[fortfive]

MBP, 10.5.2, Windows XP Pro Corp (through work).

Booted from the XP disc on another intel mac, it spies 4 partitions just fine (including existing boot camp with windows xp installed).

On the new MBP, it sees only a single partition with an inexplicable size (130000 MB). Inexplicable, I say, because the HD is 185, partition 153/32 GB (created with Boot Camp Assistant). But I never did understand the various ways to calculate GB v. MB v. KB etc.

Anyway, we have confirmed the hard way that this is indeed the main OS X partition. Second time around formatted Extended Journaled Case Sensitive for kicks. No change.

Help, Please!

[ibook_steve]

Are you sure it's an XP SP2 disk? Are you trying to make the Windows partition FAT instead of NTFS (thus the 32 GB partition size)? Verify in Disk Utility (in OS X) that the partitions have been set up correctly.

Steve

[fortfive]

I am certain it is an sp2 windows installer. Disk Utility confirms partitions exist. I am trying to do FAT32 but that's irrelevant if the windows installer can't even see partition, isn't it?

[ghporter]

The installer should see four or five partitions. The OS X partition, a couple of tiny ones, and another that's labeled "C:" (as far as the installer is concerned). Do you see anything when it comes time to select a partition?

[fortfive]

It sees only a single partition, which we painfully discovered was the main OS X partition. My friend, whose MBP this is, and who I have so selflessly and graciously been helping, bears the responsibility for this "discovery."

For this and other issues, the macbook is going back to Apple for replacement. If the problem persists, will post back. My guess is a bad MB.

[ghporter]

Sorry to hear that-I had hoped that it was more a problem of looking for the right thing at the right place. Good luck with the replacement.

[erickp]

I am having the same exact issue. I have an iMac and the machine has absolutely no problems whatsoever but I can't seem to get WindowsXP (SP2/ver.2002) installer to see the bootcamp partition. All I see is that large "C: drive" partition. I actually tried this process 3 more times by removing the partition, rebooting the mac and then creating the partition again with Bootcamp. Anybody have any idea's what it can possible be? All my system software and firmware is up to date.


~e
(20" iMac/2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/4GB DDR2 memory/Leopard)

[Cold Warrior]

C drive is the partition you want to use. Is it the same approximate size as what you told Boot Camp Assistant to create? Is it in the format you specified (FAT32/NTFS)?

[erickp]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

C drive is the partition you want to use. Is it the same approximate size as what you told Boot Camp Assistant to create? Is it in the format you specified (FAT32/NTFS)?

What I should see, literally is a "bootcamp" partition in addition to other partitions. The "C:" drive that shows up is way larger than the "bootcamp" partition I created. As far as (Fat32 or NTFS), that choice is the next step after I choose a partition but I can't get there unless I choose a partition.

[Cold Warrior]

It should be C:

Take a look at Apple's Boot Camp manual, as a PDF file located here.

[erickp]

It may be the "C:" but every tutorial I've seen say's that the partition should say "bootcamp". The "one" partition that show up is much larger and does not say bootcamp.

I do have another question. When creating the bootcamp partition with bootcamp assistant, all I see is the choice for the size of the space you want to partition but nothing about FAT32 or NTFS. Does that choice show up later or should there be an option for FAT32 or NTFS prior to actually creating the partition?

[Cold Warrior]

It'll show up later in the Windows install process. I was mistaken thinking it'd be an option from the BC assistant.

[Lebel]

I had the same issue as fortfive and erickp above. Boot Camp created a partition which showed on the desktop. Windows started to install and then showed only one partition, not named Bootcamp, and with a size that had nothing to do with the one I had created. Given the risk of erasing my OSX partition, I did not go ahead and aborted. I redid it a number of times, same problem. I then proceeded (selected the only partition that was on offer) and then the next screen had nothing to do with the one I should have had according to the Bootcamp manual. I aborted again, just to find that nothing was working, neither Windows nor OSX. Impossible to reboot the iMac, the Apple logo did not even show when I switched the computer back on again. I went to Apple store for a fix, they diagnosed a faulty hard disk (I bought the iMac in November - what a start !). Fair enough, I got it replaced, start all over again (Boot Camp partition, Windows installer ...) and exactly the same issue again ! This time I am to scare to lose the HD again and stopped for good.
If my Windows CD with was defective, I would understand not being able to install Windows at all, but how is it that it sees a partition which bears no ressemblance to anything, and why does it crashes my hard disk ?
Help most welcome I am a new comer to Apple and not a computer specialist.
Thank you

