Boot camp with windows 8

[speedster4005]

As far as I can remember, I got thE ISO since I do not have Windows too. It could be SG store and/or MS changed the option already to avoid direct ISO downloads?

 

[speedster4005]

I can suggest 2 options:

1. Call MS customer service, maybe they can do something.
2. Find an MSDN Windows 7 which you can temp bootcamp, and get thE ISO.

 

[derrickgoh]

Have googled & seems the only way is run it on a pc. Damn!

Doubt microsoft can help unless they let me top up for dvd.

 

[speedster4005]

I just googled for trial versions for Windows 7 iso. You can try this option by installing a trial version:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links, Official Disk Images from Digital River

Then from there can use it to download Windows 8.1.

 

[chenaz]

Have googled & seems the only way is run it on a pc. Damn!

Doubt microsoft can help unless they let me top up for dvd.

go here and download ur iso file

OEM/Retail
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128
Upgrade
Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help

after u downloaded. leave it to bootcamp and u are done

 

[derrickgoh]

Thanks all. Will try it after work.

 

[derrickgoh]

I just googled for trial versions for Windows 7 iso. You can try this option by installing a trial version:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links, Official Disk Images from Digital River

Then from there can use it to download Windows 8.1.

Meaning i download win 7 trial iso & use it to boot camp. Then when in win 7 trial i run the exe file, download win 8.1 iso then upgrade from there?

But mine is 8.1 full version. Can use it to upgrade ah?

 

[derrickgoh]

go here and download ur iso file

OEM/Retail
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128
Upgrade
Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help

after u downloaded. leave it to bootcamp and u are done

What is the first link? Another exe file?

So for link 2 i need to have win 7 first (or win 7 trial) installed then i visit the link, enter key and upgrade?

 

[speedster4005]

Meaning i download win 7 trial iso & use it to boot camp. Then when in win 7 trial i run the exe file, download win 8.1 iso then upgrade from there?

But mine is 8.1 full version. Can use it to upgrade ah?

Dont't upgrade from there. Once you got the ISO, go back to BootCamp and fresh install Windows 8.1. BootCamp will remove first Windows 7.

 

[derrickgoh]

Dont't upgrade from there. Once you got the ISO, go back to BootCamp and fresh install Windows 8.1. BootCamp will remove first Windows 7.

I see. So i run boot camp assistant again & repartition etc basically repeat everything?

The win 7 trial iso & the boot camp drivers for win both go in the same thumbdrive rite? Then after i run the exe file in win 7 trial, i put the 8.1 iso in thd same thumbdrive as boot camp drivers.

 

[speedster4005]

I see. So i run boot camp assistant again & repartition etc basically repeat everything?

The win 7 trial iso & the boot camp drivers for win both go in the same thumbdrive rite? Then after i run the exe file in win 7 trial, i put the 8.1 iso in thd same thumbdrive as boot camp drivers.

Same process as win8, same the iso somewhere else, not on the thumbdrive. Bootcamp will create the win7 installer on that thumbdrive.

1. Put the Win7 iso on your main drive (eg desktop)
2. Run BootCamp and when asked for win 7 Iso, point it to the desktop or wherever location you saved the Iso.
3. Let bootcamp download the drivers too and create the win7 installer on the thumbdrive.
4. After win7 runs, run the win8 iso downloader (as per video you posted).
5. Save the ISO somewhere else other than the installer thumbdrive.
6. Boot to OSX.
7. Run BootCamp and choose to remove the bootcamp partition.
8. Go to step 2, this time pointing the ISO to where you kept the Win8 ISO.

 

[derrickgoh]

So i need to remove the boot camp partition with win 7 in it then create another new boot camp partition for win 8.1. Got it. Win 7 installation in progress. Fingers crossed.

 

[derrickgoh]

Ok I managed to install Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit trial in Boot Camp and I ran the Win 8.1. exe file. Mine is the Win 8.1 full version 64 bit BTW. Managed to get the Win 8.1 ISO file which I saved on the thumbdrive. I did not chose the Win 8.1 option to make a bootable USB drive BTW, I chose the option to save ISO file and then copied it on thumbdrive. “Install by creating media” I believe it said. That was what the tutorial said to do, I hope its right.

