jdhiro

Q: 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

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Q: Windows 8.1 install fails on new 2013 Retina MacBook

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  • by kjetilsi79,

    kjetilsi79 kjetilsi79 Nov 1, 2013 10:18 AM in response to chanlee007
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 10:18 AM in response to chanlee007

    Win 8.1. Ticket off both boxses in boot camp (the third is checked by default).

  • by phathendo,

    phathendo phathendo Nov 1, 2013 11:00 AM in response to jdhiro
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 11:00 AM in response to jdhiro

    I was able to get a brand new install of Windows 8.1 Pro (via store-bought disc) working on my new MacBook Pro 13" retina:

     

    Followed Boot Camp instructions for partitioning; initially selected "Windows" CD image for re-boot (that's BIOS method, I think?)

     

    As with others, during the Windows installation, I tried to select partition 4 (BOOT CAMP), and after selecting that partition and clicking "format" it still would not let me install.

     

    I exited out of the Windows installer at that point, and using Mac Disk Utility, it did indicate that the Boot Camp Partition was NTFS format.

     

    I then re-booted, selected "EFI Boot" CD image for the boot.

     

    I was able to install Windows 8.1 with standard Boot Camp instructions that way (loaded Boot Camp drivers in Windows from USB flash drive), and it seems to function fine (even using Parallels 9).

     

    EXCEPTMajor battery drain in Windows, which I have heard from others is a graphics driver issue; however, I am able to access the Intel Iris graphics control panel.

     

    Any thoughts?

  • by The Doctre,

    The Doctre The Doctre Nov 1, 2013 11:50 AM in response to jdhiro
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 11:50 AM in response to jdhiro

    I've got a slightly different install issue. 

     

    I can boot the windows EFI installer via the option hold at boot. 

    It goes through the initial setup of copying the files over.

    It reboots into the setup the computer phase and that's where I'm stuck.  No mouse, no keyboard, no USB.  Just a happy blinking cursor asking me to input the computer name and select the color scheme. The keyboard / trackpad and USB mouse that I have plugged in all worked during the copying phase but not on the initial boot phase.

     

    This is on a 2013 retina MBP 13 with the windows 8.0 (not 8.1) install media. 

  • by oddjobs,

    oddjobs oddjobs Nov 1, 2013 12:22 PM in response to The Doctre
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 12:22 PM in response to The Doctre

    I have the same issue with a 2013 retina MBP 13" and Windows 8.  I was able to install Win 8 using EFI boot, but now I'm stuck on the color and computer name with no way to input my choices.

    I've tried an external keyboard and mouse with no luck.

     

    It reminds me of an issue some had with the keyboard and trackpad in Windows 8 on a 2010 MacBook Pro.
    Here's that thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4237866?start=0&tstart=0

  • by unknownsol0,

    unknownsol0 unknownsol0 Nov 1, 2013 1:14 PM in response to jdhiro
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 1:14 PM in response to jdhiro

    HOLY ****! I finally got mine working with 8.1 pro. No hacks, clean install! EFI mode. rMBP 15" with nvidia

     

    Backstory: I could not get Windows 8/8.1 to install in EFI mode at all, and everytime it fails, I dont just re-partition. I wipe out the whole drive, reinstall Mac, then try Windows again (call me crazy/paranoid. But I like clean installs without any hacks/workaround).

     

    Solution: yesterday, I thought to just use the Tuxera method (posted here earlier) and get Windows to install for now until Apple fix the issue. The Tuxera method worked great! Fresh Mac install (without even doing any updates) -> bootcamp assistant -> I only checked the last option to install Windows (Already have Windows 8.1 with drivers created earlier) -> split the drive 50/50 -> boot back to Mac -> format Bootcamp as NTFS (Tuxera) -> Boot back to Windows and let it install -> after the install was done, it automatically installed all the bootcamp drivers for me before even loggin in to the desktop. by the time Windows 8.1 finished insalling and logged in to the desktop, I already had all the drivers installed and ready to go.

     

    Whats Weird: After I did the Tuxera method, I thought to just reformat the whole disk and install clean OSx and try Windows 8.1 one last time! no hacks, no workarounds, no Tuxera!

