Boot Camp: Could not locate the macOS volume

Hello!


A while ago I purchased 21'5 iMac (Mid 2017), it came with macOS High Sierra. The setup was pretty easy, but after some time I understood that sometimes I need Windows specific applications, so I have followed the guide and installed Windows 10 (April Update 2018) throw Boot Camp utility. It is a great experience, because Windows 10 was and is working so fast and fluid on this iMac like it never did or does even on my high-end PC's.


About a week ago App Store asked if I want to upgrade to Mojave, the update process wasn't fast, but it's ok. After that on 01/10/2018 I have restarted iMac from macOS to Windows 10 and it automatically installed two updates while I was working (nothing else was installed):

  1. Definition Update for Windows Defender Antivirus - KB2267602,
  2. Intel Corporation - Display - 2/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - 23.20.16.4973.


I wanted to restart Windows 10 back to macOS, but the Boot Camp failed with error message: "Could not locate the macOS volume", Boot Camp Control Panel doesn't show macOS, while macOS Startup Disk correctly shows Windows and macOS systems (see pictures below).

User uploaded file


User uploaded file

I searched for options to start the iMac with macOS and found out about the Option key and it wasn't so hard to do, but now:

  • When iMac starts, it is loading Windows 10, so I need to hold the key or wait until the boot is complete and restart again to start macOS;
  • Even when I'm turning machine off, while on macOS it will always start with Windows on next launch.


I have three questions:

  • Which of the OS updates could cause this strange Boot Camp behaviour: macOS Mojave upgrade or Windows Update's Display driver's update? Maybe uninstall or downgrade will rollback this changes and Boot Camp will work as before?
  • If the problem with Boot Camp cannot be solved (or if it requires Windows reinstallation), is there a way to configure iMac to always load macOS first and only then from the macOS restart to Windows?
  • Is there a way to automate restart from OS to OS process, e.g. create a shortcut to a cmdlet or macOS terminal command?


P.S. DiskPart on Windows 10 says that the type of macOS partition is unknown: is it expected?

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.17134.1 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: DESKTOP-82SL41M DISKPART> select disk 0 Disk 0 is now the selected disk. DISKPART> list partition Partition ### Type Size Offset ------------- ---------------- ------- ------- Partition 1 System 200 MB 20 KB Partition 2 Unknown 836 GB 200 MB Partition 3 Primary 94 GB 836 GB DISKPART> list volume Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info ---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- -------- Volume 0 C BOOTCAMP NTFS Partition 94 GB Healthy Boot Volume 1 EFI FAT32 Partition 200 MB Healthy System


Thank you for your patience for reading such long and full of mistakes text and for your help!

iMac (21.5-inch, 2017), Windows 10

Posted on Oct 2, 2018 7:18 AM

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Oct 2, 2018 4:53 PM in response to arthur.v

arthur.v wrote:


Which of the OS updates could cause this strange Boot Camp behaviour: macOS Mojave upgrade or Windows Update's Display driver's update? Maybe uninstall or downgrade will rollback this changes and Boot Camp will work as before?

If you check the output of diskutil list on the macOS side, and it shows an APFS volume, your previous Fusion drive was converted by Mojave.


arthur.v wrote:


If the problem with Boot Camp cannot be solved (or if it requires Windows reinstallation), is there a way to configure iMac to always load macOS first and only then from the macOS restart to Windows?

Yes, see Start up your Mac in Windows or macOS with Boot Camp - Apple Support for reference.


arthur.v wrote:


Is there a way to automate restart from OS to OS process, e.g. create a shortcut to a cmdlet or macOS terminal command?


P.S. DiskPart on Windows 10 says that the type of macOS partition is unknown: is it expected?

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.17134.1 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: DESKTOP-82SL41M DISKPART> select disk 0 Disk 0 is now the selected disk. DISKPART> list partition Partition ### Type Size Offset ------------- ---------------- ------- ------- Partition 1 System 200 MB 20 KB Partition 2 Unknown 836 GB 200 MB Partition 3 Primary 94 GB 836 GB DISKPART> list volume Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info ---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- -------- Volume 0 C BOOTCAMP NTFS Partition 94 GB Healthy Boot Volume 1 EFI FAT32 Partition 200 MB Healthy System


The iMac Pro allows switching between macOS APFS and Windows, but you will need to install some Apple software. See when are boot camp drivers going to be updated ? as a reference.

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Boot Camp: Could not locate the macOS volume

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