bootcamp 8.1 ISO not found by Bootcamp

Question

bootcamp 8.1 ISO not found by Bootcamp

Hi there folks!

I'm trying to install Windows 8.1 on my iMac via Bootcamp.

My iMac is a late 2009 27" model if I recall correctly. I am running the latest Yosemite OS and my windows 64 bit ISO file is located in my documents folder.

When I open bootcamp the "select task" window only shows two out of the three usual tasks you can select from. Please see picture below for reference.

As can be seen the "create a Windows 7 or later version install disk" option is not available.

It just asks me to import the Windows Setup files to an external USB drive......

Any ideas on what is going on would be greatly appreciated. If you need any further info please let me know!

Many thanks,

Alex

iMac

Posted on Aug 6, 2015 4:46 AM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 6, 2015 4:51 AM in response to AlexPopov1989

Welcome to Apple Support Communities

A Late 2009 iMac can only install Windows from a DVD, not from a USB drive. This is the reason why Boot Camp Assistant does not let you create a Windows USB drive installer. The first option you see is to download the Boot Camp drivers onto a USB drive, a step that has to be done after installing Windows.

As you already have got the ISO image, you only have to use Disk Utility to burn the ISO image onto a DVD. To do so, follow these steps:

1. First, open a Finder window, go to the folder where you have got the ISO image and double-click it.

2. Insert a blank DVD and open Disk Utility. Right-click the ISO image in the Disk Utility's sidebar and choose "Burn".

3. Use Boot Camp Assistant to download the Boot Camp drivers, create the Windows partition and start the Windows installation.

Please note that your iMac only supports Windows 7 officially, so you will not be able to install the Boot Camp drivers on Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 and your Mac will not behave correctly.

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Answer 2

Aug 6, 2015 12:07 PM in response to mende1

Thanks for the quick response Mende.

I've burned the ISO file onto disk now and tried it that way. But again the same two screen shots come up and when it goes through the stages of loading/downloading a pop up comes and tells me my Mac is not compatible with Windows 8, please insert Windows 7 disk.

I've checked and my version of Bootcamp is version 5.1.4 so I have downloaded this update from the link below which should suggest it would work, or am I being a complete novice here?

http://www.macwindows.com/Apple-updates-Boot-Camp-5-to-support-Windows-8_1.html

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1720?locale=en_US

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 6, 2015 12:08 PM in response to AlexPopov1989

If you look at the list of compatible computers, you will see that your Mac is not there, so you can only install Windows 7 officially. If you want to install Windows 8, you will have to do everything manually and you will not get the Boot Camp drivers; if you really need Windows 8, you should install it in a virtual machine instead

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Answer 4

Aug 6, 2015 12:35 PM in response to mende1

Ok, thanks very much for your help! Really appreciate it.

I only need windows to run some software thats compatible with Windows 7 also so I'll just buy that.

Thanks again!

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Answer 5

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 6, 2015 12:37 PM in response to AlexPopov1989

You are welcome

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