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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

88 replies

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 14, 2015 3:11 PM in response to davefromhythe

Yes, please. Use only Option 1 and 2 (Create USB Installer and Download Software...) and lets us check the contents. BCA will erase/format the USB to a FAT. Please ensure that the USB is a USB2 device.

Nov 14, 2015 3:42 PM in response to Loner T

I have restarted BCA. It has downloaded the Windows Support Software and is asking about the partitions as below, I presume I need the 1st available option i.e "erase disk and create a single partition for windows", and that I will be able to select the Bootcamp "disk" in a following window?

Dave

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 14, 2015 4:20 PM in response to davefromhythe

You have a 250Gb SSD with OSX and Windows, both, already installed. Is that correct? If yes, are you trying to install another version of Windows on the HDD (non-250G SSD)?

Nov 15, 2015 1:13 AM in response to Loner T

I have an HDD (Mac HD) with OSX installed. I installed a 250Gb SSD (Mac SSD) and successfully installed OSX on that. I am now trying to install Windows on the same SSD. The BOOTCAMP drive was created on the Mac SSD by BCA, but Windows is not yet installed.

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 15, 2015 8:59 AM in response to davefromhythe

Are you booted from the OS X on the SSD? If you want to install Windows in this specific disk configuration and on the SSD, you will need to physically disconnect the HDD, install Windows on the SSD (along side the OS X), and reconnect the HDD when the Windows installation is complete.

Did your iMac come with a built-in Optical drive that you removed to make room for the SSD (or HDD)? Your iMac may have three SATA connections, two for a SSD/HDD Fusion drive and one for your Optical drive.

Nov 15, 2015 4:29 PM in response to Loner T

I am currently booted via the OSX on my SSD, but can reboot via the OSX on the HDD if necessary. Why would I need to disconnect the HDD during Windows installation on the SSD? If necessary I could install Windows on the HDD but I would prefer to use the faster SSD if possible.

I have a mid 2011 i7 and I installed the 240Gb (not 250Gb as previously mentioned)SSD using the 2nd (spare) SATA connection as per the OWC guidance. The 3rd SATA connection still feeds the inbuilt optical drive.

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 15, 2015 4:48 PM in response to davefromhythe

Yes, you should install on the SSD for better speed. Your iMac can support a Fusion drive (which is SSD+HDD) and an Optical drive. Hence you have an extra SATA connection which allows you add the SSD. Under normal circumstances, Apple would connect the SSD and HDD to the two connections you are using and create a Fusion drive. Since you do not have a Fusion drive but two separate physical disks, this iMac behaves differently. A Fusion drive will allow the Windows on HDD only. Click on the HDD and your options will change. Can you post a screen shot of what you see after you change?

The simplest solution is to disconnect the HDD, so the iMac behaves like a single-disk Mac, and will allow OS X and Windows on one disk, and then connect the second disk (HDD) and you can partition it as you like, including creating a Fusion drive between the OS X SSD part and the entire HDD, or split the HDD in half and do a Fusion drive and a D: on the second part of the HDD.

Nov 16, 2015 5:37 AM in response to Loner T

I would like to use the SSD for operating systems and programs leaving the HDD whole for data or is there an advantage to create a fusion drive?

Is there a way to disable the HDD or do I need to literally pull the plugs during Windows installation?

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 16, 2015 8:55 AM in response to davefromhythe

You will need to disconnect the SATA cable to the HDD.

On the OSX side, a Fusion drive is very helpful. Windows does not understand this file system/drive configuration.

Nov 16, 2015 2:37 PM in response to Loner T

Ok, in your penultimate response you said,

"Click on the HDD and your options will change. Can you post a screen shot of what you see after you change?".

What did you mean by this?

Loner T

Level 9

59,526 points

Nov 16, 2015 2:45 PM in response to davefromhythe

In you screen shot, you have the green arrow pointing at the SSD. Point it to the HDD and check what choices do you get.

Nov 16, 2015 2:50 PM in response to davefromhythe

On another point, a couple of days ago when we were talking about USB sticks for Windows booting you said that it needed to be a USB2 device. I have now got a Sandisk 16Gb USB flash drive which is USB 2.0/3.0 compatible is that ok?