[CTeditor]

I tried partitioning my imac (current model) so i can install windows XP SP2.
I used the default 32GB setting and clicked partition. that seemed fine, I put the XP cd in, it comes to the blue screen up to the point where you choose which drive to install windows on.
Supposedly C: partition3 <BOOTCAMP> [FAT32]
Problem is, that does not appear, instead i get, C: Partition1 [unkown] and the around 130GB

If you go ahead anyway it says there is already an operating system on there, so I don't know whats going on.

I've tried this once before but I didn't have the single installation disc, fortunately that time I was able to restart, hold the option key and pick the mac partition and restore the windows partition back to original form.

But this time, if I restart, all I get is the windows partition and the windows cd

Any help here guys, I've had a look around, someone else had the exact same problem but no fix

CT

[mickdevlin]

Why bother using Boot Camp? It is only useful if you have a graphics-intensive application and need to have maximum graphics performance. You're much better off using something like VirtualBox.

[CTeditor]

Because, Bootcamp is already on the mac, I'd have to download other stuff and I have terrible internet. Plus I use the mac for Final Cut, and windows would be gaming. Both are graphics intense

[Dylstra]

What does Disk Utility show for your hard drive? By that I mean, does it show the relevant partitions?

[CTeditor]

I can't even get back into OS to check anything.
Upon restarting the only options are, a hard disk labeled windows, and cd of windows also

[Dylstra]

Not very helpful, but did you do make a back-up before you tried using Bootcamp?

Also, if you have the install disks that came with the machine or OS X disks you should be able to boot from them. That should allow you to investigate further.

[CTeditor]

thanks for the replies

OK so I've booted from the install disc. At first I just tried to reinstall but there was no option for destination, that was before I saw your replies.

Now I've checked disk utility and in Disk First Aid, I can't do anything, e.g Verify disk and repair disk

Under the info tab and it says: Partition Map Scheme: unformatted. Does that mean anything useful?

So what do I do, erase and start again? there are options for Partition, RAID and Restore, but I'm not sure whats going on there. It seems to say there is only 1 partition, which is the original at full size although its not called mac OS X anymore it's called WDC (plus a bunch of letters and numbers)

Dylstra : Before partitioning I didn't do a time machine backup, I only backed up certain files on a passport drive I could not afford to lose

[Dylstra]

Ok. I was just asking because it was starting to sound like you may have lost your OS X partition. Good to know you backed up the stuff you wanted!

[CTeditor]

So how did you overcome it? just erase everything, is there a way to reinstall without erasing? I'm trying to avoid installing Final Cut again it took about 5 hours the first time.

Have you tried again since with any success?

[CTeditor]

Hmm OK so I'm not going to take the last option, doesn't sound like much fun at all

I'll just take the second step, and erase and start over

You have been a great help!

[CTeditor]

yes installing Final cut pro in stages is a good idea, as I'm under a bit of a time limit

[Pelle-Plutt]

But it's not what I'd do. I think you'll end up going to a lot of trouble just to find yourself at the next step, which is to erase the whole disc, format it if necessary, install Mac OS X, and re-install a Boot Camp partition.

@CTeditor:
If you choose to erase and re-install OSX, I would suggest that you partion your drive into two partions (one for OSX and the other for BootCamp) before you install OSX.
Next, when you start up BootCamp Assistant you will get the option to install Win XP and bypass the need to re-partion your drive.

I installed Win XP this way not long ago because BootCamp Assistant couldn't partion my drive (something about not being able to move some files). It worked great.

[Dylstra]

Yeah, I had the same problem even though I deleted a 5.5GB file and was only trying to partition off 5GB.

[CTeditor]

Hey Pelle-Plutt I tried your way, I partitioned 30GB for the windows drive and 550 for the mac. But when I open Bootcamp it says

the startup disk must be a single drive. And Bootcamp can only install Windows on a drive partitioned BY Bootcamp

So if I restart and hold option and the windows partition will I be able to install it that way?

[Ben_]

I would put your windows installer disk in and try to boot from that by holding down the option key.

I didn't use Boot Camp when I installed Windows 7 because I was using Tiger and the Boot Camp beta had stopped working. I had a partition already set up so I just booted from the Windows Installer DVD and formatted my Windows partition as NTFS as part of the Windows install.

Just be careful when the Windows installer asks you which partition to use as it won't mention Boot Camp for either of the partitions. You should be able to figure out which one to go with though, just go with the one that looks like it's the right size (the sizes are listed in bytes I think). Again, be sure to backup your mac partition before you do this just in case.

[Ben_]

Also, it may restart during the installation and try to boot from the Windows partition. You may have to hold down option and choose the Windows partition during the reboot because it may try to default back to OS X.

I found a tutorial here that may help.