When will Bootcamp support Windows 8.1

Frustrated with Bootcamp because Bootcamp would not run the Windows 8.1 installer after hours and hours of searching for ways to do it on this site and I have the 8.1 Full Version. Finally believed the Apple note that Bootcamp 5 is not compatible with 8.1.

Since I needed to install some Windows software, I downloaded the Trial Version of Parallels Desktop 9. All is great! After installing Parallels 9, it nicely installed Windows 8.1. Much much nicer user interface to do this and run Windows. Installed my Windows application, no problem and runs perfectly, smoothly and fast on my iMac Late 2013 (3.1Ghz i7). I will definitely buy this.

White flag.

I'm installing windows 8. However, i spoke with a friend of mine, who works with windows, and he sais that 8.1 and 8 have the same system. For him, it's strange that W8.1 don't run on bootcamp. So, I hope that Apple can give an answer in a short time.

I understand, different situation. Another consideration is cost vs convenience. While I am happy to have a working Windows 8.1 using Parallels, it costs me $133.75 for a Blu-Ray optical, $128.40 for Windows 8.1 Full Version, and $80 for Parallels - total $342 plus countless hours researching and experimenting trying to get Bootcamp to install Windows. There was a point I was considering getting a cheap PC notebook, but it kills me even to hold the Windows disk. Microsoft Customer Service recommended I buy the 8.0 Pro Version at $299. Install that and upgrade to 8.1.

Curious - do you know Parallels 9 won't work for your application? There is a free 14 day trial. Good Luck.

Joe

full 8.1 is $108

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EDSI7QO/

you don't need Blu-Ray so that is just foolish throwing numbers around.

I suspect VirtualBox works and is free.

Somethings did change under the hood, a lot, contrary to your friends assertion that they are the same. Even security suites had to make changes to work.

BootCamp work Ok in Windows 8.1 on my PowerBook 17 2011. I don't remember... but think what I made installation files in MacOs system. Its version 5.0.

I installed Win 8.1 after purchasing the MBP Black friday 2013. Only issue i remember having was with partition selection screen didnt match the installation document from apple. Only issue i have now is my product key doesnt work. I'm using my technet ISO/license key combination which has worked for other installs.

I have to reinstall now so i will document any issues.

I went through the whole Windows 8.1 installation last night on my 2012 MBP. Here's what I did in case it helps anyone else...

1. Bought a Windows 8.1 key here: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-8.1/productID.288401 200
2. Downloading the ISO was unbelievably annoying. You need to run a little downloader utility on a Windows PC in order to do so! Luckily I have an old Windows laptop that is still limping along... The process is the same as documented here except in Step 1 you can click "Install Windows 8.1" if you've purchased a Windows 8.1 key (as opposed to using an older Windows 8.0 key). You can then skip the funny business in steps 3-4 of switching between different installers. In Step 7 choose the ISO option!!! You don't want Windows to create the installer. You want the Boot Camp Assistant to do it because it adds in some additional stuff that is important!!!
3. Move the ISO from your Windows computer that you've been using to get the image over to your Mac where you intend to install boot camp. I put the ISO on my desktop and plugged in an 8 GB USB drive (minimum is 5GB).
4. Run the boot camp assistant from Mavericks. The assistant automatically found/chose both the ISO and my USB drive when I ran it!
5. I had all 3 boxes checked in the assistant. It took a long time to create the USB drive!
6. Eventually you get to the step where you need to partition your drive for boot camp. I allocated 125GB for Windows, though depending on your intended usage that may or may not be appropriate.
7. At this point I ran into an error about not being able to partition the disk. If yours completes successfully consider yourself lucky and keep going. Here's what I did... In short I needed to do a "repair disk" from the Disk Utility. You need to boot into recovery mode to do this though. First shutdown. Second, hold down Command+R and then power on. At least on my 2012 MBP you select your Wifi Network and then it downloads (presumably) the recovery utilities. Eventually I got to the point where I could select "Disk Utility" and then click on my "Macintosh HD" and select "Repair Disk".
8. I booted back into Mavericks and re-ran the Boot Camp Assistant. This time I unchecked the first 2 boxes since I had already created the USB drive. I went back to the partitioning step and this time it succeeded. Thank goodness!!! :-)
9. At this point things were self-explanatory for the most part (selecting time zones, entering product keys, etc.).
10. Note that eventually you get to a step where you need to format a drive. There was a BOOTCAMP partition that was the 125GB size I had specified. Make you choose the right one!!! :-) I just clicked "Format" and then I was able to move on, i.e. there weren't a bunch of options related to how it should be formatted. (Microsoft must have simplified this! Much easier!)
11. It takes FOREVER for this to install. BE PATIENT!!! My computer has a solid state drive so I thought it would be very fast. Wrong! It took at LEAST 30 minutes, maybe more. The "almost done" screen seemed to be up at least 10 minutes. I expect on a normal magnetic hard drive it might be much longer yet, so be patient. Go get something done around the house and come back! ;-)
12. A wizard related to boot camp drivers comes up at the very end. Just click through and it installs all the necessary drivers.
13. I had one additional hiccup after Windows got started. After a few minutes of use when I clicked the Start button I got an all black screen where I could occassionally see the mouse cursor, but otherwise I couldn't see or do anything. I had to do a hard-shutdown and reboot. This time I went straight to the Windows Updates and installed all the available updates! That went fine and I haven't had any issues since...

