Mac Pro Bootcamp help

[tayy]

Hi All!

I need to install windows 10 on my 128GB Drive but Im stuck. I really hope you guys can help me.

My Mac is a 4.1 > 5.1 Mac Pro with a 250GB SSD Drive via a PCI-e adapter and a 128GB (NTFS formatted) in the optical bay for Windows.

I followed this guide to create a USB installer on a Mac Pro (normaly you have to use the superdrive on Mac Pro)

https://medium.com/@dlpasco/creating-a-windows-10-usb-install-drive-8e7bdbd2ff84 (scroll down to see the Mac Pro version of the guide)




So after the Bootcamp Assistent part I boot up from the USB and get to the installer and when I choose my 128GB NTFS drive I get this message:

https://imgur.com/a/iZyHS
We Could create a new portion or locate an existing one etc.

I tried everything from the similar post I found, removing other usb drives, PRAM reset, my USB thumb is a 2.0 and not 3.0 I also tried to format the drive in the windows installer.

I also read this thread with no luck

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/windows-8-doesnt-install-through-bootcamp.1505853/

And this one

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...g-files-when-you-try-to-install-windows-8-cp/

When I click on the "X" my Mac just restarts, It dont go back to the initial setup screen.

Im thinking about getting a Windows 7 or 8 DVD and try to install via Superdrive.

Anyone ? : )

 

[ActionableMango]

I don't think BootCamp Assistant is really necessary if you are installing Windows to its own drive. As far as I know, all it does is the special partitioning stuff (which you don't need if you are using a separate drive) and preps a driver disk (which you also don't need if you will have an Internet connection in Windows).

When I installed Windows, I just pulled all the other drives out (leaving the drive intended for Windows), and used the Windows installer to install directly on that drive. Then after booting up Windows I installed the BootCamp drivers.

Im thinking about getting a Windows 7 or 8 DVD and try to install via Superdrive.

A LOT of people have said its impossible to install Windows from USB thumbstick on a Mac Pro, although I'm not sure why and it doesn't really make sense to me.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

When I installed Windows, I just pulled all the other drives out (leaving the drive intended for Windows), and used the Windows installer to install directly on that drive. Then after booting up Windows I installed the BootCamp drivers.

This is the key. You must pull all other physical drives other than the target drive for Windows during the initial install. Once Windows is installed, you can put your other drives back in.

Do you not have an available Superdrive to install? It should be easy to turn the Windows 10 iso into an install DVD.

 

[h9826790]

AFAIK, in your case, pull all unrelated hard drives is a requirement.

When you boot from USB drive, the default installation mode is UEFI Windows. Which seems won't work if have other hard drives connected.

If you boot from a disc, the default installation mode is legacy Windows. In this case, you can install with other hard drives connected.

A LOT of people have said its impossible to install Windows from USB thumbstick on a Mac Pro, although I'm not sure why and it doesn't really make sense to me.

Sure it's possible, more than one member successfully did that. However, compare to the disc method. It's much harder to get the installer prepared and work properly.

And I totally agree that OP should completely bypass bootcamp assistant for UEFI Windows installation. The bootcamp assistant never designed to use in this particular case (Install UEFI Windows on a separated hard drive). Other than cMP, no other Mac can officially install one more extra internal hard drive for Windows only. And cMP never officially supported to install UEFI Windows (via bootcamp assistant).

If you hack the bootcamp assistant to let it treat the cMP like the newer Mac. It may only able to install UEFI Windows (via USB drive) on the macOS drive (via creating partition, like all the newer Mac). I can't see why bootcamp assistant has the function to prepare an independent hard drive correctly for UEFI Windows installation. No such Mac ever officially exist.

 

[XNorth]

I couldn't install Windows 10 or 8 on Mac Pro 2012 High Sierra. So I installed Windows 7 and upgraded to Windows 10.

These steps worked for me.

1. Download Windows 7 and burn the ISO to DVD. Boot Camp on my Mac Pro 5,1 won't work with anything else but a DVD of Windows.
2. Remove all cards that might not be supported in Windows 7 (I removed a new GPU and reinstalled the stock 5770)
3. If you have MacOS installed on a RAID, Boot Camp won't partition or install on it. Use one physical drive with MacOS installed that can be partitioned with at least 30+GB for Windows.
4. Use Disk Utility to format a 8+GB USB thumb drive to MS-DOS (FAT) (Boot Camp didn't work with an external USB SSD drive)
5. Mount the USB drive and Windows DVD you created
6. Run Bootcamp Assistant and check both options to download the latest Windows support software and install Windows
7. Your Mac will reboot and install Windows. When the installer asks for which partition, format the BOOT CAMP partition and select the partition to install Windows.
8. Once Windows 7 is installed, download the Windows 10 Creation Tool from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO. Run it to upgrade to Windows 10. You need a valid Windows serial number at this stage.
9. Perform an update to install the latest Windows 10 updates.
10. Launch Apple Software Update and install the latest Apple support software. For whatever reason, I couldn't find the Apple Software Update. The workaround is to install Windows iTunes, which also installs Apple Software Update.
11. Lastly, power off and put all your cards back in the Mac, restart Windows, and install any Windows drivers needed for the cards.

