How do I fix No Bootable Device error?

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benfrombrigg Author

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How do I fix No Bootable Device error?

Macbook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)

Operating System: OS X Yosemite (version. 10.10.3)

Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Startup Disk: Macintosh HD

Graphics: Intel HD 3000 384 MB

Ever since I first tried to install Windows I have had problem after problem. The first problem was actually installing Windows to a MBR/GPT drive thingy. I got round that and managed to install Windows but had no sound drivers. (Windows 10/Windows 8.1) Tried everything to get sound working but gave up and wiped my partition. Now I am trying to install Windows again but without Boot Camp this time (I have a superdrive so I can't do it with USB - I changed my info.plist and Boot Camp just kept crashing - I know there is a terminal command but that didn't work and it still continues to crash so I changed my info.plist to the original setting). This time I have got my Windows 7 USB from Microsoft, put it on a Windows PC, downloaded "Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool" from the Microsoft website, successfully created a bootable USB. Plugged it into my MacBook and booted up the boot menu but one problem was that the USB didn't show up. (I think maybe because it's now NTFS format) so I downloaded rEFInd and installed it, restarted my MacBook and pressed Option+CMD and rEFInd boot menu showed up, I clicked Boot Windows NTFS partition and now it says "No Bootable Device --..."

Please someone tell me why I am finding it so difficult just to have a nice copy of Windows installed with working audio. If you need any more information please ask.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 26, 2015 5:17 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

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May 26, 2015 1:40 PM in response to benfrombrigg

You should try a 'normal' Windows installation. Use BCA, insert your Windows DVD, let BCA partition the internal disk and install Windows. Your Mac is a preUEFI Mac with an Optical drive. Sound will not work with EFI, because EFI 1.1 on your Mac does not expose sound controller or devices, but the MBR method (using CSM-BIOS) does.

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Answer 2

benfrombrigg Author

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May 28, 2015 3:00 AM in response to Loner T

I've just tried a normal installation through Boot Camp but nothing has worked still. Meaning EFI Boot no longer shows at the boot menu. Also how do I install Windows without EFI so I can get functioning sound?

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 28, 2015 3:23 AM in response to benfrombrigg

1. What year/model is your Mac?

2. Please verify the integrity of the ISO/DVD using Microsoft FCIV or any other tool that can generate MD5sum/SHA1 and compare it to the source.

3. Normal method for preUEFI Macs is

a. Remove any previous Windows using BCA (only - nothing else). Disconnect all external storage

b. If you have a Windows ISO, use Disk Utility (Yosemite): Burn a disk image to a CD or DVD to create a DVD.

c. Insert Windows DVD

d. Run BCA and choose both options (Download Software and Install Windows). If this requests a USB, use a USB2 flash disk only.

e. Let BCA Partition your drive.

f. Do not interrupt Windows installation using Alt/Option key

g. Follow Installer prompts

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Answer 4

benfrombrigg Author

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May 28, 2015 3:55 AM in response to Loner T

1. Macbook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)

2.How?

3. Thank you very much, what size disk will I need?

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

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May 28, 2015 4:21 AM in response to benfrombrigg

You can verify the integrity of the source ISO (which can be corrupted during downloads) using the Microsoft FCIV tool - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/889768?wa=wsignin1.0 or using the OS X Terminal command openssl md5 (https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/ man1/openssl.1ssl.html)

You will need a DVD which is 4.7G. If your ISO is a mixed (32-bit and 64-bit) file, BCA will reject it. You need one version or the other, but not both.

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Answer 6

benfrombrigg Author

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May 28, 2015 4:26 AM in response to Loner T

Okay thank you for the help. I am having one more issue.... My Superdrive is taking my disk spinning it for a few seconds and trying to eject it straight after.

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

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May 28, 2015 4:34 AM in response to benfrombrigg

1. You may want to clean the lense on the internal drive. There are some home-grown procedures like using a credit-card and microfiber cloth.

2. Does this happen with all media, or just specific media?

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Answer 8

benfrombrigg Author

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May 28, 2015 4:55 AM in response to Loner T

Thank you, i'll have a look. Well i've just tried 2 more discs and they're not spinning, they're just making a sound every 2 seconds then finally ejecting. Where as this blank dvd is spinning for 5-6 seconds then ejecting itself.

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

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May 28, 2015 5:19 AM in response to benfrombrigg

You may want to consider running Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support as a first step. It may not show you all possible hardware issues.

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Answer 10

benfrombrigg Author

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May 28, 2015 5:44 AM in response to Loner T

Tried that mate and all that happens if the grey screen stays on for about 20 seconds then my rEFInd boot manager opens.

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Answer 11

Loner T

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May 28, 2015 5:53 AM in response to benfrombrigg

Can I suggest removing rEFInd and then running AHT?

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Answer 12

benfrombrigg Author

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May 28, 2015 9:00 AM in response to Loner T

I don't know how to uninstall it, it's part of the EFI volume and it's hidden and not sure how to access it -.-

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Answer 13

Loner T

Level 9

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May 28, 2015 9:25 AM in response to benfrombrigg

Please see http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/installing.html#uninstalling .

The EFI partition can be mounted, which should be done when booted in Recovery Console (Commmand+Opt+R - Internet Recovery). You will need to create a mount point in OSX Terminal using

mkdir -p /Volumes/EFI

sudo mount -t msdos /dev/disk0s1 /Volumes/EFI

Details of Internet Recovery can be found in OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support .

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Answer 14

benfrombrigg Author

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May 29, 2015 3:55 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks for the reply again buddy. I removed rEFInd without the need of internet recovery mode and tried the diagnostic but without success unfortunately. It just took me to the login page.

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Answer 15

Loner T

Level 9

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May 29, 2015 4:29 AM in response to benfrombrigg

Can you test your Optical drive with Audio CDs/Video DVDs and check if they play properly?

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