So in short it seems like the "normal" path of using the Boot Camp Assistant does in fact work for Windows 8.1. There are a lot of small pitfalls along the way where I imagine people could be tripped up. I hope the summary of my experiences last night is helpful to a few people. Good luck! :-)

Doh -- disregard this post... (Sorry, I only see "edit" and not "delete" as an option!)

Spot on bgriffis! Thank you for posting what worked for you. I can confirm that following your steps, this worked on my late 2013 MBP. Once again, thank you.

I would be stuck at your step 1. No PC. My Work PC laptop prevents me from installing software. But, glad you mentioned this first. The only cost difference for me was buying Parallels for $59 since we all have to buy 8.1. But only 3 uneventful steps.

1. Install Parallels 9

2. Install 8.1

3. Install Windows app that forced me to need this process.

Done - no errors, no problems.

I was working with the Windows app in less than 20 minutes (iMac late 2013, 3.1Ghz i7, all SSD helps this) from start of step 1.

I admit I tried to work with what comes with MacOsX and assumed Bootcamp will work. And I tried. And tried. Then researched and researched. All that time wasted. When all it took was buying Parallels9. I admit I am cheap so I tried Bootcamp first.

However, i do not need Windows software that requires direct access to the graphics chip. But, the Parallels website does show screenshots of CAD/CAM apps.

I did not think I would use both 10.8.5 and Windows environment at the same time. But, it is quite useful and quick. Working the PC software then at the same time checking my email. And then back. For those not knowing, With Bootcamp you would have to quit your Windows app and restart your Mac in OSX.

Until a Bootcamps version works with 8.1, save a lot of time, go the Parallels route.

Jeez! 57,705 points gives you the awesome right to say "foolish"!? I did not say I needed Blu-ray. I will use it for burning and viewing a wide variety of optical disks. OK, I could have saved $53 buying a plain optical reader. And you "Suspect" Virtual Box works? Is there a way to take points away?

I managed to install win 8 on a late 2008 macbook pro, then upgrade to 8.1. Runs fine except no sound and cant right click using pad. Get a bootcamp driver update message which takes me to bootcamp 5. When I try to install this says 64 bit not supported on this machine, but windows wouldnt let me install 32 bit. version. Tried bootcamp 4 but this also wont run. Tearing my hair out on this.

Davy Parry wrote:

I managed to install win 8 on a late 2008 macbook pro, then upgrade to 8.1. Runs fine except no sound and cant right click using pad. Get a bootcamp driver update message which takes me to bootcamp 5. When I try to install this says 64 bit not supported on this machine, but windows wouldnt let me install 32 bit. version. Tried bootcamp 4 but this also wont run. Tearing my hair out on this.

Stop tearing your hair out. Windows 8.1 is not yet supported (no Boot Camp drivers/Windows Support software).

And despite your assertion that your installation runs fine, I don't think "...no sound and cant right click using pad." indicates that the computer with Windows 8.1 is running fine.