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Windows 7 bootcamp partition not bootable after updating to 10.10.3

I know there are many threads on this, but it seems slightly different each time and I don't want to screw up. I am doing a testdisk deepscan now. But to start:


Geoffrey-Hachs-MacBook-Pro:~ geoffreyhach$ diskutil list

/dev/disk0

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *251.0 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_HFS Geoff the Great 75.0 GB disk0s2

3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3

4: Microsoft Basic Data 125.0 GB disk0s4

/dev/disk2

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: Apple_partition_scheme *16.1 MB disk2

1: Apple_partition_map 32.3 KB disk2s1

2: Apple_HFS Flash Player 16.0 MB disk2s2

Geoffrey-Hachs-MacBook-Pro:~ geoffreyhach$ diskutil cs list

No CoreStorage logical volume groups found

Geoffrey-Hachs-MacBook-Pro:~ geoffreyhach$ sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

Password:

gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=251000193024; sectorsize=512; blocks=490234752

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 490234751

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 146469600 2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

146879240 1269544 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

148148784 97947088

246095872 244137984 4 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

490233856 863

490234719 32 Sec GPT table

490234751 1 Sec GPT header

Geoffrey-Hachs-MacBook-Pro:~ geoffreyhach$ sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 30515/255/63 [490234752 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 - 146469600] HFS+

3: AB 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 146879240 - 1269544] Darwin Boot

4: 0C 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 246095872 - 244137984] Win95 FAT32L


User uploaded file

Thanks in advance. I know this gets old.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 20, 2015 1:08 AM

Reply
43 replies

Apr 20, 2015 4:53 AM in response to Druas

Can you use Bootcamp partition missing after yosemite installation as a reference and get started with a Testdisk scan? The gap between GPT3 and GPT4 is most likely where you will find a lost NTFS header.


Initial Testdisk UI steps are shown here - https://imgur.com/a/PjmnK.


You are looking for a MS Data entry in Testdisk which looks similar to the following when you use 'P - List Files'.


User uploaded file

Apr 20, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Loner T

Using the thread you linked as reference I followed the steps using my numbers (148150272 and 342083577). However, the first time around I didn't see that you need a + in front of the second one. The second time around I added the plus, but I think I may have already screwed it the first time, as even though there were no errors during the rest of the steps, when I run the recommended tests:



Test 1 - Does Bootcamp Volume show up in Finder?

Test 2 - Can you see files in Bootcamp Volume?

Test 3 - Can you select Bootcamp in System Preferences -> Startup Disk?

Test 4 - If Test 3 is successful, select Bootcamp and Click Restart.


As far as I can tell, all fail. Any suggestions as what to do now?

Apr 20, 2015 10:12 AM in response to Loner T

Geoffrey-Hachs-MacBook-Pro:~ geoffreyhach$ sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=251000193024; sectorsize=512; blocks=490234752

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 490234751

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 146469600 2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

146879240 1269544 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

148148784 97947088

246095872 244137984 4 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

490233856 863

490234719 32 Sec GPT table

490234751 1 Sec GPT header

Geoffrey-Hachs-MacBook-Pro:~ geoffreyhach$ sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 30515/255/63 [490234752 sectors]

Signature: 0xAA55

Starting Ending

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

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

1: EE 0 0 2 - 25 127 14 [ 1 - 409639] <Unknown ID>

2: AF 25 127 15 - 1023 254 63 [ 409640 - 146469600] HFS+

3: AB 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 146879240 - 1269544] Darwin Boot

*4: 07 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 246095872 - 244137984] HPFS/QNX/AUX

Apr 20, 2015 11:12 AM in response to Druas

Leave your Testdisk display and start a new Terminal Window. Please use the following steps. If you see any error messages during the following steps, please stop and post back here with the error message. The following steps have values from your Testdisk output (and you can verify) in Steps 7 and 8.


Rebuild GPT4 using start/end offsets


  1. Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0
  2. P (print the full list of parts)
  3. D (delete)
  4. 4 (part 4)
  5. N (new part)
  6. 4 (part 4)
  7. 148150272 - Start offset in bytes (start point for Bootcamp part)
  8. +342083577 (Size offset as opposed to End offset)
  9. 0700 (Windows part type)
  10. P (print list of all parts just to see what changes will be made)
  11. W (Write the new GPT)
  12. Y (Yes! really write the new GPT)

This will delete and re-write the GPT partition info for /dev/disk0s4.

Rebuild MBR to match the new GPT information thus resetting the Hybrid MBR. Use defaults for other questions (like partition codes). The only values that need modifications are the Boot flags and step 7. Accept all other defaults that Gdisk offers.

