Problem using Bootcamp to install Windows 8.1 MacBook Pro

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Problem using Bootcamp to install Windows 8.1 MacBook Pro

Hi,

I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) running OS X El Capitan v10.11.1. About two years ago I installed Windows 8.1 using boot camp with no issues. Since then I have upgraded the laptop's hardrive from the original 500GB SSD to a Transcend JetDrive 725 960GB SATA III. Note, this is the only hardware upgrade I have made to the computer. Following this hardware upgrade I decided to only restore my Macintosh HD, i.e. regrettably I did not restore the Bootcamp partition.

I am now trying to install Windows 8.1 using bootcamp again but unfortunately a few issues are preventing the quick installation I experienced in the past. I have read around this issue a lot but have not found a solution that works for me. Here are the steps I have repeated a few times:

- download a Windows 8.1 ISO 64 bit from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows8ISO.

- connect a SanDisk Cruzer Force Media 8GB USB 2.0

- run Boot Camp Assistant

- check all tasks and continue

- create a 60 GB partition

- computer automatically restarts and a windows installer screen is shown

- enter product serial number

- select upgrade installation, see here: http://s20.postimg.org/t7wy0siod/Photo_07_12_2015_12_16_23.jpg

- PROBLEM: I am told that the installation cannot complete, see here: http://s20.postimg.org/day642qa5/Photo_07_12_2015_12_16_31.jpg

I have repeated this a couple of times with multiple USB 2.0 flash drives, but with the same results. I have also tried selecting 'Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)' but the following screen does not allow installation to the bootcamp partition, see here: http://s20.postimg.org/3mkq0xvgt/Photo_07_12_2015_12_15_09.jpgand here: http://s20.postimg.org/5pv58lv9p/Photo_07_12_2015_12_15_00.jpg

I'd be grateful if anyone could please help with this problem.

Thanks,

Al

Posted on Dec 7, 2015 4:45 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 7, 2015 5:35 AM in response to alastairhm

alastairhm wrote:

I have repeated this a couple of times with multiple USB 2.0 flash drives, but with the same results. I have also tried selecting 'Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)' but the following screen does not allow installation to the bootcamp partition, see here: http://s20.postimg.org/3mkq0xvgt/Photo_07_12_2015_12_15_09.jpgand here: http://s20.postimg.org/5pv58lv9p/Photo_07_12_2015_12_15_00.jpg

This is expected behavior. OS X does not have a license for NTFS creation. It create a FAT partition. After the error, select Format for only the designated Bootcamp partition (do not use any other partitions) and let the Installer format it as NTFS and continue installation.

Upgrade will not work, because there is no previous installation of Windows to upgrade. The error message you see is correct.

Please also see https://help.apple.com/bootcamp/assistant/6.0/ .

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Answer 2

alastairhm Author

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Dec 7, 2015 11:47 AM in response to Loner T

Hi Loner T, thanks for your quick reply!

So I just followed your advice and selected Format for the Bootcamp partition. The screen paused for c. 5 seconds and but then still cannot proceed and I get the following message for the Bootcamp partition: http://s20.postimg.org/jr8igadn1/Photo_07_12_2015_19_38_37.jpg

Do you think the Windows installer is not correctly formatting the partition in NTFS?

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 7, 2015 11:57 AM in response to alastairhm

We need to create a Hybrid MBR so W8.1 can be installed? The door message is expected. Can you download GPT Fdisk - http://sourceforge.net/projects/gptfdisk/ ?

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Answer 4

alastairhm Author

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Dec 7, 2015 12:04 PM in response to Loner T

Ok thanks. One question though, if I did not need to create a hybrid MBR before when I installed Windows 8.1 on the old 500GB SSD, why must I do it on the new 1TB SSD?

I have downloaded GPT Fdisk, but do not know what to do with the .pkg file, shall I drag it into the Bootcamp partition?

[sorry for my technical illiteracy!]

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 7, 2015 12:19 PM in response to alastairhm

Open the PKG file and it should install Gdisk.

Can you post the output of the following Terminal commands?

diskutil list

diskutil cs list

sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

The "sudo" commands will prompt for your password, and it will not be echoed back. You may also see a warning about improper use of "sudo" and potential data loss due to "abuse" of the command.

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Answer 6

alastairhm Author

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Dec 7, 2015 12:26 PM in response to Loner T

Ok I've run the four commands to yield the following:

Alastairs-MacBook-Pro:~ Alastairhm$ diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *960.2 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_HFS Macintosh HD 899.3 GB disk0s2

3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3

4: Microsoft Basic Data 60.0 GB disk0s4

/dev/disk1 (external, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: FDisk_partition_scheme *8.0 GB disk1

1: DOS_FAT_32 WININSTALL 8.0 GB disk1s1

Alastairs-MacBook-Pro:~ Alastairhm$ diskutil cs list

No CoreStorage logical volume groups found

Alastairs-MacBook-Pro:~ Alastairhm$ sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss

or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your

typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

Password:

gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=960197124096; sectorsize=512; blocks=1875385008

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 1875385007

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 1756518288 2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1756927928 1269536 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

1758197464 296

1758197760 117186560 4 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

1875384320 655

1875384975 32 Sec GPT table

1875385007 1 Sec GPT header

Alastairs-MacBook-Pro:~ Alastairhm$ sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 116737/255/63 [1875385008 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 - 1756518288] HFS+

3: AB 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [1756927928 - 1269536] Darwin Boot

4: 07 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [1758197760 - 117186560] HPFS/QNX/AUX

Alastairs-MacBook-Pro:~ Alastairhm$

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 8, 2015 2:15 AM in response to alastairhm

You have the correct structures in place. Are you using EFI Boot when booting from the Windows installer?

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Answer 8

alastairhm Author

Level 1

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Dec 7, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Loner T

Yes, when I restart the computer holding ALT, I select EFI Boot to launch the Windows installer: http://s20.postimg.org/5p4yka1sd/Photo_07_12_2015_20_59_50.jpg

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