Q: How to install Windows 8.1 on Haswell MBP

How do you get Windows 8.1 to do a clean install on a Haswell based rMBP?

OS X Mavericks (10.9), 2.6Ghz 16GB 1TB

Posted on Oct 27, 2013 3:55 AM

I have this question too

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jarvil

Level 1 (10 points)

Create USB stick using Apple Bootcamp Assistant. This procedure only works with it.
When it Bootamp assitant reboots your machine you need to interrupt the installation.
When you hear the startup sound, hold option until it presents you with login options.
Select your Macintosh HD to boot back into OSX.
Run Disk Utility, select the Macintosh then choose the partitions tab.
The BOOTCAMP partition should be at the bottom. Select this partition by clicking on it. Ensure it is the highlighted partition then press minus to remove it.
Click apply on the bottom right to make the changes.
Now press plus to add a new partition which will likely be names Macintosh HD2
Select this new partition then you can define the settings on the right.
Rename this to BOOTCAMP.
Change the type to ExFAT.
Now click apply on the again to make the changes.
Reboot you Mac, press option again during the boot and this time select the Windows device with the USB logo on it. Its orange.
Now it will start the install process. When it gets to the list of partition you should see four of them. You want the last one. It will say it cannot install on this.
Make sure the fourth partition is selected then click format. When it is done the error message should be gone and you should be able to continue.
During install it will suggest turning on auto updates. I recommend you turn this off until the bootcamp drivers are installed. When it is finished prepping the install it will reboot.
Each time it reboots you will need to intervene by pressing option but from now on select the Windows device with the picture of the hard drive. It is a silver color
It will reboot two or three times during the install. Each time you will need press option during boot to reselect the Windows device on the hard drive.
At the end of the installation it will prompt you to install the Apple Bootcamp Drivers.

Posted on Oct 27, 2013 4:21 AM

Q: How to install Windows 8.1 on Haswell MBP

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by Apric,

Apric Nov 1, 2013 12:11 PM in response to ch33rful
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Nov 1, 2013 12:11 PM in response to ch33rful

I know you never mentioned EFI, but for those reading I was unable to install 8.1 using EFI on a PC mobo using the Windows 7 tool as it is not GPT.

If the same limitation applies here, use this method instead:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create- windows.html
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by jarvil,

jarvil Nov 1, 2013 1:47 PM in response to Apric
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Nov 1, 2013 1:47 PM in response to Apric

Thanks, I tried that already and failed before I ended up doing a BIOS install. You must have the Bootcamp drivers on the EFI install media or you will just get a blank screen with an install cursor when you boot. The relevant files are the folder that ends and starts with $ and the autounattend file. These are created by Boocamp when it creates a USB stick from your ISO.
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by jarvil,

jarvil Nov 1, 2013 1:52 PM in response to ch33rful
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Nov 1, 2013 1:52 PM in response to ch33rful

ch33rful,

Thats pretty much identical to what I posted. The only difference is you have bootcamp stuff on a seperate USB. This didn't work for me because without the bootcamp drivers on the USB stick I get blank screen.
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by peter.y,

peter.y Nov 7, 2013 10:44 AM in response to jarvil
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Nov 7, 2013 10:44 AM in response to jarvil

Hi, Jarvil,

would instaling it this way compromise the abilily of my windows partition to switch graphics between the two? I have the new 2013 rMBP 15.
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by Apric,

Apric Nov 7, 2013 11:27 AM in response to peter.y
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Nov 7, 2013 11:27 AM in response to peter.y

I just tried this on late 2013 Retina 13". Had no problems. Created bootcamp usb in OSX. Then booted from USB with EFI. Windows installed without error and the hdd is definitely GPT. Only unusual thing I did was overwrite another Windows install which I realised was not EFI, and manually formatted the bootcamp partition.
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by peter.y,

peter.y Nov 7, 2013 11:31 AM in response to Apric
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Nov 7, 2013 11:31 AM in response to Apric

so when you hold down option key upon booting, do you choose EFI or Windows (the bootable usb that I've just created)?
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by Apric,

Apric Nov 7, 2013 1:06 PM in response to peter.y
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Nov 7, 2013 1:06 PM in response to peter.y

I held down option and chose EFI windows to install from the bootable USB. After install just WIndows.
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by DonaldLe,

DonaldLe Nov 7, 2013 1:51 PM in response to jarvil
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Nov 7, 2013 1:51 PM in response to jarvil

Can you install Windows 8.1 without having any other Windows OS? Also, how did you guys get the iso file for Windows 8.1?

I just bought a new late 2013 mbpr and am confused on how to run Windows 8.1 on it! Help please!
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by jarvil,

jarvil Nov 7, 2013 4:07 PM in response to peter.y
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Nov 7, 2013 4:07 PM in response to peter.y

peter.y wrote:

Hi, Jarvil,

would instaling it this way compromise the abilily of my windows partition to switch graphics between the two? I have the new 2013 rMBP 15.

There is no Intel Iris support in Bootcamp presently. No-one can get this to work on the new rMBP. Its the Nvidia 750M only at this time.
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by jarvil,

jarvil Nov 7, 2013 4:10 PM in response to DonaldLe
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Nov 7, 2013 4:10 PM in response to DonaldLe

DonaldLe wrote:

Can you install Windows 8.1 without having any other Windows OS? Also, how did you guys get the iso file for Windows 8.1?

I just bought a new late 2013 mbpr and am confused on how to run Windows 8.1 on it! Help please!

There is no requirement to have an existing Windows Operating System. Your installation media may require it if it is an upgrade version.

Getting the ISO is quite easy. Use imageburn to make one from the DVD.

See the instructions at the start of this discussion.
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by jarvil,

jarvil Nov 7, 2013 4:11 PM in response to StephenBMac
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Nov 7, 2013 4:11 PM in response to StephenBMac

StephenBMac wrote:

jarvil,

If I install Windows 7 instead of 8 would you expect me to require the same MBR workaround?

No idea, I dont have Windows-7 to test.
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by jarvil,

jarvil Nov 7, 2013 7:08 PM in response to jarvil
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Nov 7, 2013 7:08 PM in response to jarvil

~

Message was edited by: jarvil
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by DonaldLe,

DonaldLe Nov 7, 2013 9:38 PM in response to jarvil
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Nov 7, 2013 9:38 PM in response to jarvil

i am a bit confused as to which Windows 8.1 version you are supposed to have to do a fresh install of windows. Having a new MBPr, I have no old Windows OS.

Would this Windows 8.1 version be useable if I wanted to do a fresh install?
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-8.1-Pro-for-Students /productID.288769600

Thanks!
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by Apric,

Apric Nov 8, 2013 4:27 AM in response to DonaldLe
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Nov 8, 2013 4:27 AM in response to DonaldLe

Yes that will work fine.
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by superespen,

superespen Nov 8, 2013 10:56 AM in response to jarvil
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Nov 8, 2013 10:56 AM in response to jarvil

This worked for me. Thanks a lot!

I have a MBPr 15 with dual graphics. Did not work installing Windows 8.1 by normal bootcamp procedure.

EDIT: Bought the Windows 8.1 from the Microsoft store and downloaded it (ISO-file).
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