  1. Sudo gdisk /dev/disk0
  2. P (Print list of parts)
  3. R (Recover)
  4. H (chooses Hybrid)
  5. O (Print current MBR)
  6. Partitions numbers to be hybridized: 2 3 4
  7. Y (Good for GRUB question)
  8. N (part 2 boot flag)
  9. N (part 3 boot flag)
  10. Y (part 4 boot flag make NTFS bootable partition)
  11. O (Print updated MBR)
  12. W (Write the new MBR)
  13. Y (Yes! write the new MBR)
  14. Reboot


Here is a sample Q&A for the second set of Gdisk steps. Please make sure you see Press Enter/Return .


Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): Y


Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

Enter an MBR hex code (default AF): Press Enter/Return

Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N


Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

Enter an MBR hex code (default AB): Press Enter/Return

Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N


Creating entry for GPT partition #4 (MBR partition #4)

Enter an MBR hex code (default 07): Press Enter/Return

Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): Y


Test 1 - Does Bootcamp Volume show up in Finder?

Test 2 - Can you see files in Bootcamp Volume?

Test 3 - Can you select Bootcamp in System Preferences -> Startup Disk?

Test 4 - If Test 3 is successful, select Bootcamp and Click Restart.

Oct 15, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Loner T

Hi Loner T,


This happened again when I upgraded to El Capitan! ****! I wish I understood why Apple would not make sure this doesn't happen but it has so I've got to fix it.


One question. Unlike the previous times, the Bootcamp partition passes all of the three tests but still will not boot. Do I still have to follow the procedure described above or is there a shortcut to just setting it as bootable? I think I already know the answer but I'll await confirmation.


BTW, I did use the system prefs startup disk tool to set it as bootable and when I restart it gives me the "no bootable device found..." message.


Jeff

Oct 16, 2015 2:53 PM in response to gronesy

Ok, I get command not found on gdisk so it's not installed. I also don't have Testdisk. Where are these found?


I'm a little confused because I had to add a bunch of command line tools and I have the app store command line tools for xcode but I now they're not here.


I wish I could find the email or the site from the last time this happened. It was all sequential including the installation of the needed command line programs.

Oct 17, 2015 8:20 AM in response to Loner T

I just wanted to pop in here and update this thread with some important information.


First of all there is a problem installing GPT fdisk because it tries to put the binaries in /usr/sbin which is now off-limits to third party binaries. The developer is working on a new version that will put them in /usr/local/bin but I don't have a hard date. You can also get the source and compile it yourself but that is beyond me and the scope of this thread I believe.


The other issue is that El Capitan has a new "feature" called System Integrity Protection which does not allow gdisk to do anything useful. It needs to be disabled for gdisk to work. Here is an article about it:

http://osxdaily.com/2015/10/05/disable-rootless-system-integrity-protection-mac- os-x/


Finally, in case any of this doesn't sound familiar, it's because it's the result of me using this NERDr.com post because it worked like a charm for me before.

http://nerdr.com/bootcamp-partition-lost-repairing-mac-partitions/


The author took the (then) 45 page Apple support forum thread and distilled it down to the steps you see. All I know is it saved me a TON of time and he deserves any praise he can get. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he's done anything on that site since 2014.


Before anybody does anything I will tell you again that I am in the process of using this tutorial again and can't verify that it works with the current version of OS X. I'll be happy to follow up after I've done it to let you know how it's gone.


Fair?


Jeff

Oct 17, 2015 8:44 AM in response to gronesy

gronesy wrote:


First of all there is a problem installing GPT fdisk because it tries to put the binaries in /usr/sbin which is now off-limits to third party binaries. The developer is working on a new version that will put them in /usr/local/bin but I don't have a hard date. You can also get the source and compile it yourself but that is beyond me and the scope of this thread I believe.


The other issue is that El Capitan has a new "feature" called System Integrity Protection which does not allow gdisk to do anything useful. It needs to be disabled for gdisk to work. Here is an article about it:

http://osxdaily.com/2015/10/05/disable-rootless-system-integrity-protection-mac- os-x/

/usr/local/bin also has similar issues. It addresses installation issues, but not execution issue. Fdisk built-in has the same issue, and it is part of OS X and already installed in /usr/sbin.

Finally, in case any of this doesn't sound familiar, it's because it's the result of me using this NERDr.com post because it worked like a charm for me before.

http://nerdr.com/bootcamp-partition-lost-repairing-mac-partitions/

The linked article is irresponsible and causes data loss. You cannot and must not sync the GPT and overwrite MBR. Quite a few third-party partitioning/resizing tools do not understand GPT vs MBR and and cause problems. Some that do (like iPartition) cause other issues by re-ordering entries in the MBR. Unless the user sitting behind the keyboard understand both constructs, it usually causes data loss.

Windows 7 bootcamp partition not bootable after updating to 10.10.3

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