Windows 8.1installation errors via Bootcamp.

[catoss]

Hello,

I'm trying to install a full, genuine version of Windows 8.1 onto my Macbook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) via Bootcamp 5.1.4.
------------------------------
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
4 GB RAM
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB
500 GB SATA Disk

420.64 GB free of 499.25 GB
-------------------------------
I'm using an external optical drive and the Windows 8.1, 64 bit installation disk. I have downloaded the "latest Windows support software from Apple" onto a 8GB USB. I partition my hard drive to have 70GB of Windows and the rest OS X. After it has finished partitioning the disk, my Macbook reboots and about five seconds later, a grey screen with a flashing underscore appears in the top left of the screen. I'm not able to do anything at that point.

I force shut down, and turn my Macbook back on while holding 'option' to access the boot menu. When the boot menu appears there're four options (when the external optical drive is plugged in), "Macintosh HD, recovery drive, Windows, EFI Boot". I tried selecting "Windows" but it just returns to the grey screen with the flashing underscore. I left the grey screen on for 30+ minutes to see if anything will happen, but nothing did.

I have tried restoring the partition and re-partioning it and trying again, but the same grey screen comes up. I have tried unplugging the external optical drive when the Macbook reboots but it just sates, "No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key", I then plug the external optical drive back in and press any key, but it just stays on that screen.

I made an ISO file of my Windows 8.1, but the first thing you see when you open bootcamp is a warning stating, "You need an optical drive to install Windows. Connect an optical drive to your computer. You can't install Windows with a remote optical drive."

Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joel.

 

[yjchua95]

Hello,

I'm trying to install a full, genuine version of Windows 8.1 onto my Macbook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) via Bootcamp 5.1.4.
------------------------------
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
4 GB RAM
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB
500 GB SATA Disk

420.64 GB free of 499.25 GB
-------------------------------
I'm using an external optical drive and the Windows 8.1, 64 bit installation disk. I have downloaded the "latest Windows support software from Apple" onto a 8GB USB. I partition my hard drive to have 70GB of Windows and the rest OS X. After it has finished partitioning the disk, my Macbook reboots and about five seconds later, a grey screen with a flashing underscore appears in the top left of the screen. I'm not able to do anything at that point.

I force shut down, and turn my Macbook back on while holding 'option' to access the boot menu. When the boot menu appears there're four options (when the external optical drive is plugged in), "Macintosh HD, recovery drive, Windows, EFI Boot". I tried selecting "Windows" but it just returns to the grey screen with the flashing underscore. I left the grey screen on for 30+ minutes to see if anything will happen, but nothing did.

I have tried restoring the partition and re-partioning it and trying again, but the same grey screen comes up. I have tried unplugging the external optical drive when the Macbook reboots but it just sates, "No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key", I then plug the external optical drive back in and press any key, but it just stays on that screen.

I made an ISO file of my Windows 8.1, but the first thing you see when you open bootcamp is a warning stating, "You need an optical drive to install Windows. Connect an optical drive to your computer. You can't install Windows with a remote optical drive."

Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joel.

You can't use the external optical drive. On Macs that have an internal drive, the EFI will only allow Windows to be installed from the internal optical drive. If I'm not mistaken, you can also use a bootable USB installer, but it might require a fair bit of tweaking.

If you modded your MBP with Optibay, I guess you're largely SOL.

 

[catoss]

You can't use the external optical drive. On Macs that have an internal drive, the EFI will only allow Windows to be installed from the internal optical drive. If I'm not mistaken, you can also use a bootable USB installer, but it might require a fair bit of tweaking.

If you modded your MBP with Optibay, I guess you're largely SOL.

Thank you so much for replying.
The person that I bought my MBP off of said that it was upgraded and they stated that you were able to fit an extra HDD or SSD, so what you're saying is correct. They have removed the internal optical drive and replaced it with room to install more space.

Would you have any more information on the bootable USB installer? Also, are you able to remove the extra space for more storage and replace it with an optical drive?

 

[yjchua95]

Thank you so much for replying.
The person that I bought my MBP off of said that it was upgraded and they stated that you were able to fit an extra HDD or SSD, so what you're saying is correct. They have removed the internal optical drive and replaced it with room to install more space.

Would you have any more information on the bootable USB installer? Also, are you able to remove the extra space for more storage and replace it with an optical drive?

You can remove the extra drive for storage and replace it with a stock SuperDrive, but you'll have to hunt for an original SuperDrive module.

As for the USB stick, it's pretty to create one using ISO to USB (Windows app, use a VM to do this).