[ibook_steve]

Can someone take a photo of this and post it? People keep having this problem, and I and many others have never seen it. If you set up a partition with the Boot Camp assistant and then boot with a legitimate XP SP2 disk, you should see a number of partitions, including one labeled bootcamp.

Steve

[Cold Warrior]

This is a good link: "How do I install Windows XP on my Mac using Boot Camp?": Tech Support from Ask Dave Taylor!

This is how it used to look - without [boot camp] there, just [unknown].


Page 11 of Apple's guide here has a good screenshot of how it looks now.

[ibook_steve]

I meant that someone who is having the problem should post a picture of the problem, though pointing to the BC manual is a good idea as well.

Steve

[cgc]

Did you have the Windows Installer format the BootCamp partition? If not, it will not work, although it will seem to install...

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by cgc 

Did you have the Windows Installer format the BootCamp partition? If not, it will not work, although it will seem to install...

Boot Camp assistant initially creates and formats the partition. When you select the partition as shown in the screenshot above, it gets formatted again as FAT or NTFS (depending on your choice).

Steve

[erickp]

Sorry I don't have a screen shot but it's the same screen as the above screen shot for the exception that the only partition choice is the following:

"131070MB Disk 0 at ID 0 on atapi [MBR]
C: Partition1 [unknown] 131072 MB (131071 MB free)"

I tried this process using bootcamp and then again using Parallels and no dice. I had an IT buddy check out my XP disc, thinking that perhaps I got a bad disc but nope, all checks out fine. I am stumped.

~e

[ibook_steve]

Let me try to understand your order of operations here:

Following the BC instructions:

1) Run BC assistant in OS X, creating a Windows partition on the hard drive.
2) Insert the Windows XP SP2 disk in the drive.
3) Click the restart and install Windows button in BC assistant.
4) The machine restarts, boots from the CD, and you only have one choice for choosing a partition to install to.

Is that correct? In Mac OS X, can you even look at the BC partition in the Finder (open it, copy things to it, etc.)? It just sounds like the new partition is not getting set up.

Steve

[erickp]

Those steps are correct.

When i create the 25GB partition via BC it does show up on the desktop as a separate drive. It opens just fine. I haven't actually copied anything onto BC partition BUT perhaps I should try. Maybe if there is something copied on the BC partition, it might then actually acknowledge the partition? Just a shot in the dark.

[Lebel]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

I meant that someone who is having the problem should post a picture of the problem, though pointing to the BC manual is a good idea as well.

Steve

How do you do a screenshot ?

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by Lebel 

How do you do a screenshot ?

You would have to use a camera or phone obviously, since there's no screen grab ability at that point in the install.

Steve

[jharp]

I have exactly the same problem. I follow the bootcamp manual step by step. Tried several times. When I boot from the xp disc, installer routine starts but it will only show one partition that has nothing to do with the partition I created in bootcamp or the already existing OSX partitions. Any help would be very appreciated. Thank you.

[ghporter]

I think more details would help us all figure this out. What version of Boot Camp are we talking about, and which OS X version (like fortfive listed)? Is this also with a MacBook Pro? Which model and importantly, what boot ROM version? Are you running ANY other software in OS X that might affect the structure of the hard drive? Have you tried booting from the Leopard disc and using Disk Utility to repair THE DRIVE (not just the volumes)? Something odd is going on that is keeping Windows from seeing the drive correctly, and it's going to take some solid investigation to figure out just what; the more information we have, the better we can help.

[Tquicksell]

I just got an iMac yesterday and have used bootcamp before on my macbook that I got a few months ago with no problem but now I am running into this same exact issue that's on this post, I snapped a picture so you could see what we are talking about, And I tried this with many different sizes in boot camp hoping that something would work. When I took this picture i had a 20 Gb partition called "bootcamp" yet nothing was there. This is after all the updates and everything from apple came in so it's the most up to date bootcamp version ( I assume).

