Can't get Windows 10 on MBR Partition?

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Level 1

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Can't get Windows 10 on MBR Partition?

Hello, I've read a ton of posts (many with solutions by Loner T) that are very very similar and close but I just can't get passed this. I have an MacBookPro 8,3 with the newest MacOSX Sierra (or something). The disk is an SSD too. I've had windows 10 on this before but the drive fried and i put in a new one. I have windows 10 on USB, i used bootcamp and tried Fat NTFS exFat but every time i get to selecting the partition to install win10 on i get the error saying the disk has an MBR partition table. Windows can only be isnalled to GPT Disks. Please help. Thanks, Rich

MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011), iOS 11.2.2

Posted on Jan 15, 2018 4:36 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 15, 2018 5:57 PM in response to ichiSan427

The 2011 Macs do not have Bootcamp drivers for W10. Do not use EFI Boot on 2011 models. It must be installed as legacy BIOS. The W8.1 installation via BC Assistant defaults to BIOS.

Download W8.1 ISO from Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File).
Burn it to a DVD-R SL using right-click ISO -> Burn and expand it as follows (burn at the lowest burn rate)

Install W8.1 and the BC drivers.
Download W10 ISO from Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File) . Be aware that W10 1607 (Anniversary) is less problematic on your Mac then W10 1709 (Fall Creators).
Burn to a DVD-R SL. Hang on to both disks for dear life.
Boot into W8.1, insert W10 DVD, and run setup.exe from the DVD.

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:21 PM in response to ichiSan427

Down load the ISO using a Mac, instead of the Windows Media Creation Tool.

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 15, 2018 8:10 PM in response to ichiSan427

I suggest using the standard DVD method, which will take the least amount of time, energy and elbow grease.

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Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:12 PM in response to ichiSan427

ichiSan427 wrote:

i meant to say "if i create the bootable usb withOUT BCA, will that work"

A USB boot on a 2011 will cause more problems, and can only use EFI. It just leads to pain and grief. 😉

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Answer 5

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 5:39 PM in response to Loner T

wow, that was a quick. man u are killin it with these questions huh, kudos .. yes the disk drive works fine .. i was totally going to ask if i should just try to burn the win10 iso to dvdr and go from there..is this what you're eluding to ? trying to a find a blank DVD now. i just tried doing creating a full partition in disk utilize vs whatever BCA was doing, idk, im a developer with 20 years and this is making me pull my hair out lol, think i should just buy another machine or something ANYWAYS lol

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Answer 6

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:03 PM in response to Loner T

I'm not sure what you mean by legacy bios opposed to EFI.. right now when i use BCA and create partition it goes to reboot requick but then find no bootable device.. i hold option and boot it to find EFI and MacOS, i only get the EFI from the bootable USB drive that i pointed BCA to my win10 iso.. is the problem because i let BCA create my bootable win10 USB drive? if i create a partition from disk utilities and make a bootable win10 usb drive with BCA would that work? i dont have DVDRs at the moment..

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Answer 7

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:39 PM in response to Loner T

yea the mac doesn't pick it up as a bootable USB device after using Rufus .. ima try creating the bootable win8 with BC and then somehow sorta hot swapping 10 so it installs that .. should i be able to get 8 on there from the USB ? although i dont think i have a key for 8 at the moment (not sure if 10s key will work) .. heh .. i have 10 iso's for 1607 and 1703.. your saying to use the 1607.. i had everything working great for years until my SSD crapped out. Thnks so much for all your help, very very much appreciated.

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 15, 2018 5:49 PM in response to ichiSan427

The MBP8,3 is a 17-in 2011 Mac. Does your internal Optical drive work properly for reading/writing DVDs?

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Answer 9

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 5:52 PM in response to ichiSan427

yea in the windows installer i get an error now when trying to create a partition out of the unallocated space.. i ordered some 8.5 gig DVD-Rs ..

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Answer 10

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:06 PM in response to ichiSan427

i meant to say "if i create the bootable usb withOUT BCA, will that work"

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Answer 11

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:23 PM in response to Loner T

ok ill try that.. how about this "rufus" tool to make bootable USB drives from ISO's seems to have options for MBR/GPT Bios and UEFI, think that could work?

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Answer 12

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:28 PM in response to ichiSan427

You can try it, but that is relevant to the bootable media, not to the installer it will boot.

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Answer 13

ichiSan427 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 15, 2018 6:18 PM in response to Loner T

ugh cant get win8 lol "no endpoints from teh endpoint mapper" tried almost all the options from the microsoft download media creation tool no dice.. ok i guess i need to have DVDRs .. i swear i did this a few years ago with a USB only and had no issues.. idk .. if i installed would create partition it needs seems like it'd be fine..

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