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al2813

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 19, 2014
50
27
Belgium
I spent the last 24 hours reading hundreds of posts in different forums, fiddling around with the info.plist file, but still I cannot get Bootcamp to accept installing windows 10 from an ISO DVD. Can someone refer me to a tutorial. I have a Mac Pro 5.1 and I would like to install W10 on the third disk - dedicated SSD I placed just for Windows. Many thanks!
 
I struggled through the same thing recently. The easiest way to do it was to install Windows 8 via disc and upgrade to Windows 10 after that.
 
Is your SSD installed on one of the drive sleds, or on a PCIe card in one of the slots? Bootcamp will not install to an "external" drive, which drives in the PCI slots are identified. You should be able to use Bootcamp to install to a sled mounted ("internal") SSD. You can then physically move the SSD to a PCI card if desired, but you should boot the Windows once from the sled with the empty card installed so any necessary drivers are installed.

Or, as mentioned above, remove all other drives and simply boot and install from the DVD as a normal PC would, then add the drivers (downloaded from Bootcamp Installer) as with any other motherboard.

You can also download the .iso file from Microsoft's web site and use it with Bootcamp Installer.
 
Here's how I did mine, although I used a flash drive. First the ssd must be formatted to guid ( I think that's it) as windows will not install natively on a efi machine Insert your dvd in the optical drive, shut down the mac. remove all other hard drives . You need to have a mac gpu for the boot screen. Reboot & hold the option key down. The windows dvd should appear in a few seconds. Boot from the dvd & let it do it's thing. You do not have to have bootcamp as this would be standalone ssd. At least that's what I did to mine. Once completed, remove the dvd. shutdown, reinstall other drive & boot to the OS or windows, using the option key. For bootcamp, as far as I know, you would have to have an OS on the ssd. Hope that helps some.
 
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First the ssd must be formatted to guid ( I think that's it) as windows will not install natively on a efi machine
It should be formatted for GPT (GUID Partition Table).

Windows is fine with UEFI systems, but Apple's one-off ancient EFI is a problem.
 
I don't know if I would use the GUID Partition table as the partition for windows. When I did that I ran into problems with where I had a windows bootcamp partition and also a mac partition on the same drive which was driving me nuts. I'm under high siera not sure if that has something to do with it. What i did was, through terminal, partition the whole drive as Fat 32 with a master boot record. I then booted from the mac into the iso dvd through startup disk. I then clicked on my drive and reformatted to NTFS to install windows. To download the drivers you also have to have a fat32 usb formate as master boot record to be able to download the drivers.

The new OS HIGH siera disk utility sucks and doesn't let you select easily the partition scheme so that is why I did through terminal. If you are adding or deleting partitions in windows setup be very careful about wiping out your mac drive. Been there done that and it was horrible rebuilding.
 
#8
I don't know if I would use the GUID Partition table as the partition for windows

You cannot if used on a separate HDD.
If it is a partition configured with BOOTCAMP, yes GUID is mandatory.
But MBR is to be used when the HDD is only for windows.
 
Last edited:
Here's how I did mine, although I used a flash drive. First the ssd must be formatted to guid ( I think that's it) as windows will not install natively on a efi machine Insert your dvd in the optical drive, shut down the mac. remove all other hard drives . You need to have a mac gpu for the boot screen. Reboot & hold the option key down. The windows dvd should appear in a few seconds. Boot from the dvd & let it do it's thing. You do not have to have bootcamp as this would be standalone ssd. At least that's what I did to mine. Once completed, remove the dvd. shutdown, reinstall other drive & boot to the OS or windows, using the option key. For bootcamp, as far as I know, you would have to have an OS on the ssd. Hope that helps some.

Thanks! will try this (although cumbersome)
[doublepost=1516035305][/doublepost]
Is your SSD installed on one of the drive sleds, or on a PCIe card in one of the slots? Bootcamp will not install to an "external" drive, which drives in the PCI slots are identified. You should be able to use Bootcamp to install to a sled mounted ("internal") SSD. You can then physically move the SSD to a PCI card if desired, but you should boot the Windows once from the sled with the empty card installed so any necessary drivers are installed.