0524081202.jpg (image)

[Cold Warrior]

Originally Posted by Tquicksell 

I just got an iMac yesterday and have used bootcamp before on my macbook that I got a few months ago with no problem but now I am running into this same exact issue that's on this post, I snapped a picture so you could see what we are talking about, And I tried this with many different sizes in boot camp hoping that something would work. When I took this picture i had a 20 Gb partition called "bootcamp" yet nothing was there. This is after all the updates and everything from apple came in so it's the most up to date bootcamp version ( I assume).

0524081202.jpg (image)

So what's wrong with that partition? Just select it and install windows (although 13GB is kind of small).

[Tquicksell]

the partition I made was for 20 and there is only one, shouldn't there be 2? One for the mac os and one for the bootcamp?

[ghporter]

Actually I saw something like four partitions when I installed XP on my MBP and my iMac. That is NOT the display you should see. You should see one partition for OS X (and I think it'll have the right partition name for your Mac HD), one that's identified as "C:", and a couple of tiny partitions as well.

Again, I'd like to know more about your machine, your OS and boot ROM versions, etc.

[Tquicksell]

I only have 2 partitions on my hard drive and that is a Macintosh Hd and BOOTCAMP, the system I'm using is 10.5.2. I don't know what else I can tell you, I am completely dumbfounded by this. When I (just a few weeks ago) installed Windows on my macbook it was really simple. this is just frustrating.

[64stang06]

Re-run the Boot Camp Assistant and merge the partitions back to 1. Reboot, then try the process over to create the 2nd partition. That might help...

[Tquicksell]

Same exact screen, no other partition shows up...

[64stang06]

Hmm. Try booting from the Leopard install disc and run Disk Utility to verify the hard drive (make sure it's the top layer drive, not the ones that are indented). If it needs to be repaired, repair it and then go from there. If that still doesn't fix the problem, you may have to just bite the bullet and format the drive/reinstall the OS then try again.

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

So what's wrong with that partition? Just select it and install windows (although 13GB is kind of small).

Actually that's 131 GB, not 13 GB, in the picture.

Steve

[Tquicksell]

So I deleted the previous partition and then in dish utility i verified it. then reformatted and reinstalled the OS. Then ran bootcamp without the updates that came flooding it the last time and I got the exact same screen. I am really confused.

[ghporter]

Not "verified." REPAIRED. Whether it says to or not, REPAIR the WHOLE DISK. It's important.

[Tquicksell]

After I verified the disk, the repair feature was unavailable to click, so my understand was that it didn't need to be repaired. How should I go about repairing it if that feature is not selectable?

and why would of all the amounts in the world there be a partition for 131 Gb?

[64stang06]

Originally Posted by Tquicksell 

After I verified the disk, the repair feature was unavailable to click, so my understand was that it didn't need to be repaired. How should I go about repairing it if that feature is not selectable?

and why would of all the amounts in the world there be a partition for 131 Gb?

If you boot from the Install Disc of Leopard and use Disk Utility, you CAN repair the hard drive, as long as it's back to a single partition, not two.

To do this, open Disk Utility once you boot from the Leopard Disc. Click on the FIRST hard drive icon (should have a number then the name of the drive; ex: 232.9 GB WDC...) and then click on the Partition tab. Where you see Volume Scheme, click on the popup bar and choose 1 partition (or something similar). Hit apply, and the drive will be formated to a single partition. Install Mac OS X as you normally would. Once you get into the OS, run the Boot Camp Assistant and continue from there.

It's important to reset to a single partition because the Boot Camp Assistant will create the second one as well as the master boot record which Windows will need to continue the install process.

[ghporter]

I forgot about that single partition part. Sorry. Thanks, 'Stang.

