How to Solve the Boot Camp Disk Error Press Any Key To Restart Probem
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Here is the Solution to the Boot Camp "Disk Error Press Any Key To Restart"
Boot Camp is a program that will help you to install Microsoft Windows on your Mac with just a few clicks. However, it took me three days to figure out how to do it.
On this page you will find the solution to the "Disk Error, Press Any Key To Restart" problem a lot of boot camp users seem to encounter. I battled with this for 3 days until I finally found the solution.
Background:
The "Disk Error, Press Any Key To Restart" message appears after you have installed windows XP and wait for your Mac to boot into Windows for the first time.
The Problem:
The reason this message appears is that Windows doesn't recognize the file system on the partion where you installed Windows XP.
Boot Camp pre-formats the partion when you first decide how big partion you want. You know the screen where you can choose 32GB or use the slide to determine how big partion you want.
Then when you are running the windows installer (who takes forever to load), the installer determin the partion Boot Camp made as FAT32. Here's the problem. You have to format the Boot Camp partion using the Windows Installer. If you don't do this, Windows will be installed on a file system it doesn't recognize and the "Disk Error Press Any Key To Restart" will appear when the installer is finished and try to boot into Windows.
How To Format The Partion Using The Windows Installer:
Here's where I got stuck and searched for an answer for 3 days before finding out how to do it.
When using the windows installer, you should be given the option to format the file system before windows is being installed. This is not always the case..
Appearantly there are different versions of the Windows Installer Software. Some gives you the option while others just goes ahead and install Windows without asking you if you want to format the partion first.
So the option to format the partion to either FAT32 or NTFS file system, depends on which type of Windows CD you have.
If you already have the option to format the file system before installing Windows, then the fix is easy. Simply choose to format the partion to either: FAT32 or NTFS.
The screen should look like the one below.. You will have a fifth choice which says something like: "Leave the partion as it is" DO NOT CHOOSE THIS OPTION!
You have to format the partion to either FAT32 or NTFS. If you choose FAT32, you will be able to both read and write to the partion. If you choose NTFS, you will only be able to read the partion.
What Should You Do If You Don't Have The Option Format The Partion In The Windows Installer
This is what happened to me.. I didn't get the chance to format the file system after I choosed which partion to install Windows on. The installer just went on and installed directly, and eventually I got the "Disk Error" messsage.
The fix for this is to obtain a different Windows Installer CD which have the option to format the partion.
Now the question arise.. Which Windows CD do you need?
I didn't have the the time or the money going out and buying every kind of Windows CD, just to find the right one. I already have bought a copy of Windows and I didn't want to buy another one.. So I asked a friend, (who uses Windows) to download one from a torrent site..
Now, after a lot of testing he finally found a CD that offered the format option.
I don't know if I'm allowed to link to a torrent site, but the name of the windows CD is: "Windows XP Professional SP2 Integrated Sept 2008" Just do a search for it on google and you should be able to find it. Once you find it then burn it with a program that allows you to burn CD images (ISO) and you have yourself the right CD.
You can also try to buy a new copy of Windows XP, but I can't tell you which one to buy.. =(!
I hope this helps any problem you have with Boot Camp. Below are some links that will help you even further on how to successfully install Windows XP on your MAC.
Recommended Boot Camp Links
- Boot Camp Update 2.1 for Windows XP
Don't forget this update after you have succefully installed XP. This update is needed before installing SP3. - Boot Camp Disk Error Press any key to restart - MacNN Forums
A discussion on MacNN Forums about the "Disk Error" Problem. - How do I install Windows XP on my Mac using Boot Camp? by Dave Taylor
This is a great Step by Step guide to installing Windows XP on your Mac. Lot's of pictures and tips.
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Comments! Discuss With Me Here!
No problem, please tell me if you need anything clarified!
Nice one, this saved me a headache ;-).
I like to point out another easy, safe option to format partitions. Use a Linux distro with a live-boot option and an easy to use partition program.
I realy like SimplyMEPIS for this, it has GParted right at your desktop for this task.
Cheers,
Kees
I did the same way, however, i now getting a BSOD :( any suggestions?
i have a macbook pro 2.5Ghz, 4GB ram and 250GB HD...
Can you please tell me what the BSOD problem means? =) I'll try to help you!
Actually, the most correct way would be to press F10 when the install asks to press F6 (the one with the additionnal RAID drivers), wait 5 to 10 minutes to load all the useless drivers, then get the recovery console and type "format c: /FS:FAT32" (addionnal fun may apply if you have a foreign keyboard like me). At this point, type exit, and the regular Windows install should go on correctly.
