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Can't install Windows 8 x64 on late 2013 MBP with1TB SSD

Just got my new MBP and I'm trying to install Windows 8 using Bootcamp. I've tried using the DVD (with the thumb drive bootstrapper created by Bootcamp) and also an image written to the thumb drive by Bootcamp. In both cases, the install seems to go fine -- files copied, files "readied" (whatever that means) and so forth, all the way to 100%. Right after this step, though, the installation quits with the popup error message:

"Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed."

The installation quits right there, and tells me "The installation was canceled" and "Any changes to your computer won't be saved." Then it reboots.


I have tried repairing the installation using a Windows 8 repair disk, and I've tried (using the command prompt from the repair disk) to fix the MBR. Nothing works.


My best guess is that the x64 drivers for this model are not working properly, but I really have no idea. Searching the 'net has yielded nothing helpful. I suppose I'll have to bring it in to the Genius Bar, but I'd really rather save that couple of hours if I can avoid it.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Late 2013, 2.6 GHz, 1TB SSD

Posted on Oct 23, 2013 9:24 PM

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120 replies

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

I've got the same problem here but i went to Apple store they swapped the macbook for me . Just wondering because i've already gone through the intial steps for installing window but actually it hasn't been installed properly and now i have a new machine , will i be experiencing any problems in terms of activation ?

Please if somebody knows or even has a hunch , help me 🙂

Oct 24, 2013 12:58 PM in response to Christian A. Burkert

Thanks for the info! I'm actually attempting to install Windows 8.0. I used the very same disc, in fact, to install Windows 8 on my old MBP (early 2010 17", OS 10.8) just a couple of months ago. Both the Windows 8 install and the Windows 7 install previous to that went fine. It seems to me that the problem must exist either in the hardware drivers for the new MBP, or in the version of Bootcamp that ships with Mavericks. It could be in the hardware itself, but that seems unlikely.


As for activation, I have never had an issue with it; for this present install I can enter the "CD-Key", and that works fine, but I can't actually activate Windows because it never fully installs.

Oct 24, 2013 6:59 PM in response to skipsizemore

Same here. Brand-new Retina MBP 15" Haswell 2.3GHz, trying to set up Windows 8 Pro (from full-version DVD on a USB SuperDrive) in Boot Camp in a 128GB partition; I enter my Windows key, then the installer spends a few minutes getting to 100% then it says:


"Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed."


At this point, whenever I would reboot my computer, it would come up a grey screen for a minute and then reboot again. I almost panicked, I though the Mac was dead, but then I remembered to hold down Option during boot and select the Mac partition, then use System Preferences to default to the Mac partition.


I guess we'll have to wait for a fix from Apple.

Oct 26, 2013 10:59 AM in response to skipsizemore

I'm having the same issue.


Late 2013 Macbook Pro/Haswell/15in/2.6Ghz/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Mavericks (fully updated).


Tried to install Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 with original full version (non-upgrade) ISOs from Microsoft MSDN via Bootcamp Assistant & USB.


Install always dies at the very end with "Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration. Installation cannot proceed".


Also tried unsuccessfully:


  • Formatting Windows partition with Tuxera NTFS
  • Non-EFI setup (using "Windows" selection in boot manager) - this dies with an error message that the partition is GPT style and can't install on it - also tried deleting/recreating partition, no success

After some 12 attempts also called Apple Care, who had me reset the entire computer via Internet Recovery, change Partition 1 from GPT to MBR, then back to GPT, recover, and try again.


It's not working, I still get the same error.

Can't install Windows 8 x64 on late 2013 MBP with1TB SSD

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