feb 12, 2014 3:45 AM in response to Dourn

Hey guys,

i have a working windows 8.1 installation on my rMBP late 2013 - is a bootcamp update still recommended? is it even possible to update the -working- windows installation by simply downloading/installing the new drivers?

thank you

Feb 12, 2014 4:20 AM in response to rMacBookProlate2013

Hi rMacBookProlate2013 - yes, if you already have Windows installd you can download and install the newly updated Bootcamp drivers. If you have any problems with anything working then it's worth doing so. If everything is working 100% perfectly for you then you may want to just leave it as it is and not install them though.

Feb 12, 2014 12:59 PM in response to Dourn

I've been holding off installing Boot Camp until Apple fixes this issue. I can verify that the latest driver update from Apple doesn't fix the EFI install problem with Windows 8.1.

dondajp

Level 1

4 points

Feb 13, 2014 2:16 AM in response to jdhiro

This works perfectly fine and I have done installation in less than 20 mins. Now how to get the BOOTCAMP driver current driver don not work.

Thanks !!!

ahdesai

Level 1

0 points

Feb 16, 2014 5:57 AM in response to jdhiro

Hi,

I am planning to get myself a macbook pro 15 inch, the base model. Now that one has 256gb SSD. Can anyone tell me how much space is still left after installing Windows in a partition? Will 256 GB fall short?

Feb 16, 2014 8:15 AM in response to dondajp

There now is a Windows 8.1 Windows Support software download. http://support.apple.com/downloads/#macoscomponents

jarvil

Level 1

15 points

Feb 18, 2014 5:17 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

FYI this software is automatically downloaded when you use the boot camp assistant. Be warned it is now 925MB in size. So it will take time to download.

Number88

Level 3

806 points

Feb 18, 2014 5:26 AM in response to jarvil

Mine was 1.35GB (Mid 2012 rMBP 10,1)

jarvil

Level 1

15 points

Feb 18, 2014 5:46 AM in response to Number88

Massive! Might as well include Windows 8.1 while they are at it. I am doing a Bootcamp 8.1 install right now. Lets see if it works this time.... been waiting so long now for this to work. Late 2013 Retina MBP.

s3logic

Level 1

0 points

Feb 18, 2014 7:11 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Wooo! If you're manually downloading, make sure you read the release notes ... I ended up with the wrong version at first (need 5.1.5640 for MacBook Pro Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013):

For more information on Boot Camp, click here: www.apple.com/support/bootcamp

Note: If you are using one of the Macs listed below, you should downloadBoot Camp Support Software 5.1.5640 instead.

MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)

s3logic

Level 1

0 points

Feb 18, 2014 7:25 AM in response to s3logic

Does anyone know if this should support cooperation between NVidia 750M & Intel Iris? I ran the setup.exe to update the drivers as I had already gone about installing Windows 8 by manually copying over the EFI files during install, etc...

When I updated the drivers and ran msinfo32 (and also checked the device manager) I can't seem to find anything other than the NVidia 750M being used for graphics (same as it was before)

Maybe I need to re-install, but would like to know if it's worth it...

Feb 18, 2014 7:52 AM in response to jdhiro

Well, I do appreciate that the only identifiable development in this whole saga has been an updated drivers download, but the standard no-tricks installation has suddenly worked for the first time. I've had the same problems as most other people on my late-2013 Retina MBP ...until now. I didn't do anything different from previous failed installations, so I've no explanation to offer anyone (sorry!) other than to suggest trying once more.

It's been great reading all your contributions guys, I hope never to see this thread again...