Ohh, I have been wondering why my computer wouldn't install BootCamp. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for that info, I have been searching the net for an hour to figure out where to get that NTFS option during the installation. Well, I spent the last 2 days working around Bootcamp's "Files cannot be moved" bug, so this one was quick and easy in comparison ;) I had 3 Windows install disks around, one of them (from april 2006) did the trick.
From a non-mac girl -- thank you!
You can avoid this hole issue by creating a partition that is larger than 32GB. Many people choose this option because they want to be able top copy files directly from the Mac partion to the Windows partition. Making the partition will prevent the Boot Camp Assitant from preformatting the partition as FAT32.
Hi Carmine!
When I was battling with this problem I tried to make the partition larger, and I tried to make it smaller than 32 GB... Non worked.
Perhaps there is multiple solutions depending on which Windows XP version you have, for some users creating a partition larger than 32GB might work, for others it might not =(.
I think that the problem lies with the windows installer. It has different versions, depending where you live and which language on the CD you have.
I don't know why the windows installer chooses to skip asking if you want the partition formatted..
Another option is to go with windows vista...
I figured out that if you don't have a version of Windows Installer that brings up the format options, you can still format. When it gives you a choice of partitions, just select the one you made with Boot Camp Assistant, delete it, and then create a new one with the disk space used by the partition you deleted. The new partition is a "Raw" partition, and the setup will prompt you to choose a format for it once you've selected it as your destination.
Thanks man, after going round and round the installer about 5 times, I eventually found your article. I havent obtained a new version of XP yet, but I am sure that your help will fix my problem!
Thanks again
Sorry for the double comment. Just wanted to mention that I tried Jakes technique posted above me and it seems to be working so far. Managed to progress to the format page and am currently formatting the raw partition now. Looking good so far.
Thanks again, you guys are most helpful!
I also tried Jakes technique because of the version of XP that I had. I was able to get the partition deleted and changed but the only list of options became the two for NTFS. I settled for the top one and it all looked to be going through until it retarted and I got the usual black screen but this time not with the "disk error" but something about FAT32 . . . Can't remember.
Anyway, I started all over, killed the bootcamp partition then went ahead and used my VM Fusion, giving up on Boot Camp, and all went smooth. I now have my XP as a virtual machine with no probs.
VM Fusion is about $80, better than buying a new version of XP or messing up your drive trying to install it.
Thanks, for giving such a relevant info.
This was just the info I was looking for. Thx
Jake's right - did the same thing. You don't need to download from Bit Torrent. Just delete the partition, recreate it and you will get the formatting options. This is when you are on the Blue windows install screen
Hi HubDave
Great info thanks for the help...
hi,
i tryed to do what you said. i took my boot CD from xp, inserted it into my mac, rebooted it. but i still get that stupid "error disk"
i don't know what went wrong...
Quote:
"Actually, the most correct way would be to press F10 when the install asks to press F6 (the one with the additionnal RAID drivers), wait 5 to 10 minutes to load all the useless drivers, then get the recovery console and type "format c: /FS:FAT32" (addionnal fun may apply if you have a foreign keyboard like me). At this point, type exit, and the regular Windows install should go on correctly."
The above work for me. I just type format C:
I cant seem to quit the "Disk error, Press any key to restart" page. I've turned off my computer and turned it back on, but it keeps going to the same page. I don't have an option to go their either. Help Please..
Hi Dave,
I've been looking for a solution to this for very long,. Initially I thought it was a disc error and even borrowed another genuine copy of Windows XP from a friend! Just want to thank you for sharing this with us! You're a saint! :)
Thanks HubDave, excellent information. Such a common problem.
Thanks! I'm just trying to help. I know how much I struggled with this problem myself. =)
I don't know how to thank you. Your instructions saved me countless hours of frustration. It doesn't say anywhere in the documentation that you need to format your partition with the Windows Installer, and I probably would have a tried a dozen other solutions before I thought of that. Thanks again, I really appreciate it!
Great article helped a lot
Hey,
do all the files in mac will be gone if i choose "format the partition using....."
Hey,
do all the files in mac will be gone if i choose "format the partition using....."
This article is great but one thing that should be stressed is that you should NOT DELETE and create the bootcamp partition. That was what I was doing wrong. It was then giving me the 'hal.dll' missing error. In the windows installer just select the partition that the bootcamp assistant made and only format it...again DO NOT delete and create.
Thanks your advice worked great, i got a different version of xp and this one gave me to option to format. thanks!!
Hi there, during the installation, I selected the option to leave the partition system as it is. Meaning, my installer actually let me to choose the disk format. And I ended up in the disk error message. That was the 1at time.
I was recommended to destroy the partition and redo the process. But for the 2nd installation, it just jumped to the disk error message, without confirming what the partition system is. So, I ended up stuck there.
I wonder whether yo can solve this prob. Thanks a lot!!!
devilinearth says:
12 months ago
Thanks mate...nice info