Installing Windows 8.1 Pro without Boot Camp

[StressedOutUser]

Hello

I have been trying for 8 hours now to install win on my new macbook pro.

I have deleted many of the partitions under the EFI option when booting and holding the options key.

I now cannot even load up mac OS.

How can I get my mac OS back?

I didnt realise they would make it THIS HARD to install windows. its a ********* joke.

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

If you've deleted the OS X partition the only way you'll be able to boot it is if you reinstall it.

That said, if your recovery partition has been deleted I imagine you'll need to perform an internet recovery - once you press option and get the menu up select your WiFi network, connect and you'll be able to install OS X via the internet.

Regarding Windows 8, what method are you using to install it?

 

[StressedOutUser]

If you've deleted the OS X partition the only way you'll be able to boot it is if you reinstall it.

That said, if your recovery partition has been deleted I imagine you'll need to perform an internet recovery - once you press option and get the menu up select your WiFi network, connect and you'll be able to install OS X via the internet.

Regarding Windows 8, what method are you using to install it?

Method here http://bootableusb.net/make-bootable-external-hdd-install-windows-78/comment-page-4/#comment-103988

However my problems in detail are here

http://superuser.com/questions/860037/bootsect-exe-nt60-no-bootcode-was-successfully-updated

http://superuser.com/questions/8601...-unit-size?noredirect=1#comment1140400_860185

 

[StressedOutUser]

If I buy a superdrive, can I use my disk to install win 8.1 without bootcamp or any mac os software?

 

[StressedOutUser]

I need windows 8.1 pro 643 bit URGENTLY on my new macbook pro.

I have the offical windows 8.1 disk.

I can purcahse a superdrive by tomorrow. or we can do it using a spare hardrive I have lying around.

I have tried with the harddrive and the problems I listed above exist.

 

[chrfr]

I didnt realise they would make it THIS HARD to install windows.

It isn't hard when you follow Apple's process. There's no reason not to use the Boot Camp Assistant and allow it to make a USB installer. Boot Camp is not an emulated Windows environment so there's no disadvantage in using it. It's just Apple's name for the utility and Windows driver packages for their hardware.
Modifying partitions from within Windows will generally cause OS X to become unbootable at best, and likely cause you to lose any data you had on the OS X partition.
Your best bet is to reinstall OS X using Internet Recovery, and then create a USB installer using Boot Camp. If you have a physical Windows disc you will need to download an ISO of it, and have an 8GB USB thumb drive. There are links around on where to find legitimate Microsoft downloads which use your own license key.

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I can purcahse a superdrive by tomorrow. or we can do it using a spare hardrive I have lying around.

Installation from a hard drive is not a supported process so you're best off either downloading the ISO from Microsoft and making the USB installer, or buying the Superdrive and making the USB installer from there. The Boot Camp Assistant will package in the drivers for the Apple hardware when you make the installer.

 

[kgvickers]

Newbie here, been using windows for years. Been playing with Macs for about two months now and I've done the bootcamp install of Win 7 and Win 8.1 several times.

One thing I noticed is that when installing Win 7, the necessary drivers were installed automatically. However, when installing Win 8.1, I had to manually launch the "Bootcamp" executable after Win 8.1 loaded. This may have been corrected by now (been a few weeks) but just keep that in mind.

Where are you located? If you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area I could lend a hand. I've got a SuperDrive, too.

Good luck.

 

[Meister]

1. If you plan on using windows, just get a windows laptop inthe first place
2. If you have to have a mac and windows, always use bootcamp according to s instructions
3. Listen to chrfr and perform a online installation
4. If everything else fails call care or just go to the store

Good luck

 

[yjchua95]

On a side note, if you want to install Windows in an external USB/TB drive, here are the steps:

Connect external drive to Windows VM. You must have a Windows VM in VMware/Parallels.

What you need:
install.wim file (obtain this from your Windows ISO)

Open elevated cmd.exe

Note: All commands aren't case sensitive, including pathway to files.

Type diskpart
Type list disk
Take note of the disk you want to select
Type select disk 1 (if your disk is Disk 1)
Type clean
Type convert gpt
Type create partition EFI size=100
Type format quick fs=fat32 label=EFI
Type assign letter=S
Type create partition primary
Type format fs=ntfs quick label=W2G (or any other name you wish for label)
Type assign letter=E
Type exit

Open up File Explorer. In your C drive, create a new folder named WIN2GO.
Put the install.wim file in this folder

Back in cmd.exe:
Type dism /apply-image /imagefile:C:\WIN2GO\install.wim /index:1 /applydir:E:\ (this process will take quite a while)
Type E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI

Restart your entire Mac. After the chime, hold down Option and when prompted to select your boot drive, select EFI Boot.

Proceed installation normally.

After installation, install Boot Camp drivers.

 

[Freyqq]

Hello

I have been trying for 8 hours now to install win on my new macbook pro.

I have deleted many of the partitions under the EFI option when booting and holding the options key.

I now cannot even load up mac OS.

How can I get my mac OS back?

I didnt realise they would make it THIS HARD to install windows. its a ********* joke.

It worked fine for me with efi. Do this:

1. use bootcamp setup in osx to get the partition created and all the drivers on a flash drive. Keep that flash drive in the computer.
2. upon restart, hold alt at boot and click "efi boot." efi boot is to install with efi. Clicking "bootcamp" or "windows" instead, i cant remember what the word was, will start the install through a bios layer.

Efi works well on the newest models only. Older models dont work properly, so go with bios.

 

[yjchua95]

It worked fine for me with efi. Do this:

1. use bootcamp setup in osx to get the partition created and all the drivers on a flash drive. Keep that flash drive in the computer.
2. upon restart, hold alt at boot and click "efi boot." efi boot is to install with efi. Clicking "bootcamp" or "windows" instead, i cant remember what the word was, will start the install through a bios layer.

Efi works well on the newest models only. Older models dont work properly, so go with bios.

Older models play nice via EFI as well, as long as it's installed in an external TB/USB drive. Refer to my post to get it running above.

I tested this on my early-2011 15" cMBP and it worked.