Funklestiltskin
Level 1 (4 points)
Windows Software

Q: Need help installing Windows 8.1 to bootcamp partition on Macbook Pro 15" Mid 2010 w/ no optical drive

I've been trying for almost a week every possible way to get windows installed on a Bootcamp partition on either my main SSD 1TB drive as a partition, or on my HDD, which is installed in the optical drive spot.  So far everything I've tried gives me some sort of error at some point in the process.  It seems a lot of these are case by case, so I thought I'd ask you all and see if you can help!    

 

I'm running a Macbook Pro 15" Mid 2010 that I upgraded with a 1TB SSD drive as the Startup Disk.  My optical drive was not functional so I moved my old 500GB HDD to the optical bay slot.  I'm also running the latest version of El Capitan (10.11.6)
Here are my system specs:


Hardware Overview:

 

  Model Name: MacBook Pro

  Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2

  Processor Name: Intel Core i7

  Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz

  Number of Processors: 1

  Total Number of Cores: 2

  L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

  L3 Cache: 4 MB

  Memory: 8 GB

  Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s

  Boot ROM Version: MBP61.0057.B11

  SMC Version (system): 1.58f17

 

What I've tried (from what I can remember):

 

I've tried changing the info.plist of Bootcamp to allow my version of macbook pro to use a USB for the installer.  That seems to have installed fine but once I partition the drive and the computer restarts it gets stuck at a white screen with the Apple logo and I'm forced to do a hard shutdown and then hold option to boot into either the OS X, Recovery, or the EFI Boot.

 

If I go through the windows install from the EFI boot, I get an error of:
"Windows cannot be installed to this disk.  The selected disk has an MBR partition table.  On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks."

 

I've also tried creating a partition using Disk Utility, and that too has given me an error in the windows installation.


So far, the only way I've gotten windows to run at all has been by using the free trial of VMware Fusion 8.... but I plan to use windows for more intensive tasks like pro audio, and Fusion simply doesn't offer the performance I need to run such programs.  I'm hoping to install windows 8.1 on either my internal SSD or HDD, whichever works - as long as OS X and the accompanying files are left alone.

 

 

If anyone could please help me figure this out, I'd really appreciate it!

 

Thanks

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), MacBookPro6,2 Intel Core i7 2.8GHz

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 4:58 PM

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Funklestiltskin

Q: Need help installing Windows 8.1 to bootcamp partition on Macbook Pro 15" Mid 2010 w/ no optical drive

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BobTheFisherman,Helpful

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Sep 8, 2016 5:24 PM in response to Funklestiltskin
    Level 6 (15,279 points)
    Sep 8, 2016 5:24 PM in response to Funklestiltskin

    If your computer came with an optical drive you must use the optical drive to install Windows using Boot Camp Assistant.

  • by Loner T,Helpful

    Loner T Loner T Sep 8, 2016 5:25 PM in response to Funklestiltskin
    Level 7 (23,658 points)
    Safari
    Sep 8, 2016 5:25 PM in response to Funklestiltskin

    Which of the two disks do you want to install Windows on, and, which drive bay is this designated disk drive in?

     

    BobTheFisherman is correct in asking you to use the built-in Optical drive. Your Mac does not properly support a USB boot or an EFI installation of Windows.

  • by Funklestiltskin,

    Funklestiltskin Funklestiltskin Sep 8, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 8, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Loner T

    I don't care which one I install it on, as long as it works haha.  The SSD is installed in the main drive bay, while the HDD is installed in the Optical Bay drive via a caddy.

  • by Funklestiltskin,

    Funklestiltskin Funklestiltskin Sep 8, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 8, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Loner T

    is there any work-around for this?  My optical drive is unfortunately not functional - which was part of the reason I replaced it with more storage via the HDD.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 8, 2016 5:24 PM in response to Funklestiltskin
    Level 7 (23,658 points)
    Safari
    Sep 8, 2016 5:24 PM in response to Funklestiltskin

    Do you still have the Optical drive? If yes, disconnect the HDD, re-install the Optical drive, install W8.1 on the SSD, remove the Optical drive and re-install the HDD.

     

    Please be aware that SATA IO in the Optibay is unstable in 2010 models. It can cause unpredictable behavior.

     

    If you do not have the Optical drive, look on MacRumours for a VMware/Winclone based solution, which does not require the Optical drive.

     

    Windows on 2010 models in the Optibay is unstable.

  • by Funklestiltskin,

    Funklestiltskin Funklestiltskin Sep 8, 2016 5:31 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 8, 2016 5:31 PM in response to Loner T

    Yes, I still have the Optical drive - but last I checked it wasn't working properly.  I'll try reinstalling it when I get off work.
    Thanks for the help guys!  I'll report back after I've tried that

     

    And OK, I'll install on the SSD to a Bootcamp partition.  Thanks!