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Boot Camp error: An error occurred while copying the Windows installation files

Continued Conversation from Boot Camp error: An error occurred while copying the Windows installation files

I ran into this issue trying to install the full version of Windows 10 Pro October 2018 using 10.13.1 Mojave. I’m installing on a MacBook Pro 15 (2016).

I verified the system was fully ready to install. However this error occurred over and over. Finally I decided to push through manually and it worked. The problem is under the Windows 10 ISO under the Sources folder, there is a file called install.wim. This single file is over 4GB and can’t be written to a FAT 32 partition that Boot Camp creates. This is a limitation for FAT 32. Here was how I worked around it.

1. Star Boot Camp like normal.

2. Go to the point of failure where you get the error message.

3. Boot Camp will attempt to roll back the parition, but close Boot Camp so those two new partitions are kept. They are named OSXRESERVED and BOOT CAMP.

4. Use Disk Utility to erase the newly created “OSXRESERVED” partition, and with the erase feature, choose the ExFAT Format. (This format will allow you to write larger files than the FAT 32 format)

5. Manually copy all the contents from the Windows 10 ISO to the OSXRESROUCES volume.

6. Restart your Mac and enter into the boot selector (hold option key while restarting).

7. You’ll see an option called “Windows” to boot from. This is the installer.

8. As you go through the Windows installer, make sure to reformat the “Boot Camp” partition using the installer tool (this is step #4 from this help article Install Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp - Apple Support)

9. For the rest of the process follow step #5 from the above article. You’ll be clicking on the link “install Windows support software manually” (here is the direct link here If Windows Support Software isn't installed after you run Boot Camp Assistant - Apple Support)

I hope this helps! I’m staring at my window screen right now so I’m sure this setup worked for me.

Cheers!

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2016), macOS Mojave (10.14.1), null

Posted on Nov 15, 2018 4:12 PM

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evan-13 Author

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Posted on Nov 15, 2018 4:35 PM

Continued...

In place of step #9 you can download the Windows Support Drivers by booting back into Boot Camp Assistant and going to the Action drop down menu. Then choose “Download Windows Support Software.” You’ll want to first format a USB Thumb Drive as ExFAT and then save the file directly to this thumb drive.

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42 replies

Jan 10, 2019 1:20 AM in response to evan-13

So I've been trying to install the downloadable Windows ISO to my 2016 MBP since yesterday. I've done it in the past, but for some reason I'm encountering many obstacles this time.

The first problem was getting an error message after the Bootcamp partition didn't work: "An error occurred while copying the Windows installation files".

I followed the steps found in this here thread. I had to restart an extra time in order to unpack the Windows ISO to reach the content.

After some hiccups I finally made it to the point where I boot up holding the option key and click on the Windows OS.

I was brought to the install screen (for which I had to plug an external mouse in, thank god I have one), and I selected custom, 64-bit Home etc.

I followed step #8 and selected the Bootcamp partition to install to but received this error:

"Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as NTFS".

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 16, 2019 7:52 AM in response to rajamania

I dont understand what you mean. I am having the copying windows installation files in bootcamp error. Irregardless of what version of windows iso im using.

If the issue is related to copying files to OSXRESERVED partition on your 2017 iMac's internal drive using W10 1803 or older, you may have other issues related to the internal storage. I suggest you start a new discussion, because it is unrelated to W10 1803 vs 1809 ISO.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 17, 2018 6:47 PM in response to martincapal

What happens if you re-install Windows using W10 1803 and then upgrade to W10 1809?

Nov 18, 2018 1:51 AM in response to martincapal

As well as getting apple pre release software I am also a windows insider and from a lot of the feed back I read 1809 has A lot of bugs. Unless you really want to have the latest stick to 1803.

1slammer

Level 1

4 points

Dec 22, 2018 6:55 PM in response to 1slammer

Total time building new pc...4 hours.

Total time trying to get Windows installed...12 and counting

dong129

Level 1

4 points

Dec 22, 2018 8:28 PM in response to evan-13

From 5) How do you “manually copy all the contents from the windows to the ISO OSX? Can you be more specific?

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Dec 22, 2018 8:37 PM in response to dong129

From 5) How do you “manually copy all the contents from the windows to the ISO OSX? Can you be more specific?

Can you upgrade to the latest Mojave and retry, without using any manual steps?

D4close

Level 1

4 points

Jan 7, 2019 1:43 PM in response to evan-13

I’m not sure how to do step 5? How do you manually copy the content from the Window ISO to the volume of the OSX?

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 10, 2019 12:27 PM in response to Mroksalmarer513

See steps 20 and 21 in Install Windows 7 on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support. This is valid on older models for all versions of Windows.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 26, 2019 5:48 AM in response to RubenKuit

Please start a new discussion, to avoid confusion.

Feb 2, 2019 11:38 PM in response to evan-13

What do you mean by step 5...?? Help plz

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 3, 2019 3:53 AM in response to SkySilver

What do you mean by step 5...?? Help plz

Please start a new discussion.

Feb 15, 2019 8:01 AM in response to RubenKuit

I had the same issue very frustrating. i have a 2017 imac 27 and cant run windows on it after replacing the fusion drive with SSD drive.

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 15, 2019 10:46 AM in response to rajamania

I had the same issue very frustrating. i have a 2017 imac 27 and cant run windows on it after replacing the fusion drive with SSD drive.

This should be unrelated to Windows installation.

Feb 15, 2019 7:45 PM in response to Loner T

I dont understand what you mean. I am having the copying windows installation files in bootcamp error. Irregardless of what version of windows iso im using.

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Boot Camp error: An error occurred while copying the Windows installation files