Windows 10 install error, cannot find disk or partition?

Question

Windows 10 install error, cannot find disk or partition?

All,

I have a late model standard (2-USBC) 13" MacBookPro 16G/512G/10.12.4 setup and I am trying to create a bootcamp Windows partition with Home 64 version for some testing I need to do.

I created the ISO file using the Disk Utility and created a 64G partition. Bootcamp downloaded the update drivers, created the partition, rebooted into that and I get the first Windows screen, US keyboard/English etc... then it asks for my key which I enter. Then it shows the start copying of files and pops up an error message that states....

Windows cannot locate the disk and partition specified in the unatted answer files's <ImageInstall> setting. Make sure the setting references a valid partition and restart the installation.

~~~

I went through the process 2 times, same problem. Anyone know what the problem is?

Thanks,
Gordon

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.2), Late 2016 standard I5/16G/512G SSD

Posted on Apr 10, 2017 9:11 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 10, 2017 9:47 AM in response to Gordon Rankin

Good to 'see' you, Gordon.

You will need to edit the AutoUnattend.xml file. See Bootcamp install windows to black screen as a reference.

But, the 2016 Macs use an internal partition called OSXReserved which is typically deleted, hence this file in that partition may not be available and/or exist. The work-around is to Build your own Windows 10 Bootcamp USB Installer . This requires that you have a way to connect a USB Flash drive via a USBc-to-USB connector or you will need something similar to SanDisk 32GB Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive .

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 11, 2017 6:30 AM in response to Loner T

T,

Thanks for the info, but I can't get the computer to boot off the USB drive. It won't show up when pressing the option key on boot? 8GB ISO + drivers formatted Fat32, Master Boot Record? I am using an AudioQuest USB-C to USBSS converter. I can read and write to the USB stick all day, just can't boot from it.

Currently bootcamp doesn't recognize that it created a partition and I am going to fix that problem and then try and install this stuff on another computer.

Thanks,

Gordon

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 11, 2017 8:08 AM in response to Loner T

T,

Thanks but I don't think that is the problem. I have an OWC USB-C dock and I can put the flash drive in there and it is visible in macOS but not with option-boot. I have my backup drive on the OWC USB-C dock and it can be seen on both macOS and option-boot. I have a USBSS drive, I think I will try that and see what happens.

Thanks,

Gordon

Reply

Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 11, 2017 9:45 AM in response to Gordon Rankin

Good to see that you have it working.

On the specific model, the AutoUnattend.xml was properly updated by BC Assistant, so the ImageInstall tag had proper values. Here is an example of a working one.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">

<settings pass="windowsPE">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<UserData>

<ProductKey>

<WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>

</ProductKey>

</UserData>

<UpgradeData>

<Upgrade>true</Upgrade>

<WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>

</UpgradeData>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsWinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<DriverPaths>

<PathAndCredentials wcm:keyValue="1" wcm:action="add">

<Path>$WinPEDriver$</Path>

</PathAndCredentials>

</DriverPaths>

</component>

</settings>

<settings pass="specialize">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<RunSynchronous>

<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">

<Order>1</Order>

<Path>cmd /c "FOR %i IN (X F E D C) DO (FOR /F "tokens=6" %t in ('vol %i:') do (IF /I %t NEQ "" (IF EXIST %i:\BootCamp\BootCamp.xml Reg ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v AppsRoot /t REG_SZ /d %i /f )))"</Path>

</RunSynchronousCommand>

</RunSynchronous>

</component>

</settings>

<settings pass="oobeSystem">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<FirstLogonCommands>

<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">

Reply

Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 11, 2017 6:49 AM in response to Gordon Rankin

The USB-c-to-USB3/USB2 adapters have challenges supporting boot ability. This may not be what you wanted to hear, but can you procure a USB-c flash drive and bypass the adapter?

Reply

Answer 6

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Apr 11, 2017 9:02 AM in response to Gordon Rankin

What is the brand/model of the USB Flash which is not visible? The formatting (GPT/MBR) also plays a role in visibility in Option-Boot.

Reply

Answer 7

Apr 11, 2017 9:34 AM in response to Gordon Rankin

T,

I installed this on a MacBook and it worked just fine. No need to spend hours on something like Windows, it's frustrating enough just using it.

Thanks,

Gordon

Reply