disk utility error code 3 when creating windows image for bootcamp

Question

disk utility error code 3 when creating windows image for bootcamp

I have an iMac and am trying to install windows via bootcamp. I have an complete windows 7 installation disk and am using disk utility to create an image. The process appears to be working with the dialogue box saying it is reading the windows file and the progress bar takes about 10 minutes to reach about 75% and then stops saying " Operation Failed" and a supplementary dialogue box appears saying "The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.diskutility error 3.)"

I have tried with 2 different destination drives with the same result.

Does anybody have any suggestions or know where I can find out what the error code signifies please?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Nov 11, 2015 5:10 PM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 11, 2015 6:28 PM in response to davefromhythe

Assuming that you are trying to Create an ISO image for Boot Camp from Windows installation media - Apple Support , there is a destination ISO image, not a destination disk? Either the physical disk is unreadable, or damaged. You can always download an ISO from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home .

What year/model is your Mac?

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Answer 2

Nov 12, 2015 4:13 AM in response to Loner T

Hi Loner T,

Yes I am trying to follow the Apple article mentioned. It talks about ensuring the installation media is removable so I was trying to create the iso directly to it, so instead of Where: "Documents" in the dialogue box I selected my blank MS DOS (FAT32) media, one being an external hard drive (USB) and the other being a 16Gb SD card.

I previously tried downloading the iso from the microsoft website but it is a Dell disk and Product Key so it refers me to them but I couldn't find one on their website.

My iMac is mid 2011 with an additional 250Gb SSD.

thanks

Dave

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 12, 2015 5:21 AM in response to davefromhythe

1. The Dell Product Key may not work, since it is an OEM Key sold with the original PC.

2. In BCA, creation of the USB Installer needs a source ISO on your Desktop/Documents folder. This ISO can come from a Windows Retail DVD or from the Microsoft website. The destination is the USB, which is erased, formatted, and merged with the ISO and BC drivers on the USB. Creating an ISO to USB may not be very useful.

3. The SD card is not supported for Windows installation. You should not use USB-connected HDDs as a replacement for a USB Flash drive, because it leads to BCA errors during and after the Windows installer is started.

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Answer 4

Nov 12, 2015 8:29 AM in response to Loner T

Ok, it looks as if I'll have to buy a 16Gb USB flash drive then as the largest I have is an 8Gb and I'll put the disk image in the documents folder. I assume I still need to put the Windows driver folder on the USB flash drive?

thanks

Dave

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 12, 2015 8:38 AM in response to davefromhythe

Let BCA integrate the ISO and BC drivers. Do not do this manually.a 8GB USB2 flash drive should be sufficient. What is the size of the ISO you have?

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Answer 6

Nov 12, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Loner T

The Windows 7 installation disk is 5.6Gb and the drivers are 1.35Gb, totalling about 7Gb which doesn't leave much headroom on an 8Gb stick.

Dave

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 12, 2015 12:02 PM in response to davefromhythe

There should be no more room needed, because once it has the ISO and drivers, there is no more writing to the USB.

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Answer 8

Nov 12, 2015 12:12 PM in response to Loner T

Ok, I'll give it a go tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

thanks

Dave

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Answer 9

Nov 13, 2015 1:46 AM in response to davefromhythe

Well, some progress. I have used bootcamp and it has loaded the driver files and it created the second partition. The screen went quiet for a while and then came back with a windows boot screen asking me to choose an operating system, the only choice being "windows setup (EMS Enabled)" but I cannot select anything the wireless keyboard doesn't respond. I connected my USB keyboard and still no response.

Any ideas?

Dave

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Answer 10

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 13, 2015 7:55 AM in response to davefromhythe

Can you run the following two procedures and test? You may lose your 'place' in the Windows setup.

Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 11

Nov 13, 2015 2:49 PM in response to Loner T

I 1st reset the SMC, no change. I then reset the NVRAM and it booted iton MAC OSX. I now have two partitions on the SSD, one "macSSD" and one "BOOTCAMP". BOOTCAMP info shows it as empty. My USB "UNTITLED" has the drivers package of file "AutoUnattend.xml" and 2 folders "$WinPEDriver$" and "BootCamp". Should I rerun BootCamp Assistant again and if so should I clear the USB drive first? I will also run it with my USB keyboard attached rather than my Wireless one.

thanks

Dave

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Answer 12

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 13, 2015 4:32 PM in response to davefromhythe

Can you post a screen shot of the USB folder showing all files at root level?

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Answer 13

Nov 14, 2015 1:26 AM in response to Loner T

Screenshot as requested.

Dave

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Answer 14

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 14, 2015 10:03 AM in response to davefromhythe

This USB only contains the BC drivers and has no installer component. It seems to have been created using the 'Download Software' option. An integrated USB installer looks like...

W7 Installer...

W10 Modified installer with .5621 folder...

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Answer 15

Nov 14, 2015 3:09 PM in response to Loner T

Ok, so should I clear the USB files and rerun Boot Camp Assistant?

Dave

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