Despite Windows 10 working perfectly, Boot Camp manager in Windows is missing, so I can't switch startup disk from Windows. Holding the option on startup also doesn't work, the startup Disk Manager screen doesn't show up. My workaround is resetting the NVRAM on start up to boot up MacOS.

UPDATE: Thanks to the wisdom of several users on this topic, I successfully installed Bootcamp drivers and now Boot Camp Control Panel/manager appears in the Windows Taskbar tray.

In step #10 above, Apple Software Update will not install all Windows 10 drivers needed for the Mac Pro 5,1 due to Apple's lack of support for Windows 10 in the old Mac.

What you will need to do after running Apple Software Update is find and download Boot Camp version 6 (it's not on Apple's website). Uncompress it, use Windows Command Prompt as an administrator to launch the Boot camp installer and bypass Apple's restriction. Here's a detailed video tutorial by Hrutkay Mods:

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Despite Windows 10 working perfectly, Boot Camp manager in Windows is missing, so I can't switch startup disk from Windows. Holding the option on startup also doesn't work, the startup Disk Manager screen doesn't show up. My workaround is resetting the NVRAM on start up to boot up MacOS.

Are you running High Sierra on an APFS volume? I've found if you skip APFS conversion and use traditional HFS+, the "Boot to OSX" option in Windows will actually work.

 

[XNorth]

Are you running High Sierra on an APFS volume? I've found if you skip APFS conversion and use traditional HFS+, the "Boot to OSX" option in Windows will actually work.

Yes it's a HFS+ volume. I'm guessing it has something to do with Boot Camp version 5.1.xxxx installed for the Mac Pro 5,1 not officially supported for Windows 10.

 

[h9826790]

Yes it's a HFS+ volume. I'm guessing it has something to do with Boot Camp version 5.1.xxxx installed for the Mac Pro 5,1 not officially supported for Windows 10.

Nothing to do with bootcamp version. The bootcamp apps should be there after bootcamp driver package installation. I have bootcamp manager in the latest Windows 10, and it works flawlessly. The only thing that required to extract from a newer bootcamp package is the BT4.0 driver for my self installed BT4.0 / Wifi ac card.
[doublepost=1521610076][/doublepost]

I couldn't install Windows 10 or 8 on Mac Pro 2012 High Sierra. So I installed Windows 7 and upgraded to Windows 10.

These steps worked for me.

1. Download Windows 7 and burn the ISO to DVD. Boot Camp on my Mac Pro 5,1 won't work with anything else but a DVD of Windows.
2. Remove all cards that might not be supported in Windows 7 (I removed a new GPU and reinstalled the stock 5770)
3. If you have MacOS installed on a RAID, Boot Camp won't partition or install on it. Use one physical drive with MacOS installed that can be partitioned with at least 30+GB for Windows.
4. Use Disk Utility to format a 8+GB USB thumb drive to MS-DOS (FAT) (Boot Camp didn't work with an external USB SSD drive)
5. Mount the USB drive and Windows DVD you created
6. Run Bootcamp Assistant and check both options to download the latest Windows support software and install Windows
7. Your Mac will reboot and install Windows. When the installer asks for which partition, format the BOOT CAMP partition and select the partition to install Windows.
8. Once Windows 7 is installed, download the Windows 10 Creation Tool from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO. Run it to upgrade to Windows 10. You need a valid Windows serial number at this stage.
9. Perform an update to install the latest Windows 10 updates.
10. Launch Apple Software Update and install the latest Apple support software. For whatever reason, I couldn't find the Apple Software Update. The workaround is to install Windows iTunes, which also installs Apple Software Update.
11. Lastly, power off and put all your cards back in the Mac, restart Windows, and install any Windows drivers needed for the cards.

Despite Windows 10 working perfectly, Boot Camp manager in Windows is missing, so I can't switch startup disk from Windows. Holding the option on startup also doesn't work, the startup Disk Manager screen doesn't show up. My workaround is resetting the NVRAM on start up to boot up MacOS.

In fact, from your procedures, I can’t see when you install the bootcamp driver. The Apple Software Update has absolute zero relation to the bootcamp. It won’t install any driver for you. Also, it won’t install the bootcamp apps for you. That’s designed for PC, not Mac.

If you never install the bootcamp driver package, then this explain why you can’t see the bootcamp apps, and not way to select the next boot partiton inside Windows.

