Boot Camp Assistant v5.1.2

[vkd]

I have a mid-2011 27" iMac, into which I have installed a Samsung SSD and formed a Fusion drive of that with the original internal hard disk. There is one partition that takes up all available space and there is no recovery partition. The OS is 10.9.5, Mavericks.

I started the Boot Camp Assistant app in the Apps/Utilities folder. There are 2 options:
* Download the latest Windows support software from Apple
* Install Windows 7 or later version

I checked both options, inserted an 8GB USB SD card and pressed Continue. The software proceeded to download the necessary software to the USB drive and then stopped working. A drop-down message appeared, exactly the same as if only the 2nd option above was selected and 'Continue' pressed, viz:

"The installer disc could not be found.

Insert your Windows installer disc and wait a few seconds for the disc to be recognized."

I have tried all manner of insertion of the USB drive, verified the contents etc. but can not overcome this obstacle; the Boot Camp Assistant refuses to proceed further in the process. I cannot form the necessary partition for Windows nor install it, from within Boot Camp, it seems.

What to do?

 

[chscag]

That error occurs because your 2011 27" iMac has an optical drive. The Boot Camp assistant expects that it will find the installer on a Windows disk. I believe there is a work around to bypass installing Windows from a disk and use a USB flash drive or SD card instead. Perhaps someone else can provide you with the details on how to do it.

 

[DeltaMac]

Where did you get your Windows .ISO?
You said that you "inserted a USB drive", but you didn't say that USB drive has a setup install of Windows on that drive, or that you even have your own Windows installer. (The Boot Camp Assistant does NOT provide a copy of Windows, you have to supply your own )
Downloading the Windows support software ONLY gets the Apple-specific installers, but not Windows itself.
I hope you are not confusing "Windows support software" with the Windows installer.

 

[vkd]

Where did you get your Windows .ISO?
You said that you "inserted a USB drive", but you didn't say that USB drive has a setup install of Windows on that drive, or that you even have your own Windows installer. (The Boot Camp Assistant does NOT provide a copy of Windows, you have to supply your own )
Downloading the Windows support software ONLY gets the Apple-specific installers, but not Windows itself.
I hope you are not confusing "Windows support software" with the Windows installer.

Yes, I think I am confusing "Windows support software" with the Windows installer. It does not mention anywhere that you have to make available to the B C Assistant a functioning Windows ISO or DVD, although the PRESENCE of such on the computer is necessary, vide: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201468

I presumed that after downloading the Apple support software, the Assistant would then proceed to ask me to point it to the Windows installation software, on a separate dialog.

Following on, I mounted a Windows ISO but BCA didn't recognise it. I copied a Windows ISO to a thumb drive and inserted it (mounted it), again BCA didn't see it. Could it be that BCA only looks at the optical drive and if no ISO there, stops?

 

[DeltaMac]

Right - copying the ISO to a thumb drive doesn't make that installer bootable ("Bootable" is what you need, not just the installer or the installer .iso )

Good directions here - http://osxdaily.com/2015/06/22/make-windows-10-install-usb-drive-from-mac-os-x/