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Bootcamp 5.1.1 on Mac Pro Cylinder can't install Windows 8

Hi,

I've gone through almost every discussion regarding the common issue "Windows coud not update the computer's boot configuration" but none is related to Bootcamp version 5.1.1 and latest Mac Pro cylinder.

I already tried the solution presented by Jarvil at this discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5490486?answerId=23545780022#23545780022

Based on Jarvil's solution there is a very important thing that is not happening in my case, that is that I never get the option to boot from the "Windows" partition. I only have 3 options, 1) Macintosh HD 2) Recovery 3) EFI Boot.

By not having the option to boot from Windows partition I automatically deviate from Jarvil's solution.

So, I proceed with EFI boot, I reach the step where I have to select the partition and I pick the 4th partition and it says that Windows can't be installed in this partition so I delete/format it and proceed with installation and it goes all well until the very end where it's finishing the install that I get the message:

"Windows coud not update the computer's boot configuration".

I also tried skipping the install --> login into Mac OS X --> Disk Utility --> Delete partition --> Create ExFAT partition (tried FAT also) --> Reboot --> EFI Boot (Windows partition still not available) --> Format partition --> Proceed with install --> Same error again.

After the error, it reboots and then I get a blue screen (**** Windows blue screens) with a message:

Recovery

Your PC Needs to be repaired

The Boot Configuration Data file is missing some required information.

File: \BCD

Error code: 0x0000034

You'll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your system administrator or PC manufacturer.

So I reboot holding Option key and now the partition Windows appears and if I boot from it I get the same blue screen with the recovery error. So I reboot again and login into OSX, go to Disk Utility and delete the "Untitled" partition and I recreate it using ExFAT but then it gets stuck "Preparing to partition disk".

I'm attaching snapshots.

I really hope that someone from Apple support can provide a solution. Thank you very much in advance.

Alejandro

Mac Pro (Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jan 25, 2014 10:51 PM

Best reply

Number88

Level 3

806 points

Posted on Jan 26, 2014 5:07 AM

It's not an Apple response but it is something which worked for me. This is an exerpt from a post I made on another site. It's a bit involved and you may think this should not be necessary (and you'd be right) but if you want to try it you're welcome. No guarantess.

Install Windows again just like you did before with Bootcamp (but you may have to remove any traces of it first).

So starting again with Bootcamp Assistant and with Macintosh using the whole disc again begin the process.

Allow Windows to be installed as normal.

When the BCD error box opens up DO NOT click on OK - immediately do a hard shutdown of the Mac by holding the power button. This is so the changes are not rolled back.

Start up the Mac again holding the Alt key and choose the USB EFI Boot option in the boot menu (it will be orange). At this point if you get a Windows blue screen error shutdown and take out the USB then restart the machine holding Alt and at the boot menu plug in the USB again and do the above.

At the installer's start screen press shift + F10 to get a command prompt.

In the command prompt type

diskpart and hit enter

type

list volume and hit enter

Note the volume letters and numbers of all the volumes . One should be an EFI partition of type FAT32 and it will have no drive letter.

Now type

list volume and hit enter (note the letters and numbers of the displayed volumes) One will be your EFI partition of FAT32 type and it will have no letter, just a number.

type

select volume X (where X is the number of your EFI partition) and hit enter

type

assign letter=B and enter

type

exit and enter

type

bcdboot C:\Windows /l en-GB /s B: /f ALL *** note the /l en-GB is for locality and language and will default to English US if not changed. Obviously you need to change to your own locale and language code***

press enter (after checking all spaces etc). You may also struggle to find the \ key on your keyboard, it may change position once in command prompt!.

After a few seconds it should report that the boot files were written. If it does that you can type in

wpeutil reboot and press enter at which point your Mac will reboot. Hold the Alt key and choose your new EFI Boot option and hopefully Windows will boot.

Obviously all of this can be a little daunting and should not be taken on lightly. Having said that Windows is not currently installing and you've got nothing to lose. You can always go back to what you have now (with TM backups of course, and maybe even without).

Good luck

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148 replies

Number88

Level 3

806 points

Feb 1, 2014 1:14 PM in response to Community User

Alejandro, just to be clear, the USB will be called WININSTALL and the boot entry in the Alt + Boot menu could be WININSTALL or just plain Windows.

Rave-TZ

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2014 1:18 PM in response to Community User

I've tried all the options listed in this tread to no avail.

