Problem installing Windows (7, 8.0, 8.1) on BOOTCAMP - Mavericks

Question

Problem installing Windows (7, 8.0, 8.1) on BOOTCAMP - Mavericks

Hallo guys,

First I want to say thanks a lot to Christopher Murphy, because one and a half years ago I was having problems the same like the 1st post on that topic and with the instructions from Christopher I was able to get back my BOOTCAMP with Windows 7. Now I think that the commands from the 1st post changed something that is making my current problem appear. All was working like a charm till few days ago when I was get a decision to update to Mavericks.

Previously I was with Mountain Lion 10.8 and with Windows 7 on Bootcamp. The hardware is iMac Late 2010 27'' with 1Tb SATA HDD.

Few days ago I have deleted the BOOTCAMP partition and resized the disk to only 1 partition (with Bootcamp wizzard). Then I made a boot usb stick with Mavericks and then started the installation of Mavericks from my USB Stick. I have deleted all partitions and created a new one when the installation asked me to choose a partition. So everything was fine and Mavericks is ok and working great. Now the problematic part.

I have created a Bootable USB Stick with Windows 8.1 first. I used some windows program to made it which I was using before and never had a problems on normal Computers (PC, not Apple) to boot and installing that windows from the same USB Flash Stick and the same Windows 8.1 and so on. I started Bootcamp Wizzard on my new Mavericks and than I notice that I have only 2 options there:

1. Download drivers

2. Install windows 7 or later version

I have already the bootcamp software support drivers downloaded before and I have leave only the second tick checked.

I tried to press Continue, but the Wizzard told me that it doesn't recognize a Windows DVD and cannot continue. Asked me to insert a Windows DVD and to continue.

Now it's time to say that my DVD device is not working and I cannot use it.

So I was thinking that the problem is coming from my USB Stick and tried few other programs to make a bootable usb stick with windows. That doesn't help.

I started to read and googling the internet. I tried few options from some guys with a close problems. Reset with Options+CMD+P+R, to format USB Stick fully etc. Then I found that if I install daemon tools and mount a Windows 8.1 ISO the Bootcamp Assistant will continue on the next step and will build the BOOTCAMP partition. I made that and restarted the computer with the USB Stick plugged in. I got a message that there're no system disk and to insert one and to press any key to continue (or something like this). Then I made a hard restart and tried to hold the ALT (Option) key after the startup chime. I got the list of bootable devices, but the usb stick wasn't there 😟Only Mavericks partition and HD Recovery one. Tried few more things with no luck.

Then I found a topic where a few guys explaining how to get the 1st option on Bootcamp Wizzard (Create a Windows 7 or later version install disk). I changed the plist file in Bootcamp Assistant, then signed the app with xcode tools and yahoo, I got that option enabled.

I made again a bootable usb stick with windows 8.1 from ISO with the Bootcamp Assistant 1st option. Then when I restarted the Mac keeping the ALT pressed it was a surprise that the USB stick with windows 8.1 showed up. I started Windows 8.1 setup, entered the serial number and then I selected the BOOTCAMP partition and the Next button wasn't active and error message was written that:

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks."

I tried format, delete partition, create new etc with no luck. Then I tried to recreate the bootcamp partition with Disk Utility, but with ExtFAT format and again no luck. I found another topic on internet where some guys are talking that only Windows 7 can be installed in that way on Mavericks BOOTCAMP. I don't know that this is true or not, but I tried with Windows 8.1, Windows 8.0 and now I'm going to get a Windows 7 from a friend these days, but I don't think that it will work.

Is there someone who can help me out somehow or to tell me some tips or opinions what to do next?

Here are few infos:

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$ df -h

Filesystem Size Used Avail Capacity iused ifree %iused Mounted on

/dev/disk0s2 558Gi 53Gi 505Gi 10% 13861731 132462763 9% /

devfs 191Ki 191Ki 0Bi 100% 661 0 100% /dev

map -hosts 0Bi 0Bi 0Bi 100% 0 0 100% /net

map auto_home 0Bi 0Bi 0Bi 100% 0 0 100% /home

/dev/disk0s4 372Gi 2.7Mi 372Gi 1% 0 0 100% /Volumes/BOOTCAMP

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$ diskutil list

/dev/disk0

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *1.0 TB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_HFS iMac 599.3 GB disk0s2

3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3

4: Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP 400.0 GB disk0s4

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$ diskutil cs list

No CoreStorage logical volume groups found

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$ sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=1000204886016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1953525168

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Suspicious MBR at sector 0

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Sec GPT at sector 1953525167

start size index contents

0 1 MBR

1 1 Pri GPT header

2 32 Pri GPT table

34 6

40 409600 1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

409640 1170595968 2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1171005608 1269536 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1172275144 56