 

[XNorth]

If you never install the bootcamp driver package, then this explain why you can’t see the bootcamp apps, and not way to select the next boot partiton inside Windows.

If you are talking about downloading and installing drivers outside of Boot Camp Assistant, I haven't done that or tried other methods. I've followed Apple instructions and used Boot Camp Assistant on different Macs (cMP 2012, MPB 2015, iMac 2017) to load a USB drive. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204923. None installed Boot Camp control panel.

What are others ways to install the drivers?

 

[expede]

Hi!

Here is a thread;

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ows-using-gpt-or-mbr-partition-style.2101200/

And if One goes to the search field and type "cmd" and open as administrator. Open the BootCamp/Drivers/Appel in Finder. Copy the search way and in commandpromt type cd(space) the paste the searchway. Run "BootCamp.msi". The installation starts.

Best regards

/Per

What are others ways to install the drivers?

 

[thornslack]

The only thing that required to extract from a newer bootcamp package is the BT4.0 driver for my self installed BT4.0 / Wifi ac card.

May I ask the best process for doing this? I'm actually reinstalling W10 on my cMP as we speak, and I also have an upgraded BT4/wifi AC card.

I'd like to have the bootcamp features of being able to boot back into OSX, adjust my cinema display brightness, and I believe there are HFS+ read only drivers? I figured I'd cross that bridge once W10 was done installing but this is too timely

 

[h9826790]

May I ask the best process for doing this? I'm actually reinstalling W10 on my cMP as we speak, and I also have an upgraded BT4/wifi AC card.

I'd like to have the bootcamp features of being able to boot back into OSX, adjust my cinema display brightness, and I believe there are HFS+ read only drivers? I figured I'd cross that bridge once W10 was done installing but this is too timely

0) Assume Windows 10 is installed, and the 5.1.5621 bootcamp driver package also installed
1) Download the Bootcamp driver package 5.1.5640 from Apple website.
2) Extract and run the AppleBluetoothInstaller64.exe

This should be good enough. If doesn't auto switch to this new driver, then manually select the driver in device manager for the BT device.

 

[tayy]

After these steps I works and I got into Windows 10, but after the bootcamp driver installation was finished I got black screen ( installed from the usb pen that bootcamp assistent created )

1. Remove all drives except for my SSD that I want to install windows on.

2. Start up and choose my EFI Windows Installer USB pen

3. When Windows is installed, insert my other USB pen with the drivers that BootCamp Assistent created.

 

[XNorth]

And if One goes to the search field and type "cmd" and open as administrator. Open the BootCamp/Drivers/Appel in Finder. Copy the search way and in commandpromt type cd(space) the paste the searchway. Run "BootCamp.msi". The installation starts.

Thanks! Will give it a try. Never been a windows user, only use it when necessary. This is new territory.

 

[h9826790]

After these steps I works and I got into Windows 10, but after the bootcamp driver installation was finished I got black screen ( installed from the usb pen that bootcamp assistent created )

1. Remove all drives except for my SSD that I want to install windows on.

2. Start up and choose my EFI Windows Installer USB pen

3. When Windows is installed, insert my other USB pen with the drivers that BootCamp Assistent created.

I really won't recommend this method. As I said before, Bootcamp assistant NEVER design to install UEFI Windows via USB drive on a cMP. The drivers downloaded to that USB drive may not fit your Mac at all. You better go to the Apple website download the bootcamp driver than designed for your Mac, and install it manually.

 

[tayy]

I will now try to install windows 10 one more time. This Time I won't use the Bootcamp driver USB but the drivers you recommended from the Apple website.

 

[h9826790]

I highly suggest you get the software called WinClone (macOS).

This software can make an image file from your Windows drive. So, make your recovery very easy.

e.g. You can make an image in Winclone right after Windows 10 installation. (a "Clean" image)

If your Windows is killed by the wrong bootcamp driver. Rather than try to fix it, or re-install Windows, you can simply recovery from the image. You can keep using your Mac at the same time (in macOS), no down time.

And once you make one step further (e.g. successfully install all required driver and bootcamp apps). It's time to make another image file (a "full version" image).

In case Windows update / driver update / virus / whatever kill your Windows, again, recovery from an image file is much much quicker and easier than re-install everything again.

 

[tayy]

I will try it out. Ill get back
[doublepost=1521662141][/doublepost]Keep getting black screen after some time, and I didn't even install any drivers. Think I will try with my GT120 instead of my Flashed GTX770

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I will try it out. Ill get back
[doublepost=1521662141][/doublepost]Keep getting black screen after some time, and I didn't even install any drivers. Think I will try with my GT120 instead of my Flashed GTX770

I always used my GT120 when installing Windows on my cMP. Once it’s done, I would swap to my better non-EFI GPU. It may not be necessary, but having the full boot screens during the whole process is nice in case there are issues.