Or, as mentioned above, remove all other drives and simply boot and install from the DVD as a normal PC would, then add the drivers (downloaded from Bootcamp Installer) as with any other motherboard.

You can also download the .iso file from Microsoft's web site and use it with Bootcamp Installer.
It's in the drive slots. But will try removing the disks and booting off the DVD
 
Just out of curiosity. Are you downloading windows 10 to an existing SSD with the OSX installed ( like Sierra) using bootcamp or is this to be a standalone SSD, that is, nothing but windows on it? Sounds like a standalone to me but just making sure.
[doublepost=1516049793][/doublepost]Also, my flash drive has the windows 10 media download tool but can't see why it wouldn't ;load with the DVD.
 
Just out of curiosity. Are you downloading windows 10 to an existing SSD with the OSX installed ( like Sierra) using bootcamp or is this to be a standalone SSD, that is, nothing but windows on it? Sounds like a standalone to me but just making sure.
[doublepost=1516049793][/doublepost]Also, my flash drive has the windows 10 media download tool but can't see why it wouldn't ;load with the DVD.

I have High Sierra installed initially on disk 1 (ssd) and disk 2 is a data HD. I than added disk 3 (ssd) which is intended solely for running w10. I wanted to use bootcamp but it refuses to allow me to install Windows 10 (already ready on a DVD on the superdrive). Bootcamp insists on looking for a Windows 8 DVD.
 
#8
I don't know if I would use the GUID Partition table as the partition for windows

You cannot if used on a separate HDD.
If it is a partition configured with BOOTCAMP, yes GUID is mandatory.
But MBR is to be used when the HDD is only for windows.
I take it that your advice is in the context of using Apple Bootcamp.

For many new Windows PCs and Servers, GPT disks are recommended or required.
 
OK. If not mistaken, you cannot put bootcamp on a bare, empty hard drive. To use that DVD with bootcamp, you would have to already have windows 7 or 8. Then it would be an upgrade. If you partition that ssd with GPT it will work. I went through hell with mine until I did that. I would clean the ssd again before I tried to reinstall again, but that's your call. And I mean clean it, not just reformat it. I tried mine once with master boot record, it did install, for lack of a better word, but was really screwed up afterwards. The guys on here know what they are talking about, surely more than me, that's just the way I finally got mine to install and work smoothly.
 
I have High Sierra installed initially on disk 1 (ssd) and disk 2 is a data HD. I than added disk 3 (ssd) which is intended solely for running w10. I wanted to use bootcamp but it refuses to allow me to install Windows 10 (already ready on a DVD on the superdrive). Bootcamp insists on looking for a Windows 8 DVD.
I'd pull your other drivers that aren't Windows drives and boot from the DVD by holding option and selecting the Windows DVD on boot. Then you'll be able to format the drive and install Windows without getting the Bootcamp Assistant involved.
On the 5,1 Mac Pros I have problems trying to boot from the latest Creators Update versions of Win 10, so you may need the older Anniversary DVD to install. Try the directions here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...dows-10-creators-update-on-mac-with-boot-camp
 
I'd pull your other drivers that aren't Windows drives and boot from the DVD by holding option and selecting the Windows DVD on boot. Then you'll be able to format the drive and install Windows without getting the Bootcamp Assistant involved.
On the 5,1 Mac Pros I have problems trying to boot from the latest Creators Update versions of Win 10, so you may need the older Anniversary DVD to install. Try the directions here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...dows-10-creators-update-on-mac-with-boot-camp

Holding "C" to boot will boot to the optical disc straight away, no need to use boot manager.
 
Holding "C" to boot will boot to the optical disc straight away, no need to use boot manager.
This is true, although the Windows 10 DVD offers both EFI and standard boot, so I don't know what you get when you hold C.
 
Hi again
to be clear - BOOTCAMP is used ONLY when the HDD/SSD is partitioned mac/windows partitions.