     

    Fresh install Mac (internet install) -> as soon as I was in the desktop, I launched Bootcamp and split the drive 50/50 -> reboot automatically -> Followed Win 8.1 install prompts -> FORMAT BOOTCAMP, not delete/new, just format -> install! tada! everything went through just fine, no error at the end, also bootcamp drivers installed automatically with the Windows Setup! Took a while, but everything installed without a hitch

     

    Observation: I tried installing Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 many many times without any success, but when i tried the Tuxera method. It worked! Then when I wiped the whole disk and tried again without Tuxera! IT WORKED! so maybe when Tuxera formatted the NTFS drive, something got changed? Because now I just installed fresh Mavericks then fresh Windows 8.1 all with no errors and no workarounds!

  • by phathendo,

    phathendo phathendo Nov 1, 2013 5:03 PM in response to unknownsol0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 5:03 PM in response to unknownsol0

    Have you tried using Parallels or VMware to access Windows from the Mac side?  This is importnat for my workflow.

     

    Are you having the same battery drain issue others are having when booted via EFI mode into Windows?

     

    Thanks

  • by unknownsol0,

    unknownsol0 unknownsol0 Nov 1, 2013 5:07 PM in response to phathendo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 5:07 PM in response to phathendo

    I have not used parallels or VMware, I dont see why they would not work, both Mavericks and Win 8.1 are fresh installs with no hacks or workarounds!

     

    My Battery is very good, yesterday I was at 60% and in windows it said 2 hours and 45 mins remaining. Which seems a bit less than OSX, but thats expected.

  • by forbegos,

    forbegos forbegos Nov 1, 2013 10:11 PM in response to Ashtrash
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 1, 2013 10:11 PM in response to Ashtrash

    I did the same thing, but got an error at the end of the installation step, just after the "installing updates" part finished:

     

    Bootcamp Error.jpg

     

    Anybody getting this same error, it is getting really frustrating for me not being able to install Windows 8.  This use to be easy!

  • by windows_user,

    windows_user windows_user Nov 2, 2013 3:16 AM in response to forbegos
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 2, 2013 3:16 AM in response to forbegos

    So I also had trouble and managed to install Win8.1 in BIOS mode. Late-2013 15 inch MBPr, top spec with Nvidia gfx. I managed it using the workaround posted where you delete and recreate the bootcamp partition in disk utility and format it as Exfat.

     

    Anyway, I have a few questions.

     

    1. Why do I care about BIOS vs UEFI? What is the advantage of UEFI?

    2. I read that parallels doesn't work in UEFI? Is that true? http://kb.parallels.com/en/115815 "Parallels Desktop currently does not support migrating computers with GPT partitions and EFI/UEFI."

    3. So when I press the ` and ~ buttons on my keyboard, other weird characters are coming out. Is this an issue with the current bootcamp drivers? People mentioned it a few pages back.

    4. When I plug in a second monitor via thunderbolt to DVI, or even an apple thunderbolt monitor, in Windows if I try to play a video on the second monitor only the sound plays, while the video is stuck on one frame. If I play it on the macbook pro screen it's fine. This happens across different media players, VLC, WMP, MPC. However, when I plug a second monitor in via HDMI, it's fine. Any ideas what I can do?

     

    Thanks

  • by windows_user,

    windows_user windows_user Nov 2, 2013 3:39 AM in response to windows_user
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 2, 2013 3:39 AM in response to windows_user

    Oh, nevermind, I see there is a solution to the keyboard issue.

     

    Well that just leaves my questions 1, 2 and 4. Cheers

  • by Dogge,

    Dogge Dogge Nov 2, 2013 6:47 AM in response to jdhiro
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2013 6:47 AM in response to jdhiro

    Hi got my top spec 15" Retina last night and here is what i did to get win 8.1 running :

     

    1. Tried pretty much everything in this thread, without success.

     

    2. Some guys here mentioned installing Windows 7 first then upgrade to win 8. So I followed on that path.

     

    3. If you havnt got a windows 7 iso file, w7forums have the official ones. You can install them without a key and use that as a trial for 3 months. Nothing illeagal about it. I installed and created the usb key using bootcamp, just as normal. 50/50 Partition.

     

    4. Once Windows 7 trial was up and running I went straight to download Windows 8 iso with my key from : http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

     

    5. Upgraded to Windows 8. Installed all the windows updates.

     

    6. Went to the Windows Store, installed 8.1.

     

    Works like a charm.

