Josh99Ralla
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can't format former Boot Camp partition

So I stupidly erased my Boot Camp partition using Disk Utility rather than in the Boot Camp Assistant. And now I the partition is stuck as free space and i can't change it. When i select the free space in Disk Util, I can change it to Mac OS Extended and ExFAT as usual, but when I press apply, the progress bar appears for a brief second and disappears. Then it acts as if I never pressed apply; when I close the window, it says that I have unsaved changes. The free space does not appear as a drive in the left sidebar.

 

I have tried reinstalling OS X, I've tried returning to a time machine backup, I've verified and repaired the disk, but nothing has worked.

I'm left with 67GB of space unusable on my macbook now.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Oct 11, 2014 9:36 AM

by Loner T,Solvedanswer
Loner T Loner T
Level 7 (24,738 points)
Safari
A:

If you are restoring a full TM backup, it will erase and restore the entire disk. Please try and post if you get any errors when you attempt a restore. If you want to test whether it works or not...

 

You can erase the  disk using...

diskutil eraseDisk

Usage:  diskutil eraseDisk format name [APM[Format]|MBR[Format]|GPT[Format]]

        MountPoint|DiskIdentifier|DeviceNode

Completely erase an existing whole disk.  All volumes on this disk will be

destroyed.  Ownership of the affected disk is required.

Format is the specific file system name you want to erase it as (HFS+, etc.).

Name is the (new) volume name (subject to file system naming restrictions),

or can be specified as %noformat% to skip initialization (newfs).

You cannot erase the boot disk.

Example: diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ UntitledUFS disk3

 

 

You can format the disk using...

 

diskutil reformat

Usage:  diskutil reformat MountPoint|DiskIdentifier|DeviceNode

Completely erase an existing volume with the same name and format as the

original.  Ownership of the affected disk is required.

You cannot erase the boot volume, nor can you reformat any device which

does not have a valid file system (instead use diskutil eraseVolume).

Posted on Oct 12, 2014 9:57 AM

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Q: Can't format former Boot Camp partition

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  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 2:06 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 2:06 PM in response to Loner T

    I am still getting the same Error: "We couldn't create a new partition or locate and existing one"

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 2:09 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 2:09 PM in response to ralphejims

    Can you post the output of

     

    sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1

    sudo fdisk /dev/disk1

     

    We can then execute the steps necessary for the Hybrid MBR creation.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 2:10 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 2:10 PM in response to ralphejims

    I changed the usb, I used 8GB at this time. But the same error is coming.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Loner T

    please I don't know where I am getting the keys wrong.
    control what I keyed in please

     

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt -w -r show /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt-w-r show/dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt -w -r show /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt -w -r show /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt-w-r show /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo gpt -w -r show/dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2# sudo fdisk /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2#

    -bash-3.2# sudo fdisk /dev/disk1

    -bash: sudo: command not found

    -bash-3.2#

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 2:39 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 2:39 PM in response to Loner T

    Ok, I got the terminal report. I removed (sudo)...

     

    -bash-3.2# gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: mediasize=1000204886016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1953525168

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: PMBR at sector 0

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: Pri GPT at sector 1

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: Sec GPT at sector 1953525167

      start size index contents

      0 1 PMBR

      1 1 Pri GPT header

      2 32 Pri GPT table

      34 6 

      40 409600 1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

      409640 1404036160 2 GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

      1404445800 1269536 3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

      1405715336 1144 

      1405716480 547807232 4 GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

      1953523712 1423 

      1953525135 32 Sec GPT table

      1953525167 1 Sec GPT header

    -bash-3.2#

    -bash-3.2# fdisk /dev/disk1

    Disk: /dev/disk1 geometry: 121601/255/63 [1953525168 sectors]

    Signature: 0xAA55

      Starting Ending

    #: id cyl hd sec - cyl hd sec [ start - size]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1: EE 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [ 1 - 1953525167] <Unknown ID>

    2: 00 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 [ 0 - 0] unused 

    3: 00 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 [ 0 - 0] unused 

    4: 00 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 [ 0 - 0] unused 

    -bash-3.2#

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 3:03 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 3:03 PM in response to ralphejims

    Can you boot normally and run GPT Fdisk and the following steps to create the MBR?

     

    Rebuild MBR to match the new GPT information thus resetting the Hybrid MBR. Use defaults for other questions (like partition codes). The only values that need modifications are the Boot flags and step 10. Accept all other defaults that Gdisk offers. Please see the sample Q&A as an example. These steps can be repeated if you make a mistake before you get to Step 12, otherwise start from Step 1 for these steps. Step 6 has numbers which are typed with a space between the numbers.

