Windows 8.1 install fails on new 2013 Retina MacBook

The Bootcamp version included with the new MBP is 5.0.5411; the latest version provided by Apple here ( http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1638 ) is 5.0.5033. Assuming all of us here having this problem are running the new MBP, maybe it's possible a bug was introduced? Anyone want to venture trying with the previous version?

EDIT: Maybe my mistake about 5.0.5411; I believe it is actually downloaded from Apple by Bootcamp itself.

I finally got Windows 8.1 installed - no issues - no black screen 😀

Ive been stuck with this issue of installing Windows 8 or 8.1 on my new MBP 15" (with nVidia). I tried every single solution posted here and still got nothing.

- What I ended up doing was, download Windows 7 SP1 ISO (make sure its SP1 or else it wont work - Any version, doesnt matter)

- Prepare bootcamp with the Windows 7 ISO (check all three boxes)

- Install Windows 7, when it asks for a CD key, just skip. It will also automatically install all the bootcamp drivers.

- Once everything is installed. In Windows 7, download Windows 8.1 from MS website ( follow this: http://www.neowin.net/news/here-is-how-to-get-the-windows-81-iso-and-create-a-us b-install-stick)

- Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 (skipping Windows 8)

Its a bit lengthy process. but at least everything works like it is suppose to and you wont have to do Windows 7 - Windows 8 - then Windows 8.1. Just install Windows 7 then upgrade to 8.1

Are Apple even aware of this problem? How long has this problem been an issue? Finally I wonder how long it would take for them to release a fix?

Yes Apple know about the problem.

Since the launch so a few days.

When wil it get fixed soon hopefully but it is the weekend. However the more people report thw problem the higher the proity it will become.

Hopefully.

Just make sure that you click on "I have this question too" below the original post on the 1st page, so they see that it's a common issue.

Hi maskedferret,

Just a question, you say you deleted yourpartition and recreated it in disk utility. Are you using a secondary drive as disk utility will not let me do this nor would i want to as bootcamp is on a partition of my main (only drive) this would completely wipe the data from my drive.

masketferret,

Great work mate. So the BIOS version install works whereas the EFI Boot version of the installation does not. When you try to run the BIOS version against any Bootcamp created partition it cannot use it as it complains it is GPT partition which is not compatible. Formatting in ExFat appears to work around this. As to how reliable, effective, robust this is we will not know. Its a workaround and we need the EFI version to be fixed by Apple.

I have posted updated instructions that work with USB installation and not just DVD. Many people who own late model MBP's will not have a USB DVD Drive.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5490486

danmog:

The 500 GB SSD is the only drive in my system. Disk Utility was able to delete the BOOTCAMP partition and I could create a new one in its place. If you were upgrading a previous instance of Windows, you might not want to delete the BOOTCAMP partition.

If this is a completely new installation however, the only content on the BOOTCAMP partition right now is probably the Bootcamp assistant software at the most. It should be fine to delete this data because the Windows installer will want to format the partition first, anyway.

I do not see how Disk Utility is not allowing you to delete the partition.

Thank you Jarvil, that worked, I was able to install Windows 8.1 directly (should work for 8 too)

jarvil wrote:

I have posted updated instructions that work with USB installation and not just DVD. Many people who own late model MBP's will not have a USB DVD Drive.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5490486

Guys, you should also call Brian at Apple Care at (877) 4164271 extension 57614. I asked him to open an engineering ticket. Maybe if more people call this may expedite Apple looking at the problem.

OK the below link lets you install Win 8 on the hard disk 🙂

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5490486

However you then get blocked at actually installing Win 8 as it doesn't support USB 3.0 keyboard & mouse 😟

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5102407

So I'm going to call it a night and hope Apple comes up with a solution soon. So very tired and I've wasted about 7 hours doing this with the hope I'd be ready for Monday morning 😢

This is not an Apple experience I was hoping for.

BarnCleave wrote:

This is not an Apple experience I was hoping for.

I agree. You have to assume Apple knew about this before the release. Surely someone had beta tested a bootcamp load on the 2013 MacBook Pro. They just must have run out of time and prioritized this bug a low priority.

I am trying to load Windows 7. All goes well until the windows install tries to start. Windows claims the parition is not valid (cannot remember the exact message). I was suspect when I did the windows format step and it jumped back instantly (or maybe it did format the ssd that fast?). But in any event, it will not install.

I get that you may be able to sprinkle fairy dust and dance around the fire to get an install, but that is just going to bite you later. Hopefully Apple will release a fix, soon . . . yes, not the Apple experience you would hope for.

Received my build-to-order MBP today via FedEx via China. Upgraded processor and 1TB flash.

I had no issues, whatsoever, installing windows 8.1 from the ISO via the boot camp assistant. GPT partition. Didn't have to go through any hoops at all.

I wonder if Apple has fixed an issue and the fixes are only making it into the just-built models and will roll out as an update soon?

What's the version of the Bootcamp software installed on your USB flash drive? I believe it is in an XML file in the Bootcamp directory; "5.0.xxxx".