  • by burnsgeek,

    burnsgeek burnsgeek Nov 2, 2013 6:54 AM in response to jdhiro
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2013 6:54 AM in response to jdhiro

    ok..... so i tried several solutions here to get a full windows 8.1 iso to work with my new 2013 macbook pro, to no avail.

     

    i then went through the bootcamp setup with a windows 8 pro iso  and it worked just fine... did nothing special just let bootcamp do its thing..

     

    so there is definately an issue with bootcamp and windows 8.1... apple please fix.

  • by chanlee007,

    chanlee007 chanlee007 Nov 2, 2013 9:10 AM in response to Dogge
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 2, 2013 9:10 AM in response to Dogge

    Thanks for the info! Downloading the Win 7 ISO now and hopefully it works for me.

  • by Cerebus360,

    Cerebus360 Cerebus360 Nov 2, 2013 9:22 AM in response to Nvtsallo
    Level 1 (13 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 2, 2013 9:22 AM in response to Nvtsallo

    I did step 7, and now my partitioned drive of 150GB is no where to be found...I can't format it and had to quit out of the installation process. And when I go onto Bootcamp, it says that i can partition, I click that and 350GB of space is available, the 150 is now where to be found. (My MacBook has 500GB) was there something I didn't right? Because now I'm frantically trying to recover the 150 GB back..

  • by oddjobs,

    oddjobs oddjobs Nov 2, 2013 10:42 AM in response to burnsgeek
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Nov 2, 2013 10:42 AM in response to burnsgeek

    I finally installed Windows 8.1 on my 13" 2013 retina MacBook Pro, but it took some doing and a little help from other posts.

     

    Ultimately, what worked was an ISO install via EFI Boot. 
    I used  Boot Camp Assistant to install a Win 8.1 ISO to a USB flash drive along with Apple's driver setup (first two checkboxes). 
    Boot Camp Assistant will rename the drive WININSTALL. 
    During the process you may be prompted for your Mac OS username and password to allow the process to continue.  If it fails, you probably left it alone too long like I did the first time.

     

    Because my original copy of Windows 8 came on disk, I had to use the following technique to download an ISO: http://www.neowin.net/news/here-is-how-to-get-the-windows-81-iso-and-create-a-us b-install-stick

     

    Unfortunately, when I first attempted to install Windows using the ISO downloaded using the above process, Windows setup would not accept my license key.  Unlike Windows 7, there wasn't an option to leave the key blank and activate Windows later.

     

    After a little more research, I found the following article about a Microsoft-supported process to restore that option: http://www.jmedved.com/2013/09/installing-windows-8-1-or-8-without-a-product-key /

     

    I also found the ei.cfg mentioned in the comments here (Robin Tick's post):

    http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-tip-download-windows-81-iso-windows -8-product-key

     

    The process involves adding an ei.cfg file to the sources folder on the WININSTALL thumb drive created by the Boot Camp Assistant..

     

    The body of the ei.cfg file should contain the following (well, this worked for me and was recommended by other posts):

     

    [EditionID]

    Professional

    [Channel]

    Retail

    [VL]

    0

     

    However, in order to ensure the ei.cfg file will be read properly by the setup process, I would create the .cfg file with Notepad in Windows (hopefully, you have another Windows machine around). 
    First save the file as ei.txt then rename it ei.cfg.  Click OK to the usual warning prompt about changing Windows file extentions.  Finally, transfer the ei.cfg file you've created to the sources folder on the WININSTALL USB drive.

     

    Phew!

    Yeah, that's a lot of hoops and tedium.  If you have a Microsoft volume license and are able to download a traditional ISO, you shouldn't experience the same trouble I did.

     

    Anyway, once the WININSTALL USB drive was prepared (with efi.cfg file in the sources folder), I plugged it back into Mac, restarted, held the option key, selected EFI boot and let her go.  I did try selecting Wininstall as the boot device, but that lead to a GPT error (you can't install windows on this partition... yada yada yada). 

     

    This time I was actually able to enter my license key at the appropriate point.  I had thought I'd have to leave it blank and enter it via activation the System control panel.

     

    This technique seems to ensure Apple's keyboard drivers are installed before the customization screen (so you'll be able to use the keyboard and trackpad).  It also runs the full Windows Boot Camp driver/utility suite prior to completion so there's very little to do once Windows boots.

     

    I hope this helps.  Enjoy!

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