1172275200 781248512 4 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

1953523712 1423

1953525135 32 Sec GPT table

1953525167 1 Sec GPT header

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$ sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 121601/255/63 [1953525168 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 - 1170595968] HFS+

3: AB 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [1171005608 - 1269536] Darwin Boot

4: 0B 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [1172275200 - 781248512] Win95 FAT-32

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$ sudo dd if=/dev/rdisk0 count=1 2>/dev/null | hexdump -C

00000000 33 c0 8e d0 bc 00 7c 8e c0 8e d8 be 00 7c bf 00 |3.....|......|..|

00000010 06 b9 00 02 fc f3 a4 50 68 1c 06 cb fb b9 04 00 |.......Ph.......|

00000020 bd be 07 80 7e 00 00 7c 0b 0f 85 0e 01 83 c5 10 |....~..|........|

00000030 e2 f1 cd 18 88 56 00 55 c6 46 11 05 c6 46 10 00 |.....V.U.F...F..|

00000040 b4 41 bb aa 55 cd 13 5d 72 0f 81 fb 55 aa 75 09 |.A..U..]r...U.u.|

00000050 f7 c1 01 00 74 03 fe 46 10 66 60 80 7e 10 00 74 |....t..F.f`.~..t|

00000060 26 66 68 00 00 00 00 66 ff 76 08 68 00 00 68 00 |&fh....f.v.h..h.|

00000070 7c 68 01 00 68 10 00 b4 42 8a 56 00 8b f4 cd 13 ||h..h...B.V.....|

00000080 9f 83 c4 10 9e eb 14 b8 01 02 bb 00 7c 8a 56 00 |............|.V.|

00000090 8a 76 01 8a 4e 02 8a 6e 03 cd 13 66 61 73 1c fe |.v..N..n...fas..|

000000a0 4e 11 75 0c 80 7e 00 80 0f 84 8a 00 b2 80 eb 84 |N.u..~..........|

000000b0 55 32 e4 8a 56 00 cd 13 5d eb 9e 81 3e fe 7d 55 |U2..V...]...>.}U|

000000c0 aa 75 6e ff 76 00 e8 8d 00 75 17 fa b0 d1 e6 64 |.un.v....u.....d|

000000d0 e8 83 00 b0 df e6 60 e8 7c 00 b0 ff e6 64 e8 75 |......`.|....d.u|

000000e0 00 fb b8 00 bb cd 1a 66 23 c0 75 3b 66 81 fb 54 |.......f#.u;f..T|

000000f0 43 50 41 75 32 81 f9 02 01 72 2c 66 68 07 bb 00 |CPAu2....r,fh...|

00000100 00 66 68 00 02 00 00 66 68 08 00 00 00 66 53 66 |.fh....fh....fSf|

00000110 53 66 55 66 68 00 00 00 00 66 68 00 7c 00 00 66 |SfUfh....fh.|..f|

00000120 61 68 00 00 07 cd 1a 5a 32 f6 ea 00 7c 00 00 cd |ah.....Z2...|...|

00000130 18 a0 b7 07 eb 08 a0 b6 07 eb 03 a0 b5 07 32 e4 |..............2.|

00000140 05 00 07 8b f0 ac 3c 00 74 09 bb 07 00 b4 0e cd |......<.t.......|

00000150 10 eb f2 f4 eb fd 2b c9 e4 64 eb 00 24 02 e0 f8 |......+..d..$...|

00000160 24 02 c3 49 6e 76 61 6c 69 64 20 70 61 72 74 69 |$..Invalid parti|

00000170 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 62 6c 65 00 45 72 72 6f 72 |tion table.Error|

00000180 20 6c 6f 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 | loading operati|

00000190 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 00 4d 69 73 73 69 6e |ng system.Missin|

000001a0 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 |g operating syst|

000001b0 65 6d 00 00 00 63 7b 9a af 3c b0 3c 00 00 00 fe |em...c{..<.<....|

000001c0 ff ff ee fe ff ff 01 00 00 00 27 40 06 00 00 fe |..........'@....|

000001d0 ff ff af fe ff ff 28 40 06 00 80 e0 c5 45 00 fe |......(@.....E..|

000001e0 ff ff ab fe ff ff a8 20 cc 45 20 5f 13 00 00 fe |....... .E _....|

000001f0 ff ff 0b fe ff ff 00 80 df 45 00 e8 90 2e 55 aa |.........E....U.|

00000200

Julians-iMac:~ julianstefanov$

Thanks in advance!

