MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2013) will not install Windows 8.1 Pro under Boot Camp?

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MacBook Pro 15" (Late 2013) will not install Windows 8.1 Pro under Boot Camp?

Have spent many hours trying to sort this out. I was told this morning in the end by a 'Senior Advisor' @ Apple that Boot Camp does not support Windows 8.1 Pro so effectively it seems like my only option for a new machine purchased earlier in the week is to return for a refund.

This despite the Apple Spec saying "

Windows 8: Windows 8 or 8.1, Windows 8 or 8.1 Pro (Boot Camp 5 only)"

The subject has been aired in thread https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5474320?start=585&tstart=0 but it has been suggested I post a fresh thread.

I have purchased a new 8.1 Pro license, so this is not an upgrade. I have followed the Boot Camp instructions, including getting the update for this model spcifically, but the nearest I got to a successful install returns soemthing of the like 'Unable to update boot settings' or the like and installation cancels. My machine is a mess I guess now, but in a final effort - does anyone have the step by step 'idiots guide' to working through the setup successfully? I don't want to get involved in massses of messing around with files as this should clearly not be necessary for achieving an advertised solution on a new machine bought within the last week should it?

Appreciate any help - I have up to seven more days left in my option to return for a full refund..... and maybe buy a Dell instead?

PS : We have many Apple products, Air, ipads and iphones so would dearly like to sort this out if possible.

Thanks for any help...

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), New Machine, purchased ex Apple Sto

Posted on Apr 18, 2014 5:36 AM

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Answer 1

Rudegar

Level 10

170,706 points

Apr 18, 2014 6:50 AM in response to tocker100

this is a user helping user forum so we are users like you so if you buy a dell we do no loose revenue or the likes

I have an imac from 2011 and I've run windows 7 ultimate 64bit->windows 8 pro-> windows 8.1 pro on it

if you do with the warn apple of your purchase of dell machines you should use the feedback channel

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 2

turbostar

Level 4

2,941 points

Apr 18, 2014 8:38 AM in response to tocker100

8/8.1 will install fine but there's some stuff you need to do before starting to ensure no issues

purchase a retail 8/8.1 license

use only a USB2 flash drive

get a clean 8 or 8.1 ISO

newer machines are more selective with the ISO for some reason (ISOs that worked to install Windows on many different older Macs would not work)

if you've made lots of changes, hacks and adjustments trying to get this work on your own, you should clean install OSX first, do not restore from time machine and start at step 3 to get Windows installed, you can go back later and copy files back to OSX

if you want to try without clean installing OSX, here goes

open boot camp assistant (bca) and choose option 3 ONLY if it reads 'remove/delete' Windows
open disk utility (du) and confirm that your HD now only has 1 single partition ('macintosh HD' unless you've renamed it)
restart machine and do a PRAM reset
open du and repair permissions TWICE
open bca and choose all 3 options (create, download, install)

from here, the process follows the standard boot camp instructions (http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf) but pay attention to step 3 where you do have to manually reformat the boot camp partition

clean ISOs

http://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/download-windows-8-pro/

http://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/windows-8-1-download/

if you are trying to clean install 8.1, google clean install 8.1 with windows 8 key for steps like this

http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/735517-how-install-windows-8 -1-clean-your-windows-8-upgrade-key.html

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Answer 3

tocker100 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2014 8:43 AM in response to turbostar

Thanks, will give it a go. Should this end up with a robust solution?

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Answer 4

tocker100 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2014 11:45 AM in response to turbostar

Absolutely amazing, so grateful! I followed your instructions and the install worked a dream. The only worry was when its seemed to take ages to get over the 'Almost There' section...

Would recommend this to anyone else seeking to install Windows 8.1 Pro on Boot Camp. Obviously I have not had time to check everything, but just wanted to get on and thank you straight away. Does beg the question why Apple should try to convince me this system is not supported, but that's for another day perhaps....

Once again - brilliant... thanks!!

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Answer 5

turbostar

Level 4

2,941 points

Apr 18, 2014 11:56 AM in response to tocker100

you're very welcome, glad it worked

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Answer 6

Seraphae

Level 1

0 points

Aug 23, 2014 4:18 PM in response to turbostar

I spoke to Apple over their live chat after I got this error, and they didn't have any idea why it wouldn't work. This post needs to be linked to them, because it was the ONLY thing that worked for me. Perfect. Possibly the NVRAM reset did the trick for me, since I tried it with just the permissions repair and it didn't work.

Thank you so much! 🙂

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Answer 7

wowysic

Level 1

8 points

Aug 24, 2014 9:20 AM in response to tocker100

Также столкнулся с этой проблемой. У меня на последней стадии завершения работы установки Windows 8, выходит сообщение о невозможности обновить конфигурацию оборудования. Народ помогите.

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Answer 8

Nov 19, 2014 8:33 AM in response to turbostar

Thanks brother now i hope my problem will be solved .🙂🙂🙂🙂

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