XxHenryxX

Q: No bootable device - insert boot disk and press any key

OSX 10.9.3 - 2011 MacBook Pro (w/optical drive) - attempting Windows 7 install

  • Downloaded the correct .iso from Microsoft website
  • Plugged in USB drive (500GB)
  • Opened up Bootcamp
  • Bootcamp gives me the option to make a bootable USB
  • Great, so I choose that option
  • I run bootcamp assistant which downloads the correct support files, creates the Windows partition on the HD, creates the bootable USB
  • Bootcamp assistant finishes, tries to boot
  • Black screen with error message: "No bootable devices". No response from keyboard.

Restarting and holding the option key does not allow me to boot off of the USB. Bootcamp will only allow me to remove the Win partition and start over, but I feel like i'll get the same results

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), Bootcamp error

Posted on Sep 14, 2014 12:40 AM

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Q: No bootable device - insert boot disk and press any key

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  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 14, 2014 2:40 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 2:40 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    With any Mac that comes with a built in optical drive you have to install Windows from that optical drive, IE with a Windows DVD disc. Apple has restricted the install of Windows on those style Mac from only the DVD drive. It won't boot the Windows installer from a USB drive.

  • by XxHenryxX,

    XxHenryxX XxHenryxX Sep 14, 2014 3:19 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 3:19 AM in response to LowLuster

    my optical drive broke ;-;.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 14, 2014 4:05 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 4:05 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    Then if you want to install Windows you'll need to replace that built in optical drive. It won't work with an external, USB connected, optical drive. I has to be from the built in drive.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Sep 14, 2014 4:12 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 14, 2014 4:12 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    You can install a new optical drive -> http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/optical-drives/superdrives/.

     

    Also videos on HOW to replace the drive -> http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/.

     

    Good luck,

     

    Clinton

     

    MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS Mavericks 10.9.4, 16GB Crucial RAM, Crucial M500 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 14, 2014 4:34 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Sep 14, 2014 4:34 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    Do you still have the Bootcamp Partition on your internal HDD? To check you can run sudo disk /dev/disk0 from an OS X terminal.

     

    If your ODD is broken, can you

     

    1. Create a 8GB partition on your internal HDD.

    2. Burn the Windows ISO to this 8GB partition using Disk Utility and Restore with the .ISO file as the source and the destination being the the 8GB partition. . Please be careful not to wipe your OS X partition (A Time Machine backup) is highly recommended.

    3. The partition created in #1 puts you over the limit of the 4-partition Hybrid MBR that Bootcamp creates.

    4. Depending on what you find from the output of the sudo command, the Hybrid MBR can be manipulated such that the burnt DVD is a partition within the allowed four.

    5. At this point with the DVD in say Partition #3, Bootcamp as Partition #4, you can attempt a Windows install.

     

    You need to be comfortable with OS X Terminal and diskutil commands.

     

    On older MACs whose OD is broken, I have the OS X Install disks (the Grey ones) on internal HDD and the ALT key is used as the method to restore the Macs, like a poor man's RecoveryHD.

  • by XxHenryxX,

    XxHenryxX XxHenryxX Sep 16, 2014 2:24 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 16, 2014 2:24 AM in response to Loner T

    Is it possible to make a bootable usb drive?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 16, 2014 3:05 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Sep 16, 2014 3:05 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    1. In OSX, format the USB as MSDOS/FAT.

    2. Connect the external Optical drive.

    3. Insert DVD.

    4. In Disk Utility, Restore using the DVD volume (not the external Superdrive) as the source, and the USB as destination.

    5. Test with Alt key during power cycle. It should show you DVD when plugged in.

    6. The Bootcamp .zip appropriate for your HW can be downloaded from Apple website, and copied to the USB after unzipping in a folder. If you choose not to do this at all, you can download the .zip file after Windows is installed, directly on the Windows side and install the drivers.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 16, 2014 3:16 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 16, 2014 3:16 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    XxHenryxX wrote:

     

    Is it possible to make a bootable usb drive?

    It is a restriction Apple has put in the firmware of Mac computers that came with a built in DVD drive. It stops the Windows installer from starting from any other source.

     

    AFAIK there is no workaround except by loading the Win installer on the hard drive.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 16, 2014 4:01 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Sep 16, 2014 4:01 AM in response to LowLuster

    LowLuster wrote:

     

    It is a restriction Apple has put in the firmware of Mac computers that came with a built in DVD drive. It stops the Windows installer from starting from any other source.

     

    I have installed W8.1 on a 13" 2012 MBP with a built-in Optical drive using a W8.1 ISO and USB, without needing a physical DVD.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 16, 2014 4:03 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 9 (51,151 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 16, 2014 4:03 AM in response to Loner T

    Loner T wrote:

     

    LowLuster wrote:

     

    It is a restriction Apple has put in the firmware of Mac computers that came with a built in DVD drive. It stops the Windows installer from starting from any other source.

     

    I have installed W8.1 on a 13" 2012 MBP with a built-in Optical drive using a W8.1 ISO and USB, without needing a physical DVD.

    Many can't, so it is good that you are here to guide them through the (unsupported) procedure.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 16, 2014 4:15 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Sep 16, 2014 4:15 AM in response to Csound1

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    Many can't, so it is good that you are here to guide them through the (unsupported) procedure.

     

     

    Unsupported, by whom?  Please read...

     

    Boot Camp 5.1: Frequently asked questions

     

    Can I use a downloaded (ISO) version of Windows with Boot Camp?


    MacBook Air (Mid 2011 and later), MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later, including Retina models), Mac mini (Mid 2011 and later), and iMac (Late 2012) can install downloaded (ISO) versions of Windows 7 and 8.

     

     

    This is what I have on this MBP...


    USB-and-DVD.png

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 16, 2014 4:21 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 9 (51,151 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 16, 2014 4:21 AM in response to Loner T

    Loner T wrote:

     

     

    This is what I have on this MBP...


    USB-and-DVD.png

  • by XxHenryxX,

    XxHenryxX XxHenryxX Sep 20, 2014 7:23 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2014 7:23 AM in response to Loner T

    does it work the same with a late 2011 version?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 20, 2014 8:14 AM in response to XxHenryxX
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Sep 20, 2014 8:14 AM in response to XxHenryxX

    Your MBP is a 2011, either you can try burning the W DVD to an internal partition, or if you have an external SuperDrive. You need to have a Usb2 drive and burn an ISO image to it.  If you have a valid W product key, download the Iso from Microsoft website.

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