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Convert flash drive for Windows 8.1 bootcamp installation from mbr to gpt

Trying to run Windows 8.1 pro x64 on my mid 2010 15" macbook pro. Get stuck during bootcamp installation in Windows because my partition table isn't compatible (MBR but needs to be GPT). My hard drive seems to be Logical partitions/volume etc, while my flash drive was formatted into MBR seemingly by bootcamp, or otherwise not altered into the GPT like it maybe should have.

Generally followed this guide http://www.howtogeek.com/186907/how-to-install-windows-on-a-mac-with-boot-camp/

Steps I took:

Had to use terminal/Xcode to edit info.plist from bootcamp to allow flash drive installation through bootcamp on my mac (removed the "pre" method).

With all three bootcamp options selected, managed to partition the drive

When restarted, my computer had black screen with "no bootable device found".

Restarted again, holding alt/option

Flash drive was now available as one of two options (the other being my standard mac drive)

Windows Setup loaded. Selected language/imputed key/select version etc.

Here is the strange part, the division of the disk does not include "bootcamp" anywhere in the title (like it should according to the guide), and is about 10gb smaller than my partition (assume this is a normal result of windows installation/os files etc). When I try to format the partition, it says I can't, and explains that I can't use MBR, need to use GPT.

Attempted to rewrite disk with Shift F10 Diskpart, list disk, etc, but here it shows drive 0, 1, and 2, (rather than drive 0 partition 1,2,3,4, with 4 being my bootcamp I think). This seems to be a method for installing windows on a windows pc, and I didn't go through with it because I didn't want to loose my mac os yet.

I am not proficient with coding/terminal use, and don't know if there is an option to list partitions etc, so I'm stuck. I can backup my mac and potentially change my partition table etc, but I feel like restoring with time machine would then wipe my existing partition. Is there a workaround I could use? Is there a specific sequence of backups/restores that would work? I'm also okay with manually drag and dropping the files I want back onto a clean slate computer if necessary. Or would simply buying and burning a disc with windows save myself the hassle? Please advise.

Sorry for long question, wanted to get info out right away. Can include more if necessary. Thank you all for your time.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10), mid 2010 15" Nvidia GeForce 330

Posted on Nov 14, 2014 8:59 AM

Best reply

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Posted on Nov 14, 2014 9:13 AM

Please post the output of following

diskutil list

diskutil cs list

sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

You will need to use Terminal and input your password when prompted. You can triple click on each line and Copy (Command+C) and Paste (Command+V) into the terminal window. Remove any personal information that you do not to be seen on the discussions.

Creating a USB is only part of the problem if your built-in Optical drive is not working. The CSM-BIOS layer used still needs to be configured in the Mac Nvram to boot from USB.

If you have W8.1, which has EFI support, you can try that, but your Mac from 2010 is a preUEFI model, as shown in your Bootcamp info.plist.

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95 replies

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 17, 2015 3:18 PM in response to Jordan Machin

Yes. On a preUEFI Mac, the BIOS emulation layer cannot hide the dual-GPU and will not see the Cirrus sound devices (CSM-BIOS extracts the sub-devices correctly). Once Windows is installed in BIOS mode properly, it will devices that the drivers can support.

Sep 17, 2015 3:38 PM in response to Loner T

And I imagine that change the info.plist doesn't change anything ?

So, right now, what's my possibility to install Windows (without problems ahah) ? I repeat that I can't reinstall my SuperDriver, unfortunately..... 😟

Sep 17, 2015 4:01 PM in response to Jordan Machin

I'm sorry with my questions Loner ahah, but after 9 days trying to install it.... I really don't want to give up !

So :

1. In any ways, I have to don't use EFI Boot, right ?

2. Tomorrow I'm gonna buy some blank DVD's, I have the 8.1 ISO from Microsoft.com and a good product key. So when you tell me that I'm gonna have some sound problems etc. It's for the EFI Boot, right ? (I saw you in another topic, you have installed Windows in "Legacy" mode, so it wasn't in EFI Boot if I understand good ?)

3. Do I succeed to install Windows on my Mac a day ? Just say yes mister Loner, I want to read it ! Ahah 😉

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 17, 2015 5:19 PM in response to Jordan Machin

The quickest and most painless method is to find an internal Optical drive, replace your HDD, and install Windows, but you have difficulties with taking the back cover off. Next, is the VMware-based solution or a VM. What you are attempting is a painful and problematic solution.

Sep 17, 2015 5:32 PM in response to Loner T

I know..

I've installed Windows with VMware Fusion, it was simply as "Hi" (I don't know if this expression exists in english ahah). But the problem with this configuration is that I can't play my games with my 4go ram...

I think I know the answer but : Is it possible to boot from a virtual image, if I move it into the Bootcamp partition ? I bet if it's possible it wont be easy like that, but I prefer to ask you... That would be great.

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 17, 2015 5:56 PM in response to Jordan Machin

This may be a better solution than what you are trying now. If you have access to a standard Mac, install W7 on it then clone it using a third-party tool like Winclone, CampTune or CloneZilla.

Sep 17, 2015 6:41 PM in response to Loner T

I'll try ! Thx

Sep 17, 2015 6:47 PM in response to Jordan Machin

Right now I don't have access to another Mac.. But I have a Pc, is it possible that way too or it will complicated ?

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 17, 2015 7:02 PM in response to Jordan Machin

Winclone is an option, because it asks users to run SysPrep (generalize Windows - hardware agnostic image) and restore it. It is a commercial product. Please see https://twocanoes.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202636585-Migrating-a-Real-PC-to -Boot-Camp-

CloneZilla ( http://clonezilla.org) is GNU GPL product and uses many other OSS modules. Please see http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/diy-it-guy/diy-can-clonezilla-alone-clone-a-pc/

CampTune is very similar - http://www.paragon-software.com/home/dc-professional/scenarios.html

Sep 18, 2015 2:56 AM in response to Loner T

WinClone can be a good way... I'll test that ! 🙂

Sep 18, 2015 4:05 AM in response to Jordan Machin

Edit : I've burned Windows 8.1 on a DVD... I have "WINDOWS" and "UEFI Boot" at the boot, but this is the same mess, I have the black screen with the "_"...

Sep 18, 2015 4:35 AM in response to Jordan Machin

I'm downloading Paragon Drive Copy 15.

With this software, when I'll install Windows 8.1 on a partition in my Pc (who runs with Windows 7), can I copy the 8.1 partition into an external hard drive, and then, copy the clone into Bootcamp on my Mac ? Without an adapter for hard drive ?