I then booted up in Mavericks, removed the Boot Camp partition by using Boot Camp assistant and then tried to install Win 8.1. I left everything alone i.e. "create a windows 7 or later install disk" and "install win 7 or later version" were both ticked. "Download the latest windows support software from apple" was ticked but greyed out. I left everything as it is, did not select or unselect anything.

I spent a long time at this screen for some reason. The video tutorial was very fast so I don't know why mine was so slow.

Anyway, after this screen it says it needs to add a helper.

I proceed and it shows me this:

How come its saying this Mac only supports Win 7? Mine is the 27" 2013 iMac which is the latest iMac and I'm on Mavericks. My Boot Camp Assistant is 5.1.2 which AFAIK is the latest since I did a software update.

Nevertheless I chose to proceed. And this is what I saw:

Tried 4 times in a row and the same thing happened. Was it a mistake doing what I did? Should I have installed Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit trial and then run the Win 8.1 exe file and let is install 8.1 right there and then? Rather than remove the Win 7 Boot Camp partition and try to create a brand new Boot Camp partition with Win 8.1?

Or should I have let the Win 8.1 installation make the thumbdrive a bootable one instead of saving the ISO file to desktop then copying it to the thumbdrive?

 

[speedster4005]

Some screenshots are small - can't see them clearly. Have you tried it again on another USB port?
Also, looks like BootCamp having some strange issues on downloading thr correct drivers - there's a posting on Apple community similar to this - you might want to check:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5458941?start=15&tstart=0

 

[emozxs]

Have never seen that error before, but after spending 9 hours on Friday trying to get bootcamp set up (and talked to at least 6 tech advisors), here's what I gleaned (for future people coming in here to check)

OEMs will not work on bootcamp, only full retail versions will.

When buying Win 8.1 Pro (or any other Windows 8 versions), they require you to download an .exe file that can only be opened by a PC (I opened it in my Windows 7 VM in Parallels). There is an option to "install via installation media" which will save an ISO file to your usb.

To OP, this might help Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8 and after you manage to install win 8, you'll need to install these drivers there Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5640

I also encountered another problem after rebooting, the USB drive wouldn't show up on the booting screen, simply remove and plug back in your usb drive and it should show up. There are some issues regarding USB3.0 drives as well, so you might want to google that. I'm on a MBP so I have the solution for that, but I'm not sure for iMac.

 

[derrickgoh]

Some screenshots are small - can't see them clearly. Have you tried it again on another USB port?
Also, looks like BootCamp having some strange issues on downloading thr correct drivers - there's a posting on Apple community similar to this - you might want to check:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5458941?start=15&tstart=0

Oh I think need to click on the pic for larger one. Frustrating part for me is it wouldn't even allow me to partition the HDD for Boot Camp. I tried to partition only via Boot Camp assistant and see if I can then use the Boot Camp drivers I downloaded separately.

But it wouldn't allow as it insisted I need to have Win 8.1 disc in my drive. Since my iMac has no drive that option was out. I HAD to select the option to use the ISO which automatically included the auto driver download. I was unable to uncheck that option. Its either you tick the ISO AND the drivers or nothing at all. Dang! If it allowed just the ISO and for me to use my own drivers that might work. But too bad.

The link was helpful and I've been reading around myself too. Most people seem to have a problem AFTER installing Win 8.1. As in they can partition their HDD via Boot Camp and Win 8.1 even installs, just that they can't install Boot Camp drivers and thus this doesn't work, that doesn't work, etc.

In my case Boot Camp wouldn't even partition the HDD and install Win 8.1 'cos it seems to have problems getting the correct drivers. Damn frustrating. I mean just partition the damn HDD already, I have the ISO so let me install Win 8.1 and if it can't find the correct drivers, I can provide them!

 

[derrickgoh]

Have never seen that error before, but after spending 9 hours on Friday trying to get bootcamp set up (and talked to at least 6 tech advisors), here's what I gleaned (for future people coming in here to check)

OEMs will not work on bootcamp, only full retail versions will.

