Level 1

9 points

Boot Camp (v6): "Can't install software" prompt; Late 2015 iMac with 27" 5K, OS X El Capitan

I want to install Windows on my Mac. I am trying to use Boot Camp to run Windows 10 natively. I will not be using a virtual machine (No Virtual Box, no VMWare, no Parallels).

Model: Late 2015 iMac with 27" 5K Retina screen

Operatin System: OS X El Capitan

Boot Camp Assistant Version: 6.0.1 (522)

Storage: 3TB Fusion

The following are links to problems I am NOT describing. Please review them before answering.

Impossible install windows 10 in imac 5k in boot camp assist.

Boot camp 6 error message 'can't download a software because of network problem'

can't download the software because of a network problem

Below is a description of the problem I am experiencing, with screen shots of each step in the process.

These are the instructions for using Boot Camp: How to install Windows using Boot Camp - Apple Support The problem I am experiencing is between steps 3 and 4.

Boot Camp Assistant says it can't download the support software. This is shown in the last screen shot in the following set. The following screen shots illustrate the steps I go through and what I see on my screen.

Figure 1. Open Boot Camp Assistant

Figure 2. Select partition size and .iso image (does not prompt any other screen prior this, or any other options whatsoever)

Figure 3. I do that.

Figure 4. Download appears to begin. I don't know where this is downloading to. It doesn't make a difference whether or not I have a USB drive plugged in.

Figure 5. No indication of download success/failure, network/connection status, just "Can't install the software."

Figure 6. This is from my screen share with Apple customer support. Note that the partitions are intact. Boot Camp did not partition my hard drive.

Figure 7. I tired downloading it separately, before running the installer, but Boot Camp attempts to download the software again anyway.

Figure 8. Apple Support sent me a link to download the support software. Note that the support software is v5.1.5621 and Boot Camp is v6.0.1. I have copied the files within the BootCamp5.1.5621 folder to a USB drive and restarted Boot Camp (see Figure 1) with the same results. Again, no option other than that shown in Figure 2 was ever available.

Other Symptoms:

This problem happens with or without the USB plugged in.

If the USB is plugged in, the problem happens whether or not it is formatted as FAT.

If the USB is plugged in, the problem happens whether or not the USB partition table is MBR, protected MBR on GPT, or GPT.

These have all been verified.

To be clear, the hard drive is not partitioned, Windows is not installed, and I am not experiencing driver issues because I cannot experience driver issues - there is no Windows partition or OS to cause driver issues.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 31, 2016 1:39 PM

43 replies

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 21, 2016 8:19 AM in response to rodger66

rodger66 wrote:

How do I get the version of bootcamp that you have, mine does not have the top option where it asks for an iso...

I am fully updated.. el capitan

my bootcamp has 2 options since i upgraded way back from lion...

1. download latest windows support/drivers

2. install windows 7 or later

no other options..

mac not liking anything I stick into the built in optical drive

about to craigslist this POS

Do you have a built-in Optical drive? If yes, your situation is completely different from the 2015 iMac. Does your Optical drive play CDs and DVDs?

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 8:24 AM in response to Loner T

I am able to burn to this internal dvd.. presently verifying burn of the file Wins7Ultimate.iso

I am on a 27 inch iMac

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac11,3

Processor Name: Intel Core i3

Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 4 MB

Memory: 16 GB

Processor Interconnect Speed: 5.86 GT/s

Boot ROM Version: IM112.0057.B03

SMC Version (system): 1.59f2

Serial Number (system): QP1100KTDB6

Hardware UUID: 9A1EAFF1-328C-5FA7-96A6-5382EDB1F314

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 8:25 AM in response to rodger66

Obviously trying to paste the system info failed.

After the verification process of the .iso burn... it failed and said it's not readable, even though the mac is the one that did the burn

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 8:36 AM in response to rodger66

Loner T... I have been looking at the msgs and you seem very smart regarding mac's

I do certainly need your help on this..

my bootcamp does not have the option to point it to an .iso file, unlike all the images i see when other people are sharing their images of the bootcamp process.

I remember having the option back when i had Lion..

I have run the first aid and reset the two other things earlier discussed with rebooting and holding command-option-r-p after the startup sound.

yesterday i took the plunge from a crappy yosemete to the current el-crapitan

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 21, 2016 8:46 AM in response to rodger66

If your Mac shows you the screen you posted, you have a built-in Optical drive, which is the only reliable mechanism for installing Windows. I suggest you disconnect all external storage devices, Optical drives, etc. The ISO should be burnt to a single-layer DVD (try Memorex/Verbatim/Sony media. Verbatim is the most reliable in my experience). The Disk Image should have the name of the Windows media, not just CD_ROM.

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 8:52 AM in response to Loner T

So would i burn the .iso file to the dvd?

Or burn the image of the .iso to the dvd?

Would it matter which type I use? DVD-R -or- DVD+R

Also, what would make my bootcamp (image above) not have the option that everyone else has?

including image of disk burned:

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:06 AM in response to rodger66

In El Capitan, right click on the ISO file, choose the Burn option from the menu that you see, expand the burn box, and ensure verification is turned on, mount it on your desktop and use the lowest burn rate possible. DVD-R or DVD+R is fine.

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:13 AM in response to Loner T

Any idea why my bootcamp does not have the option as mentioned above?

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:19 AM in response to rodger66

There are very few Macs, which support both USB and DVD installation.

Your Mac does not really support USB boot. Older OS X versions have had bugs and loop holes in this area. El Capitan has fixed many of these.

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:20 AM in response to rodger66

grrrr

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:22 AM in response to rodger66

Do you see a DVD in the Finder and does it show Windows installer files? Right-click on the DVD and select Get Info. What is the file system you see? Be careful, you may end up producing coffee coasters indefinitely.

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:29 AM in response to Loner T

I chose [ignore], right clicked on Windows7Ultimate.iso from my desktop..

chose the burn option, it failed.

Sometimes I get lucky and finder shows a dvd.

Sometimes not so lucky and the only way to eject it is a reboot then having it fail to recognize the disc and pop it out for me..

Oh how wonder a physical eject button would be.

Will try and [Get Info] asap.

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:33 AM in response to rodger66

That was using a maxell DVD+R

I have successfully burnt the image to a few DVD-r's which were thereafter, not recognized by the mac, but my PC booted it right up with no delay

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 9:56 AM in response to rodger66

If this helps any, I run Parralells and have windows 7 installed on this mac...

The DVD has no problem in the VM windows... yet the mac does

Image below for BLANK DVD-R

Now using VM windows 7 to control the burning onto the disc (above)

rodger66

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 10:11 AM in response to rodger66

Disc burned fine in windows VM, as expected..

Windows VM can use it just fine..

Shut down windows and reboot, without paralells loaded and mac hasn't a clue and spits the disc back out.

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Boot Camp (v6): "Can't install software" prompt; Late 2015 iMac with 27" 5K, OS X El Capitan