Installing windows 8.1 on mid 2010 macbook pro: No luck

So I have been trying to install windows 8.1 on my mid 2010 Macbook pro, running El Capitan 10.11.2. I have followed all the guides and instructions I can find, but there is a problem I keep running into concerning the startup disc.

Now, I have created the ISO image from a Windows 8.1 disk purchased from BestBuy. I have also downloaded the Support software onto a USB Stick via BootCamp and I have created a 75GB partition for running windows.

But when I open BootCamp to continue, it says

"The Startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.
The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume
or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows"

Which I don't understand because I have already made a partition, this was the message that prompted me to make a partition in the first place.

I can continue past this message, but when the Select Tasks menu appears, BootCamp will only allow the "Download Latest Windows Software" box to be ticked.

So I am new to these kinds of modifications, so I am really hoping I am making a newb mistake somewhere. Inexplicable tech problems follow me like a plague though, so if anyone can help me to shed some light on this, I would be really grateful.

Thank You!

Did you create the partition manually or did you use the BootCamp Assistant? If you did it manually use the BootCamp Assistant to delete the Windows partition and re-create it using the BootCamp, Assistant.

When you are re=creating the partition you may get a message that you do not have enough space and you are sure that you have space then the drive has become fragmented we can address that issue if necessary.

As your MBP came with an optical drive I think you will have better luck using the DVD version. And when you say you have laready made the partition, it is strictly necessary to do this running BootCamp and not any other way. And you need the drive to be in one single partition prior to starting up BootCamp. It is all in the guidelines. Print them, and read them.

Now, I have created the ISO image from a Windows 8.1 disk purchased from BestBuy. I have also downloaded the Support software onto a USB Stick via BootCamp and I have created a 75GB partition for running windows.

Click to expand...

As Harry pointed out, you can not install Windows 8.1 via an ISO on that machine as it has an optical drive. There is a hack work around that you could use but we'll let you google to find it. Also pointed out by Slydude, is that only the Boot Camp assistant can be used to create a Windows partition.

Slydude said:

Did you create the partition manually or did you use the BootCamp Assistant? If you did it manually use the BootCamp Assistant to delete the Windows partition and re-create it using the BootCamp, Assistant.

Click to expand...

Yes this was the solution. Easy novice mistake on my part, I now have windows running.

Oddly enough, when I started I had a single partition, and even still it gave me that message. Which then prompted me to partition it myself.

No problems now though, so far at least. Thank you for the quick responses

Glad that worked out for you. Now if I can dig up my code maybe I can finally activate my Windows 10 install. Royal pain if you ask me.