Windows 8 won't install

By Zoom7000
in Apple (macOS)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Zoom7000

Posted
Posted

I've got a Mid 2010 MacBook Pro (MacBookPro6,2) and I've updated it to 10.8.3. Apple now support installing of Windows 8 via Boot Camp, but I just can't get it to work even though it is supported on my MacBook. I've created the partition using the Boot Camp Assistant, however, when I boot in to Windows 8, it complains that it can't install on to the partition because it needs the partition to be GPT and it is currently MBR. This is the error message:

"The selected disk has a MBR partition table. On EFI sistems, Windows can only be installed on GPT disks"

"You can't install Windows in this disk. It is possible that the Hardware is not able to boot in this disk. Make sure the disk controller is enabled in the system BIOS"

However, when booting back in to OS X and checking in Disk Utility, the drive is definitely set as GUID Partition Table.

How can I get Windows 8 to see that this is correct? I've tried deleting the partition on Windows 8 setup and recreating it, but it complains it cannot create a partition (Error: 0xf28dbbd0 - Which gives no results in Google!)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1150096-windows-8-wont-install/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Zoom7000

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I would let boot amp remove the partition, then set it up again. Boot your window 8 cd and then format the bootcamp partition. I did it like that last week and it worked. Are you using a legit windows 8 disc? Sometimes a modified install disc might cause issues.

Yeah, I've tried exactly that. Relaunched Boot Camp Assistant, deleted partition, recreated the partition, booted in to Windows, same error, formatted, same error, deleted partition, after this it won't let me create the partition again from Windows.

I am using a legit unmodified copy of Windows 8 (on a USB Flash Drive) downloaded from my TechNet subscription.

Grand Master

Zoom7000

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's good to know that's the answer, I have always setup from cd on bootcamp. USB works fine on non mac computers

Yeah, it seems as though Apple have limited USB installs to only those models that don't come with a DVD drive anymore.

Grand Master

Gotenks98

Posted
Posted

I am surprised you were even able to boot it. I think the issue for you is that you chose EFI to boot from instead of the actual mbr windows installer. Windows has 2 was to boot, one is the MBR standard boot and the other is EFI but on macs this is disabled. You will know if you booted to efi because the font looks different.

Community Regular

ingramator

Posted
Posted

Haha beat me too it mate. Many older models don't support USB boot and so when you use a USB to boot it you will be able to get to installation but won't be able to install onto the HDD because of that GPT error. Anyhow you have resolved that I see! There are no workarounds by the way, the only OS you will be able to boot off USB is OSX.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Threads scales past half a billion users, brings deeper community and feed controls

      By ryansurfer98 · Posted

      I don't believe them that anyone using threads, at least meaningfully. It's the same thing for Facebook, people just don't engage with Meta platforms like they are thinking. This isn't 2006.
    • Snap Inc. launches new SPECS augmented reality glasses (for 'just' $2,195)

      By ryansurfer98 · Posted

      Not taking AI slop on the go with me, hard pass for me.
    • MakeMKV 1.18.4 Beta

      By +Eternal Tempest · Posted

      Same Internet Archive seemed to grab the new version https://web.archive.org/web/20...d/Setup_MakeMKV_v1.18.4.exe Here's the link to an additional file it periodically downloads https://web.archive.org/web/20260213092148/https://www.makemkv.com/sdf.bin I think update's keys, etc. To manually trigger this update, put the sdf.bin file in the root of where the program is installed. When you launch the program it will pick up the file and import it. Typically put it here: C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV\sdf.bin
    • Windows 11 KB5094126, KB5093998 bugging out Office apps but it may not be Microsoft's fault

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      Windows 11 KB5094126, KB5093998 bugging out Office apps but it may not be Microsoft's fault by Sayan Sen Microsoft last week released Windows 11 KB5094126 and KB5093998 as the latest Patch Tuesday updates. Following that the company also published the accompanying dynamic updates under KB5094149, KB5095971, and KB5094156. Although the tech giant did not acknowledge any major problems, some users online reported various issues ranging from OneDrive and Dropbox access problems, BitLocker recovery lockouts, to blue screens and BSODs. You can read about them in this dedicated piece. While there is still no confirmation about those problems from Microsoft the company has admitted to another bug which we did not report on. The tech giant has confirmed it has received reports of an issue in which certain third-party applications may be unable to launch Microsoft Office apps or open Office documents after installing the Patch Tuesday. This affects both Windows 11 as well as Windows 10. The company says the problem impacts a subset of applications that rely on OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) automation to communicate with Microsoft Office programs. According to Microsoft, affected scenarios involve third-party software attempting to open Office applications or documents from within their own interface. In such cases, the Office program may fail to launch altogether, or the requested document may not open. Oddly there may not be any error message, which probably makes the issue difficult to diagnose. The bug affects several Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and other apps in the Microsoft Office suite when they are launched through the affected software. These include tax and accounting software such as CCH Engagement and Workpaper Manager, dental practice management solutions like Dentrix and Softdent, as well as the popular research and reference management tool Zotero. Microsoft adds that other applications using similar Office integration methods could also experience the same problematic behavior. To understand the issue it is important to look at OLE, the Microsoft technology involved. OLE allows different applications to work together and share data, while its Automation feature lets one program control another. Thus this enables third-party software to launch Microsoft Office apps, open documents, and perform tasks automatically without requiring users to switch between programs. Because many accounting, healthcare, research, and business applications rely on OLE automation to interact with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps, any disruption can break those workflows. As a result, affected software may be unable to open Office documents or launch Office applications even though the programs themselves continue to work normally. At the moment the company has not provided a permanent fix though it has confirmed that engineers are actively working on a resolution, which will be delivered through a future Windows update. As such additional details will be shared once more information becomes available. In the meantime, Microsoft recommends a simple workaround for affected users whic is to open the Office application or document directly rather than launching it through the third-party program. For enterprise customers and organizations managing larger deployments, Microsoft says an additional mitigation is available. Admins experiencing the problem on their managed devices are advised to contact Microsoft Support for business to obtain and apply the workaround.
    • Microsoft announces 12th-gen Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 processors

      By cleverclogs · Posted

      It saddens me when cars are such dull colours now. Mine is bright metallic blue and I absolutely adore it for standing out in contrast to that depressing backdrop of traffic.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Reacting Well
      Dys Topia earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Conversation Starter
      NovaEdgeX earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Year In
      Console General earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Twozo Technologies earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Twozo Technologies earned a badge
      One Month Later

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      517
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      184
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      106
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      88
    5. 5
      ATLien_0
      68
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!