Windows Vista Installation

[Tarek]

Hello,

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Then I managed to create another partition using Disk Utility instead of Boot Camp. However, when I try to install Windows on it, that's what it gives me:

I tried two partition formats, MS-DOS (FAT32) and Macintosh Extended (Journaled), and gives me the same thing every time. I read about that error and came up with two things:

First - what it means -

Using GPT Drives

Note: Installing a Windows x64 Edition operating system on a GPT disk is not supported. Attempting to do so yields an error. Although Setup allows you to choose a GPT disk partition on the partition selection screen during Text Mode Setup, doing so displays an error message. To assist users in avoiding this error, the partition selection screen clearly indicates whether the partition is configured as an MBR drive or a GPT drive.

I think its basically saying you cant use a GPT drive or format it to NTFS to use Windows, so looks like a new hard drive.

Second - how to fix that -

At the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen hit Shift+F10 to bring up a command prompt.
Type "diskpart" and hit enter.
Type "list disk" and hit enter.
Type "select disk x" replacing x with the number of the disk you want to install Windows to.(Typically you will see a * under GPT for the disk you are having a problem installing to.)
Type "clean" and hit enter. (SEE NOTE BELOW!!!!!)
Type "exit" and hit enter.
Close the command prompt window.
Click Refresh in the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen.
You should now be able to install windows on the disk that was GPT formatted.

***NOTE*** The clean command will destroy ALL data on the disk you run it on!!! This includes any OEM specific hidden recovery partitions etc. Be absolutely SURE there is NOTHING you need to keep on that disk before running any of these commands. Also this typically converts the disk from GPT back to MBR, you may alternativly use the convert command in diskpart. To read the help in diskpart, type "help commandnamehere" for more info...

I am not sure if that means all the partitions will be destroyed on the Disk (including the Macintosh HD) because I wouldn't want to do that. I have a lot of data on the Mac HD, a lot of updates that I don't want to re-download, and no external hard drive in order to back up using Time Machine or something. Does any one have any idea on what can be done right now? Thank you.

 

[Gav Mack]

That initial error means you need to defrag your mac partition to make enough contiguous free space to create the bootcamp volume. After you've deleted the volume you created and a time machine backup you need a bootable disk defrag like Techtool or diskwarrior.

After that start boot camp again - Vista and 7 need the FAT32 it creates erased and reformatted in NTFS.