Disk Error Problem on Imac

Question

Please can anyone help.
I decided to partition my disk so that I could use both windows XP and mac as Apple says you can, however I have incurred a problem part way through the process.
I created a partition for windows and then inserted my Windows XP disk with SP2(Student Version). I selected the right partition for Windows XP ("C:Partition3<Bootcamp>etc) and it completed two processing screens but now my computer is showing the following message...
Press any key to boot from CD.....
Disk Error
Press any key to restart
Sounds simple enough but I have pressed a key...several keys...all keys and nothing happens (I have a wireless keyboard and mouse - is this the problem?). I cannot eject the disk and when I switch the whole computer off and then back on I just get to the same screen and nothing happens. I have tried pressing the mouse key to eject the disk and pressing the C key as someone suggested in a previous reply but nothing changes.
This is a new switch over to mac for me - the computer is only 2 weeks old and so far I have been really happy with my mac. This is my first problem (which says something I suppose). I rang the mac suport number however there is no support available today! (not very supportative!) Is there anyone on this board who may be able to shed some light on this problem. I am happy not to partition my disk any more if it is just going to cause me problems and just stick with mac.

Answer 1

I just spent the weekend dealing with this.
First, the previous poster is correct as to why this is happening. The reason you are having the problem is because Boot Camp Assistant formatted the XP partition as FAT32. It needs to be NTFS. Windows Setup is supposed to ask you how to format the new partition (see page 13 of the Boot Camp manual). If your experience is like mine, Windows Setup never asks that question. It simply goes from you selecting the C: drive (Boot Camp manual page 11) to the installation process (a blue screen yellow bar marking progress as things are copied to the partition).
Here is a link to the manual that I'm referring to if you don't have it already: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/BootCampInstall-Setup.pdf
I do not know why the format step is being skipped in some installs but not in all. Call it an "undocumented feature" (e.g., bug).
Here is how to fix it:
If you are still at the black screen, simply use the power switch to turn off your computer (on the back, round button, bottom left when facing screen, bottom right when facing the back). Hold that switch in for about 5 seconds and the iMac will shut down. Release the switch, wait 10 seconds or so then press it again to start back up.
You should still have the XP CD in the drive. This is what you want. You will get a blue screen with white text in the upper left hand corner that says "Windows Setup." On the bottom of the screen there will be some words telling you this and that is loading. Keep an eye on this. It will slowly list a bunch of things that it is loading. Toward the end, it will say something like "Starting Windows Setup." At this point, press and hold the F10 button. Keep holding it until you get a black screen with white text.
You are now in the Recovery Manager. You will be asked what volume you want. The only choice you should have is 1. This is your new Windows partition, it is not your Mac OS partition. YYou may safely type "1" (without quotes) and press return. Then, the prompt will look like this:
C:\Windows\
At the prompt, you type "cd.." (without quotes) and press return, the prompt will now look like this:
C:\
Now, we are going to reformat your windows partition as NTFS. To do so, at the prompt type the following without quotation marks "format c: /fs:ntfs" When typed into the prompt, it will look like this (pay close attention to spacing)
C:\format c: /fs:ntfs
It will give you a warning and ask if you are sure. Type "y" and press return. It will take some time to format and you will see a percentage counter counting up from 1% to 100%. When it is done, you will be back at the C:\ prompt where you will just type "exit" and press return.
Now, Windows Setup should proceed normally.
I think this is correct from memory. Credit to this Austrian guy over at this link about half way down (named diagonalinho http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6061718) that summarizes the steps as well. Looks like English is not his first language so I didn't understand initially but it worked for me.