I'm using Windows 8 (not 8.1) downloaded from Microsoft and setup by bootcamp on a USB stick.
I have disconnected all external Thunderbolt HDDs during my attempts.
The USB storage containing the Windows 8 install is in the top-right USB port.
I modified the EFI partition to remove the Microsoft folder.
I still have a number of devices hooked up (USB devices, few displays).

This is installing on a Mac Pro Late 2013 (cylinder) on a 1TB configuration.

The ONLY error I've seen so far is the dreaded "Windows could not update the computer's boot conifguration. Installation cannot proceed."

If I attempt to boot the Windows partition at this point, the screen stays white and my Mac shuts down after 30 seconds or so.

Feb 1, 2014 1:20 PM in response to Community User

I'd like to see people begin posting their photos showing the Windows partition as an option and then Windows 8 actually running... or something. How about a youtube video showing the entire install process and showing the Mac Pro computer on their desk?

I called Apple Care yesterday and they literally HAD NO CLUE on how to make it work. So how can Apple be fixing some people installations but then they have no clue when the next person phones in?

So, forgive me that I'm being suspicious here but having dealt with computer issues for a long time, things don't work the way that are working for us in this thread. It's way too irregular, weird, odd to say the least.

Alejandro

Feb 1, 2014 5:39 PM in response to Number88

Feb 1, 2014 5:40 PM in response to Bradley07

We'll try something else

Feb 1, 2014 5:41 PM in response to Bradley07

Can we try something else

Feb 1, 2014 5:46 PM in response to Number88

Do this one

Feb 1, 2014 5:51 PM in response to Community User

This one

Feb 1, 2014 5:56 PM in response to Number88

All the program you can't install

Feb 1, 2014 5:59 PM in response to Bradley07

I know

Rave-TZ

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2014 7:28 PM in response to Community User

I got it working!

Remove ALL extra partitions so you're back to just one. (This may require you to boot the EFI USB stick in the windows install to remove the MSR 128mb partition)
enlarge your main partition to its maximum size and apply
mount your EFI partition and remove the BOOT and Microsoft folder (this is covered in this thread)
empty trash
go to disk utility and select your main drive. Hit verify. Note the EFI error. Now hit repair. Now do it again (important).
At this point you EFI should be clean, your partitions should be down to one. Just like before this whole mess started.
This is the key step. Find an app that prevents an automatic restart of MacOS. (I used MonoDevelop). Some apps prevent an auto restart if there is unsaved changes pending.
Now open the BootCamp assistant. Uncheck the first and second checkboxes and Install Windows 8.
Once finished, the computer will attempt to restart. Hopefully your app will prevent this from happening.
Leave the reset prompt open.
Go to Disk Utility and select the main drive. Go to the partitions and DELETE the BOOTCAMP partition (leave it empty, do not format it).
once complete, Verify and 2x repair the main drive again.
Now close the app that prevents reset to allow MacOS to reset.
It should boot the EFI USB stick with Windows 8.
Once you get to the partition selection for windows, select the Unallocated space (do not format or create new)
For me, the rest simply worked after this. It reset a couple times and Windows came up flawlessly.

This was on a Mac Pro late 2013 (cylinder) with 1 TB storage. I used Windows 8.0 (not 8.1) and the ISO came from Microsoft. I used Bootcamp assistant to create the bootable USB drive from the ISO.

Rave-TZ

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2014 10:04 PM in response to Rave-TZ

I did this a second time, but instead of simply deleting the BOOTCAMP partition, I added a 2nd partition in Mac format, then deleted BOOTCAMP (I like having 2 partitions for mac). This worked just fine.

Feb 1, 2014 11:33 PM in response to Community User

Wow some really weird stuff again after I tried this...

Unfortunately I still can't install but some really interesting errors came up. It's 2:20am and I need to go sleep and I can't post anything else until Sunday night (busy Sunday) however, here you got my screen photos in sequential order. At the very end, disk utility gets stuck "preparing to partition disk" as FAT32.

Can you please upload a Youtube video showing your entire installation process? Thank you!

User uploaded file

Rave-TZ

Level 1

9 points

Feb 2, 2014 2:05 AM in response to Community User

I removed all external drives so they wouldn't be listed. I never went into Advanced options in the windows install. I selected the unallocated space I created back when OSX was up.

When I tried to remove the garbage small partitions Windows made from previous tries Disk util failed. I booted the USB windows install just to use the advance options to delete the MSR partitions.

Feb 2, 2014 7:18 AM in response to Rave-TZ

Would you mind post a video of the entire installation?

Thanks,

Alejandro

Bootcamp 5.1.1 on Mac Pro Cylinder can't install Windows 8