USB Drive won't boot

Question

USB Drive won't boot

Ive got a Macbook Pro Retina late 2013 model with OS X Yosemite Beta 2.

Im trying to use BootCamp to create a bootable Windows 7 64bit USB. Bootcamp creates the bootable USB but it doesn't show up in the startup boot menu when holding down 'Alt' All Ive got the is OS X drive and OS X recovery drive. Even tried a 32bit image, same.

Ive even tried a USB superdrive with a Windows 7.iso on it. This shows in the boot menu, but when windows 7 installer comes up, my keyboard, trackpad and USB doesn't work.

Help??

Posted on Aug 31, 2014 8:12 AM

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Answer 1

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 31, 2014 8:16 AM in response to Tristram Davies

Beta software may not be discussed here but as you have enrolled in the test please remember to report the results back to Apple.

Then delete the partition and restore from your backup.

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 31, 2014 8:25 AM in response to Tristram Davies

This is an issue with USB 2.0 vs USB 3.0 and support during the installation. If you can find a USB 2.0 stick, it would serve you better. Mac will happily support both on the Late 2013 MBPs.

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Answer 3

Aug 31, 2014 10:05 AM in response to Loner T

ooh. I think my USB drive is a USB 1 stick. So I need a USB 2 stick And that will allow boot?

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Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 31, 2014 10:09 AM in response to Tristram Davies

On the OSX side plug-in your USB and check About This Mac -> More Info -> System Report -> USB. The issue is usually that the loaded drivers do not recognize the USB. The same is true for a SuperDrive. Windows installer does not have a driver for it.

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Answer 5

Aug 31, 2014 10:13 AM in response to Loner T

Ok will check that.

Ive also got a problem with the retina not seeing USB card readers. Must be because it's usb1. The reader doesn't even show in the osx profiler!

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Answer 6

Sep 1, 2014 9:07 AM in response to Loner T

Ok,

I brought a new USB3 stick today. Used bootcamp to make a Windows 7 bootable USB. But again it doesn't show up on the boot menu when I hold down Alt.

When bootcamp restarts to go into Windows 7 installer it comes up with error message ' Non system disk' press any key. I assume this is because it can't find the USB stick.

Any ideas why its doing this?

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:18 AM in response to Tristram Davies

You will need a USB2 stick for Windows, USB3 and USB1 both have issues. You should also try all USB slots.

A USB3 stick should show up using the Alt key though. Does it show up under USB devices in the System Profiler on the OSX side?

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Answer 8

Sep 1, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Loner T

Nope, doesn't even show up in the boot menu.

The only thing I can get to show is a Windows 7 32 or 64bit in the external superdrive. It loads that, but once the windows installer GUI comes up nothing works, keyboard, trackpad or any of the USB ports.

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:52 AM in response to Tristram Davies

If the USB is not visible, none of the KVM drivers can load either.

Can you post a screen shot of the USB as seen in DU and in the System Profiler on the OSX side?

If BA can initialize and create the drivers+iso combination, obviously the USB drive works.

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Answer 10

Sep 1, 2014 10:54 AM in response to Loner T

Here you go 🙂 whats DU?

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Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Sep 1, 2014 11:08 AM in response to Tristram Davies

DU is Disk Utility. The link seems to be broken. I get an error from the image.

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Answer 12

Sep 1, 2014 11:11 AM in response to Loner T

HHmm odd, I used the forum uploader.

I think I might of solved it!

what I've done is let boot camp do it's thing again and create a USB and partition the drive. before it reboots the mac to install windows, I plugged in my SuperDrive with a copy of Win7 64bit. And I left the USB stick in.

its rebooted and has loaded the cd and the cursor and keyboard works.

windows installer at 27% so far. Fingers crossed

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