Trying to install Win10 via bootcamp. Bootcamp requires me to use an USB to install so I tried with an external HHD (500GB) but when it was doing its work (I think it was formatting the HDD)… it pops out an error. Tried using SD card without luck. All my USB drives are 4GB and the ISO is bigger than that. Any idea why the 500GB external HDD doesn’t work?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Late 2012 Mini bootcamp issue
- Thread starter gngan
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I just installed Boot Camp with Windows 10 just last week, and worked very smoothly (I did have to do it twice, as I had a dumb mistake on the first install)
What was the disk error that you saw?
I used a 16GB flash drive for the Win 10 installer ISO and the boot camp support download. You can find those easily for less than $10
My sequence was like this:
download the Windows 10 ISO. Use whatever method works to make a bootable Win installer from that ISO.
Run Boot Camp assistant. Setup the partition size that you need for to windows partition, and let Boot Camp finish creating the windows partition on your internal drive. It would also download the boot camp support software to the USB drive.
Leave the USB drive attached. When the Boot Camp assistant reboots your mini, it will boot to the Windows 10 installer.
Most important is when it brings up the screen with the various partitions on your internal drive. Choose the one that you set up, whatever size it is. You will probably see what I had, which is an error that it can't use that drive for a Windows install. Just select that partition, then click Format (I think), Takes a few seconds to finish that format, and you should be ready to click Continue (or Install, or whatever that is that starts the Windows install.
And - you wait. Took my mini nearly two yours, and multiple restarts. The boot camp support software runs automatically after the Windows setup is complete.
If you make a mistake (I did), then don't try to mess around getting the Windows install to work, just do like I did, and restart to your OS X system, run Boot Camp assistant. Remove the partition, (your Mac will restart), run Boot Camp assistant, create your partition again, and continue following the steps. It won't take as long because you already have the Windows installer and boot camp support software ready to go. Uncheck those choices this time, and then all you have is making the partition. The reason for redoing the partition is so Boot Camp Assistant properly preps that partition, and reboots in the correct sequence. You should go straight into the Windows installer.
Good luck. Let us know how you do!
What was the disk error that you saw?
I used a 16GB flash drive for the Win 10 installer ISO and the boot camp support download. You can find those easily for less than $10
My sequence was like this:
download the Windows 10 ISO. Use whatever method works to make a bootable Win installer from that ISO.
Run Boot Camp assistant. Setup the partition size that you need for to windows partition, and let Boot Camp finish creating the windows partition on your internal drive. It would also download the boot camp support software to the USB drive.
Leave the USB drive attached. When the Boot Camp assistant reboots your mini, it will boot to the Windows 10 installer.
Most important is when it brings up the screen with the various partitions on your internal drive. Choose the one that you set up, whatever size it is. You will probably see what I had, which is an error that it can't use that drive for a Windows install. Just select that partition, then click Format (I think), Takes a few seconds to finish that format, and you should be ready to click Continue (or Install, or whatever that is that starts the Windows install.
And - you wait. Took my mini nearly two yours, and multiple restarts. The boot camp support software runs automatically after the Windows setup is complete.
If you make a mistake (I did), then don't try to mess around getting the Windows install to work, just do like I did, and restart to your OS X system, run Boot Camp assistant. Remove the partition, (your Mac will restart), run Boot Camp assistant, create your partition again, and continue following the steps. It won't take as long because you already have the Windows installer and boot camp support software ready to go. Uncheck those choices this time, and then all you have is making the partition. The reason for redoing the partition is so Boot Camp Assistant properly preps that partition, and reboots in the correct sequence. You should go straight into the Windows installer.
Good luck. Let us know how you do!
This is very frustrating. Typically Window ****.
My external HDD suddenly worked and everything worked fine in bootcamp assistant. Mini restart but the black screen says no bootable drive. Google it and restart with option key old down then tried to choose the correct drive but the wireless keyboard and magic mouse isn't working properly (slow and laggy reaction/input). Somehow go to boot and install Win10. During the setup ...all of the bluetooth/wireless mouse/keyboard don't work. Luckily there is an on screen keyboard. Once everything is setup, tried to pair the Apple keyboard...it asks me to input the password...try typing on the keyboard but it's not registering. WTF?!?!
My external HDD suddenly worked and everything worked fine in bootcamp assistant. Mini restart but the black screen says no bootable drive. Google it and restart with option key old down then tried to choose the correct drive but the wireless keyboard and magic mouse isn't working properly (slow and laggy reaction/input). Somehow go to boot and install Win10. During the setup ...all of the bluetooth/wireless mouse/keyboard don't work. Luckily there is an on screen keyboard. Once everything is setup, tried to pair the Apple keyboard...it asks me to input the password...try typing on the keyboard but it's not registering. WTF?!?!