    1. Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0
    2. P  (Print list of parts)
    3. R  (Recover)
    4. O (print current Hybrid MBR)
    5. H (chooses Hybrid)
    6. Partitions numbers to be hybridized: 2 3 4
    7. Y  (Good for GRUB question)
    8. N  (part 2 boot flag)
    9. N  (part 3 boot flag)
    10. N  (part 4 boot flag)
    11. O  (print current Hybrid MBR)
    12. W (Write the new MBR)
    13. Y (Yes! write the new MBR)
    14. Reboot

     

    Here is sample Q&A for this section. Please notice the Press Enter/Return.

     

    Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): Y

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AF): Press Enter/Return

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AB): Press Enter/Return

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #4 (MBR partition #4)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default 07): Press Enter/Return

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): Y

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 3:22 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 3:22 PM in response to Loner T

    I have been studying the programme since u sent it. I understand that every other step has to be default. But  Step 10 instead of N has to be Y. The partition number has to be the same 2 3 4. Is there any other modification? Did I get you right?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 3:28 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 3:28 PM in response to ralphejims

    Because you do not yet have a bootable NTFS, we leave it as 'N' instead of 'Y, and it will still be a FAT partition, till the Windows Installer reformats it to NTFS.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 3:36 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 3:36 PM in response to Loner T

    At this stage then I am afraid, I may make a serious mistake or error. I think I can just buy a windows computer and be using the imac only as an OX 10 device. It is getting more complicated.

  • by Jake Wherry,

    Jake Wherry Jake Wherry Jul 31, 2015 3:48 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 31, 2015 3:48 PM in response to Loner T

    Hi Loner

    I posted this on another thread but it doesn't seem to be showing up yet, so excuse me for posting here too :

     

    I have been trying to install Windows 8.1 all day and have just found this thread. Have a 27"iMac 5k with 3Tb fusion drive and have been getting the GPT errors.

    I followed your terminal instructions, but I got unexpected messages when i entered "h" then 2 3 4

    Here is the output  from Terminal :

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): h

     

    WARNING! Hybrid MBRs are flaky and dangerous! If you decide not to use one,

    just hit the Enter key at the below prompt and your MBR partition table will

    be untouched.

     

    Type from one to three GPT partition numbers, separated by spaces, to be

    added to the hybrid MBR, in sequence: 2 3 4

    Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): y

     

    GPT partition #2 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

     

    GPT partition #3 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

     

    GPT partition #4 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

     

    No partitions converted; original protective/hybrid MBR is unmodified!

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): n

    b use backup GPT header (rebuilding main)

    c load backup partition table from disk (rebuilding main)

    d use main GPT header (rebuilding backup)

    e load main partition table from disk (rebuilding backup)

    f load MBR and build fresh GPT from it

    g convert GPT into MBR and exit

    h make hybrid MBR

    i show detailed information on a partition

    l load partition data from a backup file

    m return to main menu

    o print protective MBR data

    p print the partition table

    q quit without saving changes

    t transform BSD disklabel partition

    v verify disk

    w write table to disk and exit

    x extra functionality (experts only)

    ? print this menu

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): n

    b use backup GPT header (rebuilding main)

    c load backup partition table from disk (rebuilding main)

    d use main GPT header (rebuilding backup)

    e load main partition table from disk (rebuilding backup)

    f load MBR and build fresh GPT from it

    g convert GPT into MBR and exit

    h make hybrid MBR

    i show detailed information on a partition

    l load partition data from a backup file

    m return to main menu

    o print protective MBR data

    p print the partition table

    q quit without saving changes

    t transform BSD disklabel partition

    v verify disk

    w write table to disk and exit

    x extra functionality (experts only)

    ? print this menu

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): y

    b use backup GPT header (rebuilding main)

    c load backup partition table from disk (rebuilding main)

    d use main GPT header (rebuilding backup)

    e load main partition table from disk (rebuilding backup)

    f load MBR and build fresh GPT from it

    g convert GPT into MBR and exit

    h make hybrid MBR

    i show detailed information on a partition

    l load partition data from a backup file

    m return to main menu

    o print protective MBR data

    p print the partition table

    q quit without saving changes

    t transform BSD disklabel partition

    v verify disk

    w write table to disk and exit

    x extra functionality (experts only)

    ? print this menu

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 5860533168 sectors (2.7 TiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number  Boot  Start Sector   End Sector   Status      Code

       1                     1   4294967294   primary     0xEE

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): w

     

    Final checks complete. About to write GPT data. THIS WILL OVERWRITE EXISTING

    PARTITIONS!!

     

    Do you want to proceed? (Y/N): y

    OK; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to /dev/disk1.

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Warning: The kernel may continue to use old or deleted partitions.

    You should reboot or remove the drive.

    The operation has completed successfully.

