Boot Camp Assistant Reboots to a Black Screen

Question

Level 1

9 points

Boot Camp Assistant Reboots to a Black Screen

I tried to install Windows 7 from a DVD onto my Mac mini using Boot Camp Assistant. Boot Camp Assistant partitioned my drive and restarted my computer but all I get is a black screen. The DVD drive spins up but nothing launches. When I unplugged the DVD drive the Mac mini won't boot to OSX I just get a light gray screen, then it turns black and says "Non-system disc Press any key to reboot". No keys on the bluetooth keyboard work.

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), 16 GB Ram

Posted on Sep 27, 2014 12:14 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 27, 2014 8:12 AM in response to TKDigiCom

1. What year is the Mac mini?

2. Bootcamp Assistant should allow you to create a USB which contains the Windows Installation media and the Bootcamp drivers using a USB drive formatted as FAT32 (MSDOS-FAT) and a DVD/ISO of Windows for a Mini.

3. The Mini is in the middle of Windows installation and its CSM-BIOS layer has been set to look for Windows Installation Media via USB/DVD.

4. You can switch to OS X by power-cycling the Mini and holding the ALT key.

5. BT keyboards cause problems, you need a USB keyboard.

6. You should not use a USB3.0 drive, it should be USB2.0 for the Installer to work properly.

Reply

Answer 2

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 8:52 AM in response to Loner T

1. I have a Mid 2011 Mac Mini.

2. I did use Boot Camp to make a USB. I think it only contains the drivers.

3. That makes since, I think it can't find the external, USB powered DVD drive.

4. I tried that, but I get the error "No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key.

5. I'll go buy one as soon as an Apple store opens.

6. I'm using a USB 2 thumb drive.

I read a bunch of posts last night and you're always so helpful Loner T, I really appreciate the help!

Reply

Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 27, 2014 9:14 AM in response to TKDigiCom

There should be three check boxes in Bootcamp Assistant. You should check the first two, put in a USB, put in the DVD in the external drive (that OS X will recognize) which should create a USB with both the Windows Installer and the Bootcamp drivers and is fully self-contained USB.

Then use BA and check only the third box and install Windows from the USB.

Can you test this method and report any issues?

Reply

Answer 4

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 9:26 AM in response to Loner T

I'm trying this on my MacBook pro now. BCA is asking me to select the ISO image from the DVD but I don't know what to select. Do you know what I should select?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 5

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 9:46 AM in response to TKDigiCom

I creating a .cdr with Disc Utility and will use Terminal to convert it to an ISO so I can create the USB needed.

Once I do that though I still can't get my Mac mini to boot at all. Command R didn't work and neither did holding down ALT.

Reply

Answer 6

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 27, 2014 10:18 AM in response to TKDigiCom

MBP is different from the Mini. I would not use that.

Reset NVRAM/SMC on the Mini -

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

OS X Mavericks: Reset your computer’s PRAM

Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs

Reply

Answer 7

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 3:55 PM in response to Loner T

I got the USB keyboard and got the Mac mini to boot. I removed the Windows partition.

I borrowed a Windows 7 laptop and downloaded the correct ISO from Microsoft for the license I have.

I used Boot Camp Assistant (first 2 check boxes) to put that ISO and the Apple support drivers on a 16GB USB 2 drive.

I shut down the Mac mini, removed the power cord, and removed both USB drives. (probably overkill)

I booted the Mac mini back up as normal, installed the 16GB USB 2 drive.

I opened Boot Camp Assistant, selected box 3, selected my partition size and clicked install.

Hope this works, I'll let you know when it's finished.

Reply

Answer 8

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 4:00 PM in response to TKDigiCom

It finished partitioning, went to a gray screen, the rebooted.

It made the apple boot up noise and went to a black screen with the error.

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

😢

Reply

Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 27, 2014 4:34 PM in response to TKDigiCom

You have the symptoms which are described here - Boot Camp: Windows installation boots to black screen with blinking cursor

Do not delete the Bootcamp partition. Do you have a Fusion drive or two physical disks in the Mini? What GPU do you have?

1. Post the output of sudo fdisk /dev/disk0 from the OSX Terminal.

2. Power cycle the Mac-mini with the USB with the Windows installer on it.

3. Hold the Alt key during power up and select the USB.

4. If the Windows installer does not start, please post here. There should only be the USB, USB Keyboard, USB Mouse and the Mini with an external display.

Reply

Answer 10

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 4:59 PM in response to Loner T

I have a singe 500GB HDD. Its the base model mini, Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB .

4. My only difference is my mouse is bluetooth, not USB, does that matter?

2. ,3. I followed the directions from that link. After I click on the Windows drive it goes back to the black screen with the no bootable device error.

1.

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 60801/255/63 [976773168 sectors]

Signature: 0xAA55

Starting Ending

#: id cyl hd sec - cyl hd sec [ start - size]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1: EE 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 1 - 409639] <Unknown ID>

2: AF 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 409640 - 848140824] HFS+

3: AB 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 848550464 - 1269536] Darwin Boot

4: 0B 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 849821696 - 126951424] Win95 FAT-32

Reply

Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 27, 2014 5:13 PM in response to TKDigiCom

1. Your MBR is correct.

2. Please use a USB mouse if you can.

3. If the Bootcamp volume is visible in Finder, can you see any files in that volume?

Reply

Answer 12

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 5:26 PM in response to Loner T

2. My wife just left to go buy a USB mouse.

3. The Bootcamp volume is visible in Finder under Devices. It is empty.

Reply

Answer 13

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 6:07 PM in response to TKDigiCom

Got the USB mouse, tried to boot without holding any keys and I get the same No bootable device error.

I tried booting holding down the Option key and I get the same error.

Reply

Answer 14

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 27, 2014 6:26 PM in response to TKDigiCom

I have two 2011 Minis installed using the USB/ISO method with W7 64-bit. Is your W7 DVD a 64-bit installer?

As a test, remove the USB, connect your DVD drive, put in your Windows DVD and check on the OSX side, whether it has a 64-bit W7 or not.

If it is 64-bit, power cycle the Mini and hold the Alt key and select the DVD, and check if the W7 installer comes up. You should have only the USB mouse and Keyboard and the Display?

Is the Display connected via the Display port or the HDMI (with an adapter)?

Reply

Answer 15

TKDigiCom Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 27, 2014 7:13 PM in response to Loner T

The DVD is brand new, I overnighted it from Amazon. The packaging and the disc both say it's 64 bit.

I looked at the disc and it's contents with Finder but could not find anything that said 32 or 64.

I power cycled the Mini and selected the DVD, the screen went blank black about 5 seconds later, and nothings happened for over 5 minutes.

All that is connected is the USB keyboard, USB mouse, display and USB DVD drive.

The display is HDMI and is connected to the HDMI port with a HDMI cable, no adapters.

Reply