 

[ActionableMango]

I seem to remember people have issues with the specific combination of EFI Windows and EFI 770. The computer is successfully booting up, but the drivers are not active for some reason.

You have two options, either (A) install Windows in CSM/BIOS mode, or (B) install the 770 drivers during "black screen" via remote computer like so:

1. Install GT120.
2. Boot into Windows.
3. Set up Remote Desktop, VNC, whatever. Test to make sure you can connect to it from a different computer.
4. Turn off computer, remove GT120, and install 770.
5. Boot up to black screen.
6. On other computer, connect via Remote Desktop (or VNC, or whatever).
7. Install latest Nvidia drivers.
8. Reboot.

 

[thornslack]

Once the windows installer completes the machine hands off graphics drivers, thus the black screen. Using the latest W10 creation USB and my flashed 780 I ran into this as well. Initially I thought something went wrong and after a few minutes I pressed the power button and allowed the blacked out windows to shut itself down. However upon reboot and giving it a little time the machine installed Geforce Drivers on its own (380.xx) I think. So, maybe let it run while connected to the internet for a bit.

I am still configuring so the real test will come when I install bootcamp and put my unflashed Titan X back in but just food for thought. I think it's possible that you may run into conflicts with the gt120, as its drivers and the modern geforce drivers are incompatible if memory serves.

 

[Dr. Stealth]

I think it's possible that you may run into conflicts with the gt120, as its drivers and the modern geforce drivers are incompatible if memory serves.

Yes, you are correct. But, there is a way to make it work. I run two un-flashed 1080 TI's and one GT-120 (for boot screens). I have a 32" 4k display connected to one 1080 TI and a small 10" display connected to the GT-120. For me to get this combination to work (In Windows 10) I had to "disable" the GT-120 in Device Manager. Funny thing is even after "disabling" the GT-120 graphic card the card still drives the 10" display just fine with basic generic MS drivers. But, disabling the GT-120 keeps Windows from trying to automatically install the WRONG drivers. Windows always want's to automatically install the drivers of the PC version of the card which is 9500 GT. When this happens it hoses both your GT-120 card and any other Nvidia card drivers you have installed. They all crash and you get black screens. The old drivers for the GT-120/9500 GT are NOT compatible with any of the newer Nvidia drivers. They cause all nvidia drivers to crash.

Also ! When you install the Boot Camp drivers Boot Camp installs the old GT-120 Nvidia drivers which are also incompatible with the newer Nvidia drivers which causes the same black screen issues. To avoid this I go into the Boot Camp "Drivers" folder and delete the Nvidia folder before running the Boot Camp installer. Then you can install the Boot Camp drivers without causing the issue.

After jumping through these hoops all is good. The GT-120 and the 1080 TI's are all working in perfect harmony (macOS & Win 10). Life is bliss...... Hope this helps someone because it caused me LOTS of headache and took a good while to figure out.

 

[XNorth]

Copy the search way and in commandpromt type cd(space) the paste the searchway. Run "BootCamp.msi". The installation starts.

Thanks for the tip. This worked brilliantly. Bootcamp control panel now appears in the Windows taskbar tray.

I downloaded Bootcamp v.6 (direct download not using Boot Camp Assistant, not from Apple) and used Windows Command Prompt as you described to install bootcamp.msi. Apple doesn't support v.6 for cMP 5,1, but Command Prompt can bypass the restriction.

Moral of the story: don't depend on Boot Camp Assistant or Apple Software Update to install drivers for Windows 10 on old Macs. Is this a sticky somewhere on this forum?

 

[tayy]

So after step 5 I boot up with the GTX770 and the screen is still showing.

Then I went to install the latest driver ( with remote control via Team viewer ) then when its half way through the screen goes to sleep (when it does the GFX fans are getting louder) and my remote control session from Teamviewer freezes.

I tried to close the session and reconnect with the Mac Pro but it docent work, but it says its online, very strange. ( I did set it ud so I can connect without password ) but after a restart of the Mac Pro the screen goes to sleep after the windows start up logo, and Teamviewer says its offline.

maybe I should try to reformat one more time and install all windows updates before the screen goes to sleep.

I also saw this video, maybe I should give it a try.

 

[ActionableMango]

I found the thread I was thinking of (Windows black screen issue with 770):
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-pro-5-1-mid-2010-gtx-770-black-screen-in-windows-8.2074519/

The fix was indeed installing drivers via remote desktop. I think the difference for you is that the GT120 drivers have bad interaction. They didn't have GT120.

Those GT120 drivers probably need to be uninstalled between step 3 and 4, but I don't know much about that problem and have no experience with any of this. It is just guesswork on my part.