I took the following steps to install Windows 8.1 on my late-2009 13” Macbook Pro. I’m also able to install the latest bootcamp drivers (5.1.5621). Unfortunately, the system fails to boot if I install any version of the NVIDA driver for my GeForce 9400M. The system’s video runs as “Windows Basic Display” as a result, and I can’t take advantage of the GPU. Not sure what to try next - any help would be appreciated.
Steps to install Windows w/ Bootcamp Drivers:
1) (Note: I’ve replaced my superdrive with a separate drive for Windows 8.1, and Mavericks is on it’s own SSD). In Disk Utility, create single a free space partition on the Windows 8.1 drive.
2) Modify and Bootcamp’s Info.plist according to the steps shown here:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1414851
and sign it with:
sudo codesign -fs - /Applications/Utilities/Boot\ Camp\ Assistant.app
3) Using Bootcamp Assistant, create a bootable USB (in “select tasks,” also check the second box to download the latest support software from Apple).
4) Reboot with “option” and select the USB (now labeled EFIboot)
5) Use the windows installer to create a new partition, format it, and install windows
6) Download the latest bootcamp drivers from Apple (version 5.1.561 - although same results with all versions of 5.0 drivers). Since “setup.exe” gives an error, navigate to “\BootCamp\Drivers\Apple\BootCamp.msi” and run it from an elevated command prompt to install bootcamp drivers.
7) **IMPORTANT: At this point, the NVIDIA drivers that come with bootcamp (v. 337.88) cause windows to crash. Just before reaching the login prompt, the screen goes blank and the system reboots. Uninstalling the NVIDIA graphics drivers in Safe Mode allows Windows to boot - except with poor video support.
8) To fix the exclamation mark next to “Coprocessor” in Device Manager, Download BootCamp 4.0.4033 (later versions do not help with this error). Right click and “Update Drivers” and point it to the BootCamp directory.
9) Windows Update will recommend a chipset update (15.35_nforce_win7_64bit_international_whql.exe). This will offer an SMU update, an ethernet update, and a storage driver update. Only the SMU update works - the other two produce an identical crash.
I’ve tried NVIDIA driver versions 331.82, 335.23, and 340.52. All of them crash during installation (the screen goes black and the system reboots), preventing the driver from installing. Installing from safe mode produces the same boot-up error as the 337.88 driver. I’d be gratefull for any direction.
Cheers,
vrl2