Blue screen when installing Windows on Mac via Boot Camp?

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Blue screen when installing Windows on Mac via Boot Camp?

Hello,

I attempted to install Windows 10 onto my Mac mini 2012, which has two internal drives, the original hard drive and a Crucial SSD (the MX300). The SSD is the startup disk. I successfully partitioned the HDD and loaded the Windows iso onto a Lexar 16 GB USB 3.0 flash drive. However, when the computer restarted, the installation process did not begin, and all I got was a blue screen that didn't go away. I turned the computer off with the power button and held down the option key as I turned it back on so that I could boot from the SSD, which worked. How can I properly install Windows onto my Mac so that I don't just get a blue screen?

Thanks

Matthew

Mac mini, macOS Sierra (10.12.1), Late 2012

Posted on Dec 28, 2016 9:27 PM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Dec 29, 2016 6:00 AM in response to mbenson2

There are two configuration supported for Bootcamp. A single drive Mini or a Fusion drive if you have two drives SSD/HDD. Do you want to consider building a Fusion drive and install BC/Windows on it? The other method is to disconnect one of the drives physically temporarily for the Windows installation on the remaining disk.

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Answer 2

mbenson2 Author

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Dec 29, 2016 6:38 AM in response to Loner T

Sure, I will build a Fusion drive and install Windows on it if that will work. How do I do that?

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Dec 29, 2016 6:45 AM in response to mbenson2

Do you have any files on the HDD that you want to save? I suggest you back up both disks, before we proceed further.

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Answer 4

mbenson2 Author

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Dec 29, 2016 6:47 AM in response to Loner T

Actually, the HDD is completely empty. The SSD is already backed up.

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Dec 29, 2016 6:51 AM in response to mbenson2

Please post the output of the following OS X Terminal commands

diskutil list

diskutil cs list

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Answer 6

mbenson2 Author

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Dec 29, 2016 6:55 AM in response to Loner T

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Answer 7

mbenson2 Author

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Dec 29, 2016 7:00 AM in response to Loner T

Quick question: The reason I want to install Windows onto this computer is because it is the simplest way to install the firmware update for the SSD. If I create a fusion drive, will I be able to update the firmware?

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Dec 29, 2016 7:10 AM in response to mbenson2

Crucial and Samsung provide their own FW updates that you can run from CD/USB. The MX300 should work similarly.

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Answer 9

mbenson2 Author

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Dec 29, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Loner T

Yes I know. I've tried everything and even contacted Crucial support, where they told me that I would either need to reinstall the SSD into another computer temporarily to perform the update or get Windows so that I can download their Windows-only software, "Crucial Storage Executive". But will I be able to update if the SSD has been fused with the HDD?

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Answer 10

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Dec 29, 2016 7:18 AM in response to mbenson2

Yes. I use Samsung Magician on a Fusion drive on a 2012 Mini. Crucial used to have a bootable CD. Samsung has a bootable CD from which I can run the firmware update, if I do not have Windows.

A bit surprised that Crucial dropped support for the bootable CD. 😮

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Answer 11

mbenson2 Author

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13 points

Dec 29, 2016 7:28 AM in response to Loner T

Oh I apologize for not explaining thoroughly--Crucial still supports a bootable CD, but my computer does not have an internal CD drive. If you also have a 2012 Mini, how can you boot from a CD?

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