Hi, I am installing Windows Dev Preview in UEFI mode on a MacBook Pro Early 2011 model, and get stuck at the bcd stage. I have manually copied the files to the efi partition. I cannot edit the BCD store. I have no entries in it, and cannot get the windows commands to open the bcd store.
I have tried mounting the System partition, and still no go with
bcdboot C:\windows /s f: /f UEFI
where f: is the efi partition.
If anyone has suggestions, I would appreciate it. Also, I am willing to test for anyone needing it. I plan on releasing a full guide after this is over, as I can't find a complete one anywhere, that deals directly with the MacBook.
Thanks in advance.
Dragorth.
Hi Dragorth,
here are the steps i did to get windows to boot off the efi partition:
- install windows until the bcd error pops up
- DON'T CLICK the button!
- shift+f10 to open the shell
- mount the efi partition if it isn't already mounted (f: in my case)
- there should already be a folder "F:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot" with bootmgfw.efi, BCD and some other files in it
- the BCD-Store is empty (8K filesize)
- delete the BCD file and copy over the template (C:\Windows\system32\Config\BCD-Template) and rename it to "BCD"
- modify the template (bcdedit /store F:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD /set .....) so that the bootmanager object has the device and path set to the efi partition's "F:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi"
- add an osloader application object with the device and osdevice set to "partition=C:" and path set to "\Windows\System32\winload.efi"
- copy some crap over to the EFI partition, so the BCD file is not in the disk cache, and delete it again. (I encountered strange behaviour, because windows doesn't safely unmount the partitions when shutting down from the installer)
- exit the shell and press the power button until the mac is shut down. (so windows doesn't rollback changes)
-> the bootloader should now work, but you will not have graphics output, because there is an issue when both cards are enabled (if you use a 15" or 17" mbp with additional discrete graphics)
get graphics in normal mode:
- in safe mode you will have basic video output, so hold f8 while clicking "EFI Boot" in Apple's bootpicker and select Safe Mode.
- wait for the "Windows can't be setup in Safe Mode" error
- shift+f10
- compmgmt.msc
- go down to device manager and disable the intel graphics adapter (the one with vendor id 8086, if the names aren't shown)
-> you would now have graphics when normal-booting windows, but the next bcd error isn't far ahead...
(it would be like "installer can't set up windows on this computer's hardware" or so)
- modify the "C:\Windows\system32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Specialize.xml" file with notepad
-> delete the the two "imaging" entries (<imaging ....>...bcd....</imaging>) with bcd in it (strg+f will do)
- safe
- press the OK button of the error message in the background to reboot
-> windows now installs device drivers and halts with an error about the bootconfig.
- time for shift+f10!
- regedit
- i found a setup related folder in HKLM with some keys for the various setup actions "...done" in it or so, and set them to 1, also there is a key which determines, if the current system state is setup, and set it to 0. don't know exactly, maybe you find out yourself.
- i then wanted to sysprep my system to start then with the oobe phase (sysprep /oobe), but that gave me an error, so this step may not be necessary
- then i started "windows welcome" (C:\Windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe)
-> that should take you to the assistant for setting up hostname and user.
- when logging in, the hard drive worked for a minute or so, and then nothing.
- i powered off my mac and booted into safe mode, and logging in worked.
- restart -> and voila, login works, windows setup complete
i installed the bootcamp drivers with compatibility mode set to windows7, so most of the hardware works. but graphics uses only the windows basic drivers. maybe anyone can find out more on that issue.
good luck! (i know you'll need it ^^)
Here are my BCD and specialize.xml files:
download
you need to set osdevice and device of the boot manager and loader objects via bcdedit to your partition, if you use my file!
The Technet article for modifying the BCD template and setting the EFI-relevant options:
Article