thank you so much for your instructions.
I have followed them, but unfortunately the last bcd boot step didn't work for me.
My system: MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)
I skipped the instructions saying "skip if installing in BIOS-CSM"
Here is the error I am getting:
Code:
C:\Windows\system32>E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s E: /f ALL
BFSVC Error: BcdOpenSystemStore failed with unexpected error code, Status = [c000015c]
C:\Windows\system32>E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s E: /f BIOS
Boot files successfully created.
C:\Windows\system32>E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s E: /f UEFI
BFSVC Error: BcdOpenSystemStore failed with unexpected error code, Status = [c000015c]
C:\Windows\system32>
I have at first tried to do the command as you described with /f ALL, but it failed. Therefore I tried the other options and it worked with BIOS, but had the same error when I tried to do /f UEFI.
In verbose this is what I am getting (Shortened output):
Code:
C:\Windows\system32>E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s E: /f ALL /v
BFSVC: ServiceBootFiles MuiOnly:n Res:y Fonts:y BootMgrOvw:nBootStatOvw:n DbgTransports:y CreateSetupObj:n
BFSVC: Using source OS version a000027920000
BFSVC: Copying boot files CopyBootManager(Yes) E:\Windows\boot\PCAT -> \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Boot
BFSVC: SetNamedSecurityInfo failed! Error code = 0x2
BFSVC: Unable to open file \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Boot\bootmgr for read because the file or path does not exist
BFSVC: SetNamedSecurityInfo failed! Error code = 0x2
BFSVC: Copying font files from E:\Windows\boot\Fonts to \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Boot\Fonts...
BFSVC: Copying resource files from E:\Windows\boot\Resources to \\?
[...]
BFSVC: Servicing debugger files
BFSVC: Copying boot debugging files from E:\Windows\boot\..\system32 to \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolume3\EFI\Microsoft\Boot (kd_*_*.dll)
BFSVC: Copying boot debugging files from E:\Windows\boot\..\system32 to \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolume3\EFI\Microsoft\Boot (kdstub.dll)
BFSVC: Done servicing debugger files.
BFSVC: BfsInitializeBcdStore flags(0x0000021c) RetainElementData:n DelExistinObject:n
BFSVC: Opening template from \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\config\BCD-Template.
BFSVC: Opening store from \Device\HarddiskVolume3\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD
BFSVC Error: BcdOpenSystemStore failed with unexpected error code, Status = [c000015c]
C:\Windows\system32>
I tried to reboot and W2GO did;t show up in the boot menu of the macbook. It did show up as a startup disk in OS X and when I selected it and rebooted I simply got a message that no OS was found.
I followed the instructions precisely except for:
- After running the dism copy command, I extracted my bootcamp drivers onto E://Bootcamp Drivers
- Then I rebooted without doing the bcd boot command... when the HDD didn't show up I realized I must have forgotten something
- I booted back into OS X and my VM, which did some software updates
- Then I tried running the bcdboot command again and got the errors above
Do you think I should just try again without messing up this time or could it be that the process isn't compatible with the 2012 retina, because it is somewhere in-between UEFI and BIOS-CSM?
I have tried wintousb before I tried your method.
When I used WinToUSB 2.2 Beta:
This version supports "MBR-based Windows To Go USB drive support booting both BIOS-based and UEFI-based computers".
I was able to boot Windows, but when I installed bootcamp drivers the screen went black and rebooting didn't help. It was some kind of graphics driver problem related to the fact that UEFI is not implemented fully and Windows therefore doesn't understand I have 2 graphics cards or something like that
When I used WinToUSB 2.1:
I was not able to boot the system. I am not sure whether I received the "No OS found.." message or something else.
I have updated the steps.
Connect external drive to Windows VM. You must have a Windows VM in VMware/Parallels, or a Windows PC. Any existing Windows environment will do.
Note: If you’re using a 32-bit ISO, your Windows environment used to do these commands have to be 32-bit. And if it’s a 64-bit ISO, the environment has to be 64-bit.
What you need:
install.wim file (obtain this from your Windows ISO)
Open elevated cmd.exe (run as admin)
Note: All commands aren't case sensitive, including pathway to files.
Type diskpart
Type list disk
Take note of the disk you want to select
Type select disk 1 (if your disk is Disk 1)
Type clean
Type convert gpt (do this and then stop at this point if you're using a drive with a Thunderbolt port.
If installing in BIOS-CSM, type convert mbr and then stop at this point if you’re using a drive with a Thunderbolt port)
Type create partition EFI size=100 (skip if installing in BIOS-CSM)
Type format quick fs=fat32 label=EFI (skip if installing in BIOS-CSM)
Type assign letter=S (skip if installing in BIOS-CSM)
Type create partition primary
Type format fs=ntfs quick label=W2G (or any other name you wish for label)
Type assign letter=E
Type exit
Open up File Explorer. In your C drive, create a new folder named WIN2GO.
Put the install.wim file in this folder
Back in cmd.exe:
Type dism /apply-image /imagefile:C:\WIN2GO\install.wim /index:1 /applydir:E:\ (this process will take quite a while)
Type E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI (use this one for UEFI installation)
Type E:\Windows\System32\bcdboot E:\Windows /s E: /f ALL (use this one for BIOS-CSM installation)
Restart your entire Mac. After the chime, hold down Option and when prompted to select your boot drive, select EFI Boot (or whatever else that comes up for a BIOS-CSM installation).
Proceed installation normally.
After installation, install Boot Camp drivers. Feel free to trash the VM once you're done too.
For best results, use USB 3/Thunderbolt. If you don't have USB 3, use Thunderbolt. If you have neither, stick back to the internal drive
Don’t use a USB stick.
Note: This method involves reformatting the entire external drive.
For Thunderbolt drives, just boot from the Windows USB installer and install directly onto the TB drive. Windows sees TB drives as an internal PCIe connection. However, you must format the TB drive as GPT first.
CAUTION: Windows can only be installed in UEFI flawlessly on Haswell Macs and later. Ivy Bridge and earlier Macs can only run Windows in BIOS-CSM flawlessly. Attempts to boot a UEFI installation of Windows on an Ivy Bridge or earlier Mac will result in driver issues.
These steps do not work with Windows 7, as it lacks the dism.exe utility.
UEFI-compatible Macs:
MacBook Air (mid-2013 and later)
iMac (late-2013 and later)
Retina MacBook Pro (late-2013 and later)
Mac Pro (trashcan shape)
Mac Mini (late-2014 and later)
Long story short, only Macs with PCIe SSDs support UEFI. Non-retina MBPs, along with other Macs not listed above (basically all Ivy Bridge and older Macs), are not UEFI compatible.
WinToUSB basically does the same thing, but doesn’t always work because WinToUSB doesn’t really take into account between BIOS-CSM and UEFI Macs; it only uses one method for all (which may result in boot failures and other problems).
I run Windows off a single Transcend 960GB JetDrive and constantly use it between Macs without problems.