Julian

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Oct 14, 2014 2:08 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 14, 2014 2:36 PM in response to JulianStefanovS

Assuming you want to install W8.1 (not W7), since you iMac has a built-in Optical Drive, Bootcamp Assistant will set the CSM-BIOS to boot from the Optical drive.

If you use W8.1, you can either EFI Boot or boot into legacy BIOS-based installer.

With the traditional method, on your specific machine model, you boot from the BIOS installer via the Optical drive not the USB, so you are "cheating" a bit.

Your disk is currently partitioned for a CSM-BIOS method using an MBR and when you select the USB, you are more than likely selecting the the "EFI Boot" (as indicated by your error message) selection when you see it while holding the Alt key. You need to decide which method you want to use. If you choose the legacy BIOS method your internal drive is correctly partitioned as an MBR disk. If you can boot from the internal Optical drive using a W8.1 DVD, the installer can use the current MBR setup.

On preUEFI Mac models, as listed here in this plist, if you try the EFI method, you will run into Graphics/Audio driver issues.

If you have the W8.1 DVD, can you use that in your Optical drive and do a "normal" (BIOS-based) installation? Is your Optical drive working?

Your drive is already partitioned for MBR.

If you really want to force the EFI method, delete the the Bootcamp partition via Disk Utility, make sure the entire disk is a GPT-only disk, create a new GPT partition using DU and format it as Free Space, boot EFI via the USB you have and use the designated GPT partition for Windows. It will split this into two parts 128MB Microsoft System Reserved + rest of the partition as Windows). There are issues with this approach where you can get no boot disk errors, because the preUEFI models cannot start the MSR partition and get theboot loader/manager to work correctly. I do not recommend this for your specific machine. Late 2013+ Macs will work with EFI, but prior to that there are many issues. I have an EFI installation on a 15" Late 2013 rMBP (MacbookPro11,3).

Here is the identification of iMac models - How to identify iMac models. As indicated iMac13 (and older machines) are preUEFI models.

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2014 2:44 PM in response to Loner T

I cannot see the attached picture, but now I understand where the problem is and I think the next step will be to open and clean up my optical drive lens, because it cannot read any DVD/CD.

Thanks a lot for your really good and fast answer!

I'll write here again when I fix my optical drive and do some tests with a DVD Boot.

Regards,

Julian

Reply

Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 14, 2014 2:54 PM in response to JulianStefanovS

JulianStefanovS wrote:

I cannot see the attached picture...

The Apple JiveServer has an issue serving images. Here is an external link - http://imgur.com/AnAEeeQ

... now I understand where the problem is and I think the next step will be to open and clean up my optical drive lens, because it cannot read any DVD/CD.

Thanks a lot for your really good and fast answer!

I'll write here again when I fix my optical drive and do some tests with a DVD Boot.

There have been attempts to use an external USB-connected Optical Drive. I have not seen a success yet, but if you have one handy, you may want to try it.

From Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows operating systems

A built-in optical drive, or a compatible external optical drive is required if you are using an install disc

This may only be valid for Macs that do not have a built-in Optical drives, like MBAs, later MBPs and the Unibody Macminis.

From 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.

Please post back here if you have any issues.

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Answer 4

Oct 15, 2014 3:32 PM in response to JulianStefanovS

Hallo again,

I tried to clean up the lens, but it doesn't want to read any DVD/CD still, so maybe the problem is bigger with my optical device.

Can someone told me is that drive can fit on my iMac Mid 2010 27''

I have only the description of the product. Mine is GA32N also, but I'm not sure if they're all compatible. This is the device which I can buy right now:

Apple GA32N 678-0603C Super Drive A32NA CD/DVD-RW

Reply

Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 15, 2014 7:05 PM in response to JulianStefanovS

Using https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_27%22_EMC_2390

and https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2390+Optical+Drive+Replaceme nt/8918

Look at step 10 (https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/jJhwSRnKSjThYh5y.huge) which shows a GA11N.

You can also check with the Apple Store or an AASP on what the part number should be. This is another place to look http://www.powerbookmedic.com/

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Answer 6

Oct 16, 2014 10:13 AM in response to JulianStefanovS

Hallo,

I have purchased the SuperDrive device today, so I hope it will come to me soon.

By the way yesterday I was going to try the other method you write me and to force EFI, but I didn't find out how to create a new GPT partition using DU and format it as Free Space. When I open a Disk Utility and then when I select the empty space after my primary Mavericks partition and then press the Plus ➕, I select Free Space and when I click apply nothing happen. I mean that some progress is coming out for 2-3 seconds, but after that the empty space is there again and nothing is created. Is there any trick here?

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Julian

Reply

Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 16, 2014 10:17 AM in response to JulianStefanovS

How big is the Free space partition? I would recommend 100GB if possible. There is no trick to it. You should have a single partition disk to start with, because a GPT Windows1, MBR Windows2, OSX, Recovery HD and EFI will put you over the MBR limit of four partitions.