When buying Win 8.1 Pro (or any other Windows 8 versions), they require you to download an .exe file that can only be opened by a PC (I opened it in my Windows 7 VM in Parallels). There is an option to "install via installation media" which will save an ISO file to your usb.

To OP, this might help Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8 and after you manage to install win 8, you'll need to install these drivers there Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5640

I also encountered another problem after rebooting, the USB drive wouldn't show up on the booting screen, simply remove and plug back in your usb drive and it should show up. There are some issues regarding USB3.0 drives as well, so you might want to google that. I'm on a MBP so I have the solution for that, but I'm not sure for iMac.

Have managed to run the exe file when I used Boot Camp to install trial version of Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit. Hence I now have ISO for 64 bit Win 8.1. And mine is full version bought from MS store.

Ironic that the Boot Camp manual is for Mountain Lion not for Mavericks though.

 

[emozxs]

Oh I think need to click on the pic for larger one. Frustrating part for me is it wouldn't even allow me to partition the HDD for Boot Camp. I tried to partition only via Boot Camp assistant and see if I can then use the Boot Camp drivers I downloaded separately.

But it wouldn't allow as it insisted I need to have Win 8.1 disc in my drive. Since my iMac has no drive that option was out. I HAD to select the option to use the ISO which automatically included the auto driver download. I was unable to uncheck that option. Its either you tick the ISO AND the drivers or nothing at all. Dang! If it allowed just the ISO and for me to use my own drivers that might work. But too bad.

The link was helpful and I've been reading around myself too. Most people seem to have a problem AFTER installing Win 8.1. As in they can partition their HDD via Boot Camp and Win 8.1 even installs, just that they can't install Boot Camp drivers and thus this doesn't work, that doesn't work, etc.

In my case Boot Camp wouldn't even partition the HDD and install Win 8.1 'cos it seems to have problems getting the correct drivers. Damn frustrating. I mean just partition the damn HDD already, I have the ISO so let me install Win 8.1 and if it can't find the correct drivers, I can provide them!

You know, you can just open bootcamp assistant, tick the first box, and untick the second and third, get the ISO files onto your usb, grab whatever drivers are correct, then open bootcamp assistant again and just tick the 3rd box? If I'm reading your comments correctly and the drivers are the issue here.

[EDIT] Oops I just realised that the second is joined to the first. How about opening the ISO in a finder window to see what there is inside, then delete the drivers that don't appear in the ISO? Then download the drivers yourself

 

[emozxs]

Have managed to run the exe file when I used Boot Camp to install trial version of Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit. Hence I now have ISO for 64 bit Win 8.1. And mine is full version bought from MS store.

Ironic that the Boot Camp manual is for Mountain Lion not for Mavericks though.

Sama sama, but I have a question, the adding helper tool should only come AFTER the support software is downloaded, yours seems to happen during or before, is that correct?

 

[derrickgoh]

You know, you can just open bootcamp assistant, tick the first box, and untick the second and third, get the ISO files onto your usb, grab whatever drivers are correct, then open bootcamp assistant again and just tick the 3rd box? If I'm reading your comments correctly and the drivers are the issue here.

I can't untick the second one i.e. latest Win support drivers. The only way I can untick that is if I tick the first one i.e. create Win 7 or later install disk. But if I do that then it will ask me to insert Win disc which I can't as I have no optical drive. And once I tick option 1, option 2 automatically gets selected and it can't be unselected unless I unselect option 1.

Since I was able to previously install trial version of 64 bit Win 7 Home Premium, anyone knows if I can just run the Win 8.1 ISO from within Win 7 and let is upgrade or something? I was told to remove the Win 7 partition with Boot Camp assistant after I extracted the Win 8.1 ISO and then create a new Win 8.1 partition with Boot Camp assistant but that can't be done as can be seen from the error messages I posted.

BTW I checked and my thumbdrive is MS DOS FAT32 so that shouldn't be an issue since we are looking at all possible causes.