[Tquicksell]

I'm a little confused... Leopard loads fine and i can get to Disk Utility, should i still boot from the disk to do this? And I made sure to delete the partition before attempting anything. Is anyone else still having this problem? What would cause this to happen? (cuz I've used Boot Camp in the past and didn't have any problems)

[k_ung83]

I have the same problem with my MBP, and is frustrating. I gave technical support a call about this problem that im having with the install not recognising the bootcamp partition, and the guy i talked to said to use the original copy of windows install cd not a backup cd. Can any verify me whether this works or if anyone out there knows how to fix the problem

[Tquicksell]

I actually tried using both, a backup copy from an old compaq computer (it worked with my macbook) with a new license, and a new copy of windows and I got the same results.

[ghporter]

YES, boot from the Leopard DVD, and use "Disk Utliity" under the Tools menu. There's something odd about how your disk is configured at the moment, and maybe DU can fix it if you run it from the DVD.

k_ung83, I have no idea what the support guy was talking about. A true backup copy is identical to the original, so it shouldn't matter. Of course if he really meant a "restore disc" which some PC vendors provide, that's a different thing. It's got to be a real install disc, but beyond that it doesn't matter if you made a backup of it when you first got it or it's the pressed, shrink-wrapped disc you got from Microsoft.

[Guy Kuo]

Might want to inspect the drive using Disk Utility and verify it has the required GUID partition table. That is required for creating a Boot Camp partition.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Guy Kuo 

Might want to inspect the drive using Disk Utility and verify it has the required GUID partition table. That is required for creating a Boot Camp partition.

Excellent point, and one I'd forgotten to mention. Only the appropriate partition table can support the kind of partitions that you need for Windows, and Boot Camp will refuse to work with anything but the GUID table.

[Cenobyte]

Hi everyone. New here and still relatively new to Mac, so please go easy on the Noob.

I have moderate experience when it comes to handling a mac, but am quite skilled, when it comes to installing and handling windows. I have a MBP since a year and am very comfortabel with how it all works. Now a friend of mine needed a new notebook. As he is photographer i told him to get the new MacBook, because his wife would still be able to use all her old programs (which she needs for her job) using Windows XP via Bootcamp.

So he bought the new MB and it was my turn to install everything. The first thing i did was to start Bootcamp and try to install Windows XP. I got to the blue install screen, did not read the tutorials before and by selecting the only partition i saw completely erased the GUID partition table, formatted everything with FAT32 and installed Windows XP. Which worked. But i had no MacOS X on that thing... So... back to booting with the Leopard DVD, reformat as GUID and install Leopard again, this time erasing the XP System completely.

Then i updated the System before trying again. Version is now 10.4.5, Bootcamp Version 2.0, Boot-ROM-Version is MB41.00C1.B00, SMC is 1.31f0.

I tried again, googling the problem for several hours - nothing. Tried 20 and 15GB partitions. No success. Downloaded FreeDos to reformat the Bootcamp Partition. Nada. Hit F10 while Booting Windows during the Bootcamp installation process and reformatted using the console... with format c: and the options for using the Fat32 Table... and again i just get the single about 130gb partition, which includes my Mac OS X. Clicking now will exterminate everything, so this is not an option. I already reformatted my drive with a new partition table as i accidently installed the XP. The XP CD also seems to work, because i could install it on the machine. Zero, Nada, Zip...

I called Apple support that morning and after talking to the guys for 96 minutes and paying around 45€ for that i got a link to this thread, actually the first one, where this problem is discribed. At least the first one i found. Or... someone else found for me.

So if this is where the competent people are: please help! I could still offer his lady to use parallels, but that is not what they bought the machine for...

Thanks in advance,
Tim

[dufresne87]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

I meant that someone who is having the problem should post a picture of the problem, though pointing to the BC manual is a good idea as well.

Steve

I her is the picture of what happens,

Got a new macbook pro 2.4Ghz, 200Gb HD, 2G Ram,

If anybody have the solution to this let me know please.
thx

[dufresne87]

[Cenobyte]

Looks familiar.

[Toms789]

Is there no one we can email this thread to who will at least address the problem?

This is really starting to bug me now!

There is another thread here on the apple support forums but no one replies to it. Everyone post on their it might catch someone in the knows attention. i haven't got the link cos the forums are down at the minute but its nearly the same thread title as this one.

Tom