On a Windows disk only one CANNOT use the BOOTCAMP manager to install Win.
You must use an original disk WIN in order to install it.
On mac pro 1.1 and 2.1, there is a special technique to install WIN7 64 bits.
On mac pro 4.1 and later you just put the dvd and install it.

The HDD/SSD must be formatted in FAT32 otherwise very often the Win install disk says that you cannot erase/format etc hence you cannot install Windows.
 
Hi again
to be clear - BOOTCAMP is used ONLY when the HDD/SSD is partitioned mac/windows partitions.

On a Windows disk only one CANNOT use the BOOTCAMP manager to install Win.
You must use an original disk WIN in order to install it.
On mac pro 1.1 and 2.1, there is a special technique to install WIN7 64 bits.
On mac pro 4.1 and later you just put the dvd and install it.

The HDD/SSD must be formatted in FAT32 otherwise very often the Win install disk says that you cannot erase/format etc hence you cannot install Windows.

Bootcamp can be used do install Windows on a dedicated drive (not partition). I did that quite a few times already.

However, I am not sure if Sierra or High Sierra's Bootcamp change anything. My last Bootcamp Windows installation was with El Capitan (on a dedicated 120GB SSD connected via the native SATA 2 port).
 
Hi,well, I remember that I tried on a separate drive and it did not install (win 7)
After there was something about the boot, I never succeeded to make it work with Bootcamp.

For me clean install from USB/DVD win install disk works perfectly, without any trouble.
On the other hand whenever I used bootcamp, I had always troubles...
But you are right, as it appears, you can install on a separate drive.
 
Thanks! will try this (although cumbersome)

What's cumbersome about using the option key? If you need it step by step, i.e. step 1, step 2, etc, let me know.
I could only get it to install by using the (option key) boot screen select disk. The flash drive would not install by "hitting any key" or own it own.

I very seldom use Windows. The SSD (Samsung 850 Pro) I installed W10 on was for my wife's 5,1. She does not like or use the OSX ( go figure). This ssd is the only drive in her mac & it is a standalone ssd. There is no OSX hard drive in it. I tried putting W10 on the disk for several days, off & on just for her. I tried MBR, fat32, NTFS & others , don't remember now, to no avail although some would load but every time I booted to windows the screen would say "repairing PC" or something similar to that. Each time I did a clean format through diskpart. Finally on the last try ( and I do mean last) a window popped up ( in windows install) that said the disk MUST be formatted to GPT. OK, another clean diskpart thingy. OK, got to install , then had to delete the other partitions and just have the ssd showing. Hit OK & it installed perfectly, no glitches, etc. Just a plain old fashioned perfect install. My wife is happy.....I'm happy. Now with all that said, I'm not saying this is the only way that works, it just the way I did it & believe me I was getting very frustrated with it, as I don't care for windows that much. I used Windows for years (and occasionally still do) prior to being indoctrinated on the mac. Did so many installs, I could do it with my eyes closed, literary, but that was on a PC. Mac is a different ballgame. Maybe this is only for High Sierra, I don't know ( and really don't care), use whatever works for you & your mac. Just don't shoot the messenger!!!!
 
Just boot from the DVD and install Windows from there.

P.S. You better pull out all other drivers.

which drivers do you pull out and how?
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Here's how I did mine, although I used a flash drive. First the ssd must be formatted to guid ( I think that's it) as windows will not install natively on a efi machine Insert your dvd in the optical drive, shut down the mac. remove all other hard drives . You need to have a mac gpu for the boot screen. Reboot & hold the option key down. The windows dvd should appear in a few seconds. Boot from the dvd & let it do it's thing. You do not have to have bootcamp as this would be standalone ssd. At least that's what I did to mine. Once completed, remove the dvd. shutdown, reinstall other drive & boot to the OS or windows, using the option key. For bootcamp, as far as I know, you would have to have an OS on the ssd. Hope that helps some.

i have the same exact spec as you. after I install from the DVD and it restarts i get windows boot logo and then black screen and a cursor. Pls help.
 
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