Reply

Answer 8

Oct 16, 2014 10:43 AM in response to Loner T

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Reply

Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 16, 2014 10:55 AM in response to JulianStefanovS

I cannot see these images due to Forum issue. Can you use an external Image sharing service, like IMGUR, or anything of your choice?

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Answer 10

Oct 16, 2014 11:04 AM in response to Loner T

http://i.imgur.com/UtsS54K.png

http://i.imgur.com/ontV6jN.png

http://i.imgur.com/tZRozEK.png

http://i.imgur.com/BSeaJHV.png

http://i.imgur.com/kzNgSGT.png

Here they are

Reply

Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 16, 2014 11:34 AM in response to JulianStefanovS

Looks perfect with the Free Space. You can verify this by running sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0.

If you try the EFI boot, please pick this Free Space slot, and it will get split into a 128MB MSR and the remainder as NTFS, if the installer finishes successfully. You may be able to install, but a preUEFI model cannot use the MSR to boot the main Windows partition, but a UEFI compliant machine can.

On a Late 2013 15" rMBP (which is UEFI compliant), this is what Bootcamp on GPT looks like. (Notice GPT#4 - MSR and GPT#5 - NTFS).

gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=500277790720; sectorsize=512; blocks=977105060

gpt show: /dev/disk0: PMBR at sector 0

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Sec GPT at sector 977105059

start size index contents

0 1 PMBR

1 1 Pri GPT header

2 32 Pri GPT table

34 6

40 409600 1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

409640 487712920 2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

488122560 1269536 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

489392096 32

489392128 262144 4 GPT part - E3C9E316-0B5C-4DB8-817D-F92DF00215AE

489654272 487450624 5 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

977104896 131

977105027 32 Sec GPT table

977105059 1 Sec GPT header

sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 60821/255/63 [977105060 sectors]

Signature: 0xAA55

Starting Ending

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

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

1: EE 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 1 - 977105059] <Unknown ID>

2: 00 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 [ 0 - 0] unused

3: 00 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 [ 0 - 0] unused

4: 00 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 [ 0 - 0] unused

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Answer 12

Oct 16, 2014 12:16 PM in response to Loner T

I got it to work.

gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=1000204886016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1953525168

gpt show: /dev/disk0: PMBR at sector 0

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1

gpt show: /dev/disk0: Sec GPT at sector 1953525167

start size index contents

0 1 PMBR

1 1 Pri GPT header

2 32 Pri GPT table

34 6

40 409600 1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

409640 1173800328 2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1174209968 1269536 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1175479504 816

1175480320 262144 4 GPT part - E3C9E316-0B5C-4DB8-817D-F92DF00215AE

1175742464 777781248 5 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

1953523712 1423

1953525135 32 Sec GPT table

1953525167 1 Sec GPT header

julians-imac:~ julianstefanov$

Now I have Windows 8.1 installed and now downloading Bootcamp support drivers on my Mavericks and will get back to the windows after that to see if it's possible to fire up my video somehow.

Thanks a lot for now.

PS: Will write back when I get my new SuperDrive for sure and will systematise all my problems with your answers and will arrange them in 1 post.

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Answer 13

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 16, 2014 1:06 PM in response to JulianStefanovS

1. Please test switching between OSX and Windows.

2. Please test using the Alt key in the iMac Bootmanager.

3. It would be bit surprising if Apple updated an iMac 11,x to UEFI. But #1 and #2 will confirm that, if you get these two to work.

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Answer 14

Oct 16, 2014 2:20 PM in response to Loner T

1. No problems to switch between both OSes. Startup Disk icon on Settings on my Mavericks doesn;t work, because I have installed NTFS Pro and I managing from there which partition to be active (bootable). That works also.

2. ALT key showing Mavericks, HD Recovery and Windows 8.1 (named "EFI boot"). Also if I put a USB Bootable Flash drive inside any USB plugs with some OS, it appears also like a EFI Boot device with Orange icon.

3. I'm so so so surprised!!! Everything works like I'm on a normal Intel PC with Windows 8.1. Look at the screenshot.

I have Sound, Video, SATA AHCI mode, my MagicMouse scrolling is working too LoL. Just everything works like it must to.

http://i.imgur.com/i5S2zx7.png

You don't know how thankful at you I am!

Thanks again for all the info and navigation. As I promise, I'll write a review (I want it for myself too, because after few years I'll need that info to preinstall my iMac again).

Regards,

Julian

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Answer 15

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Oct 16, 2014 2:22 PM in response to JulianStefanovS

Very nicely, done. 😎

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