MacOS 10.8.5 Boot Camp 5 Windows 8.1 Install failing at the end

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MacOS 10.8.5 Boot Camp 5 Windows 8.1 Install failing at the end

My system: Mid 2012 Quad 2.6GHz i7 with 16GB RAM. Mac OSX 10.8.5 is installed on an 500GB SSD in the main HD tray. In the optical bay, I have a 1TB HD. My plan was to partition the 1TB HD and put windows on the smaller portion as I do not have enough room on the SSD.

I have a 8GB USB drive that I have successfully put the ISO on with Bootcamp Assistant. I have run the installer twice and each time I get an error at the end. I missed the error the first time but the second time it said "IRQL Not Less Or Equal" which my research has suggested might have something to do an external drive (the usb, I suspect, which is plugged into a USB 3 port).

The above link says that Boot Camp 6 helps offer USB 3 support but I can't find an installer for it. I suspect that is because it might be an El Capitan thing. So is this a Boot Camp 5 (Version 5.0.4 (473)) issue? Do I need to upgrade to Mavericks or Yosemite? (As a professional audio guy using Pro Tools 10, I would prefer to remain in Mountain Lion). Is there a Boot Camp version I can use with Mountain Lion that will address this issue?

If it has nothing to do which version of Boot Camp, what is the solution?

Thanks in advance

Will

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 16GB RAM, SSD, HD in dvd bay

Posted on Mar 2, 2016 10:26 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Nubz N.

Community Moderator

Mar 4, 2016 10:53 AM in response to WillSandalls

HI WillSandalls,

It sounds like you are using Boot Camp 5.0.4 to install Windows 8.1 on your MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) but it gives you errors and won't finish the install.

Checking Boot Camp 5.1: Frequently asked questions - Apple Support

it looks like everything is compatible, but it discusses Boot Camp 5.1 rather than 5.0.4.

Some quotes:

Boot Camp 5.1 supports 64-bit, non-Enterprise versions of Windows 7, Windows 8.0, and Windows 8.1. This version of Boot Camp doesn't support Windows XP, Windows Vista, or any 32-bit version of Windows.

Do Macs that have a Fusion Drive support Boot Camp?
Yes. Boot Camp Assistant creates the Windows partition on the disk drive instead of the flash drive (SSD). If you're installing Windows 8 on an iMac with a 3TB hard drive, make sure the iMac is using OS X v10.8.3 or later.

Is USB 3 supported by Boot Camp 5.1?
Yes. See Using USB 3 devices on Mac computers.

So please use Boot Camp 5.1

Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5621

And check out the relevant section of this article.

Use Windows 8.1 on your Mac with Boot Camp - Apple Support

Take care.

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Answer 2

WillSandalls Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 4, 2016 5:39 PM in response to Nubz N.

Thank you! I download the file and their are some differences in the content between what is in the "BootCamp5" folder that unzips from the downloaded file and what Boot Camp Assistant put on my usb install disk. But the elements on that my version of Boot Camp put on the flash drive are newer than the elements contained in the BootCamp5 folder. For instance, all the created dates on the usb flash are newer than the files I downloaded. In addition, and probably more relevant, when I compare the xml files "BootCamp.xml," the BootCamp5 xml file says it is BuildNumber 5621 (as you would expect as this is also included in the link's title). But the version Boot Camp Assistant installed is BuildNumber 6133, indicating that is in fact newer than the file you suggested I used.

So we have discovered some nomenclature issues which are probably my fault. My version of Boot Camp Assistant (5.0.4) installed the latest build of BootCamp on my installer (6133). The file you linked me to is in fact an older version of BootCamp (5621) so I have to conclude that this is not the problem.

I am going to attempt to install Windows on another slight older but still supported MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) that I still have and see if it works. I may have something bigger wrong with the computer as it is also giving me problems while trying to install Mavericks.

Again, thanks for your time. While it wasn't the answer to my problem, it did help clarify my understanding of the situation.

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Answer 3

Nubz N.

Community Moderator

Mar 5, 2016 6:30 AM in response to WillSandalls

Hi WillSandalls,

Thanks for the update.

Yes there are different versions for diffirent configurations. For example:

Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5621

System Requirements

MacBook Air (11-inch & 13-inch, Mid 2011)

MacBook Air (11-inch & 13-inch, Mid 2012)

MacBook Pro (15-inch & 17-inch, Mid 2010)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, & 15-inch, Early 2011)

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)

MacBook Pro (13-inch,15-inch & 17-inch Late 2011)

MacBook Pro (13-inch & 15-inch, Mid 2012)

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch and 15-inch, Early 2013)

Mac Pro (Early 2009)

Mac Pro (Mid 2010)

Mac Pro (Mid 2012)

Mac mini (Mid 2011)

Mac mini (Late 2012)

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)

iMac (21.5-inch & 27-inch, Mid 2011)

iMac (21.5-inch & 27-inch, Late 2012)

iMac (21.5-inch) Early 2013

Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, 64 bit

Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5640

System Requirements

MacBook Air (11-inch & 13-inch, Early 2014)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch & 15-inch, Mid 2014)

MacBook Air (11-inch & 13-inch, Mid 2013)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch & 15-inch, Late 2013)

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

iMac (21.5-inch & 27-inch, Late 2013)

Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, 64 bit

Download Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5769

System Requirements

Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5769

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)

Mac Mini (Late 2014)

Hope it gets sorted out soon.

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