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Level 1

8 points

Cannot install Windows on Bootcamp after replacing 3TB FusionDrive with 1TB SSD

3TB Fusion Drive was replaced by 1TB SSD drive. When reinstalling OS X i see that the 128GB of Fusion drive is still available as a harddrive, stopping me from installing OS X or Windows (Bootcamp) on the SSD.

I've been testing quite a few ways of installing:

OSX on SSD (Internet Recovery Mode, deleting all partitions and repartitioning SSD)
The installation fails when trying to install
OSX on FusionDrive (128GB), Bootcamp on SSD
OSX installs fine, Bootcamp does not. First time (Windows 10) i got an error message with I/O failure and winload.exe, second time (Windows 8.1) a dos message with "Failed to load operating system, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE". Done this part a few times.
OSX on FusionDrive (128GB), Bootcamp on the same drive
Working, but limited to 128GB for both OSX and Bootcamp
Making Logical Volume (fusiondrive) with both 128GB and 1TB
OSX Working, but cannot give me more than 64GB to my Bootcamp. Bootcamp at 64GB ok.
OSX on FusionDrive (128GB), Bootcamp on FusionDrive - moving to SSD with Winclone
Clean Windows 8.1 install, sysprepped. Everything seems ok in Winclone. When trying to restart i get a message similar to "failed to load operating system

I would like at least 800GB on my Bootcamp. Does anyone know how to make this work?

iMac late 2012, 1TB Samsung EVO replaced the 3TB drive (installed at certified Mac service partner).

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)

Posted on Apr 17, 2016 11:55 PM

44 replies

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 23, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Loner T

I´ve been trying numerous reinstalls now. Reinstalling first time, also upgrading to El Capitan, bootcamp failed to split disk. Reinstalled second time, did not upgrade (Lion following from Internet Recovery mode) - still bootcamp failed to split disk. Manual configuration with resizeStack, reinstalling, upgrading to El Capitan, creating new bootcamp USB, tried to install windows - GPT error, tried to install in EFI mode, ruined both windows and osx startup. Did a new manual config with reziseStack, reinstalled Lion, used the same bootcamp USB, used diskpart to change drive letters on Bootcamp Volume to C: and format it as NTFS with label BOOTCAMP. Installation ok, but when booting on Windows i get "A disk read error occurred Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart". Reset PRAM gives bluescreen on boot on Windows : "The operating system cannot be loaded due to error or missing system register system register" (translated from norwegian). File: /Windows/System32/config/system Errorcode: 0xc00000e9

Any ideas?

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Apr 23, 2016 1:33 PM in response to vifurnes

1. Do you have any third-party NTFS software like Tuxera, Paragon, MacDrive, NTFS-3g? If yes, can you uninstall it temporarily.

2. You have registry corruption which can be related to 1, or, due to the disk. Can you repair BCD and test?

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 23, 2016 2:29 PM in response to Loner T

1. The OSX is clean installed, no additional software installed. The Windows installation have been tried both USB stick from Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 iso made with BC.

2. How do i repair BCD? Tried booting the USB disk, but repair is not an option. Using Shift+F10 gives command windows from where i can rund Bootrec /Fixmbr, /FixBoot and /RebuildBcd. Bootrec scanOS and RebuildBcd does not find any windows installations, even though i can see all windows catalogues on c:

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Apr 23, 2016 2:34 PM in response to vifurnes

You need to be on C: when you /rebuildBCD and your EFI partition must have a drive letter assigned via Diskpart. /sacnOS should also run similarly on C:.

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 23, 2016 3:18 PM in response to Loner T

Had to delete the old BCD to rebuild. Done that, but get the "A disk error occurred.." message 😟

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Apr 23, 2016 3:25 PM in response to vifurnes

This is quite a bit work, but is it possible to have only the 1TB SSD on the main SATA/PCIe connector and installing OSX and Windows both on this single disk?

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2016 4:28 AM in response to Loner T

Never opened the iMac before, just regular computers. Do you have any link describing how to "unplug" the 128GB Fusion SSD?

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Apr 24, 2016 7:34 AM in response to vifurnes

Even though you have THIS link, I suggest not opening the iMac yourself. Since the drive was replaced by an AASP, you may want to talk to the AASP, explain your issue, and take the iMac back to them. Unless you specifically requested a change to the drive type or an upgrade, they should have installed the same configuration as the original.

One issue I have seen is that the SATA cables for HDDs can be connected incorrectly. Your model - iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) - Technical Specifications - supports SATA and PCIe. Can you run System Report and post a screen shot of all the storage connections under Storage? Also, check for individual connections for each storage device and post a screen shot.

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 26, 2016 7:36 AM in response to Loner T

Did some more research. Created a new Fusion drive, reinstalled OSX and did a copy of files. 146GB of files on my fusiondrive, when trying to copy a 4GB file to my desktop i get error.
Screenshots as requested :

Did talk to my AASP and the did not have any information to give. Requested that i talked directly to Apple Support.
I did ask them to insert my brand new unused 1TB SSD - reading that the 850EVO series should work just fine with iMac 27 late 2012.

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 29, 2016 1:57 PM in response to Loner T

Just registered a support case with Apple - they will call me tomorrow.
Found something else on a forum, saying that TRIM on the 128GB fusion and no TRIM on the SSD drive could give some issues..

When copying files (last time i tried i used a video-file approximately 250MB). Made 5 single copies, ok. Did a copy of all 5, got an error. Pasted 5 single files all ok. Marked all 10 files, copy ok. Pasted once more, error. Recopied all videos, error. Recopied one of them, ok.
Seems random when i get to copy or not.

Keep you updated on what Apple Support will say tomorrow.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Apr 29, 2016 2:31 PM in response to vifurnes

You can do a quick test. There is a command called trimforce that you can use under Yosemite and El Capitan.

DESCRIPTION

trimforce enables sending TRIM commands to third-party drives attached to

an AHCI controller. By default, TRIM commands are not sent to third-

party drives. Use extreme caution when enabling TRIM, as some drives may

not correctly handle the commands. trimforce must be run by the system

administrator.

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2016 3:49 AM in response to Loner T

Talked to Apple Support, had to create a new Fusion drive Volume, and reinstall once more - just to be sure. They then recommended me to deliver the computer for a new repair.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 1, 2016 5:05 AM in response to vifurnes

Before you send it for repair, do you want to test trimforce?

vifurnes Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2016 1:19 PM in response to Loner T

Did try it yesterday, got the same errors. 😟

Cannot install Windows on Bootcamp after replacing 3TB FusionDrive with 1TB SSD