     

    From

    diskutil list

    diskutil cs list

    sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1

    sudo fdisk /dev/disk1

     

    I now get :

    diskutil list

    /dev/disk0

       #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER

       0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *121.3 GB   disk0

       1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1

       2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         121.0 GB   disk0s2

       3:                 Apple_Boot Boot OS X               134.2 MB   disk0s3

    /dev/disk1

       #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER

       0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *3.0 TB     disk1

       1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk1s1

       2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         2.3 TB     disk1s2

       3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk1s3

       4:       Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP                700.9 GB   disk1s4

    /dev/disk2

       #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER

       0:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD           *2.4 TB     disk2

                                     Logical Volume on disk0s2, disk1s2

                                     51210933-CA61-4132-99DA-14284FB36473

                                     Unencrypted Fusion Drive

    Wherry-iMac:~ Wherrys$ diskutil cs list

    CoreStorage logical volume groups (1 found)

    |

    +-- Logical Volume Group 04F51976-32DF-4C3F-9296-6ADADC7EEBAA

        =========================================================

        Name:         Macintosh HD

        Status:       Online

        Size:         2419855843328 B (2.4 TB)

        Free Space:   376832 B (376.8 KB)

        |

        +-< Physical Volume D5D20091-CCC3-48F2-85F9-0207EFE7304A

        |   ----------------------------------------------------

        |   Index:    0

        |   Disk:     disk0s2

        |   Status:   Online

        |   Size:     120988852224 B (121.0 GB)

        |

        +-< Physical Volume A6AD4A38-FCA2-4543-9CD8-5525D9C2639F

        |   ----------------------------------------------------

        |   Index:    1

        |   Disk:     disk1s2

        |   Status:   Online

        |   Size:     2298866991104 B (2.3 TB)

        |

        +-> Logical Volume Family 2B272C20-609F-42F6-AB2E-219AEE481B7E

            ----------------------------------------------------------

            Encryption Status:       Unlocked

            Encryption Type:         None

            Conversion Status:       NoConversion

            Conversion Direction:    -none-

            Has Encrypted Extents:   No

            Fully Secure:            No

            Passphrase Required:     No

            |

            +-> Logical Volume 51210933-CA61-4132-99DA-14284FB36473

                ---------------------------------------------------

                Disk:                  disk2

                Status:                Online

                Size (Total):          2414000209920 B (2.4 TB)

                Conversion Progress:   -none-

                Revertible:            No

                LV Name:               Macintosh HD

                Volume Name:           Macintosh HD

                Content Hint:          Apple_HFS

    Wherry-iMac:~ Wherrys$ sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: mediasize=3000592982016; sectorsize=512; blocks=5860533168

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: PMBR at sector 0

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: Pri GPT at sector 1

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: Sec GPT at sector 5860533167

           start        size  index  contents

               0           1         PMBR

               1           1         Pri GPT header

               2          32         Pri GPT table

              34           6        

              40      409600      1  GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

          409640  4489974592      2  GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

      4490384232     1269536      3  GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

      4491653768        1400        

      4491655168  1368877056      4  GPT part - EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7

      5860532224         911        

      5860533135          32         Sec GPT table

      5860533167           1         Sec GPT header

    Wherry-iMac:~ Wherrys$ sudo fdisk /dev/disk1

    Disk: /dev/disk1 geometry: 97451/255/63 [1565565872 sectors]

    Signature: 0xAA55

             Starting       Ending

    #: id  cyl  hd sec -  cyl  hd sec [     start -       size]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1: EE 1023 254  63 - 1023 254  63 [         1 - 4294967294] <Unknown ID>

    2: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused     

    3: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused     

    4: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused     

    Wherry-iMac:~ Wherrys$

     

     

     

    Any help you could give would be much appreciated!

     

    Cheers

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 4:47 PM in response to Jake Wherry
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 4:47 PM in response to Jake Wherry

    Can you start a new discussion? It will avoid confusion between many different posters' issues.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 4:48 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 4:48 PM in response to ralphejims

    These steps do not touch any of your data. They modify an existing MBR table on disk. These are repeatable, if you make a mistake. None of your on disk partitions are being modified.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 5:05 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 5:05 PM in response to Loner T

    Ok, let me try my possible best. Should I start from the terminal within a normal OS X environment?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 5:21 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,738 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 5:21 PM in response to ralphejims

    Yes, please. Boot normally and run the steps.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 5:27 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 5:27 PM in response to Loner T

    Please have a look, I am about to enter the numbers. Am I on the right direction?

     

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0

     

    WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss

    or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your

    typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

     

    To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

     

    Password:

    Sorry, try again.

    Password:

    GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.0

     

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Partition table scan:

      MBR: protective

      BSD: not present

      APM: not present

      GPT: present

     

    Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.

     

    Command (? for help): p

    Disk /dev/rdisk0: 236978176 sectors, 113.0 GiB

    Logical sector size: 512 bytes

    Disk identifier (GUID): A1286177-A577-4A60-95DF-E3CB9AF2CFE7

    Partition table holds up to 128 entries

    First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 236978142

    Partitions will be aligned on 8-sector boundaries

    Total free space is 13 sectors (6.5 KiB)

     

    Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name

       1              40          409639   200.0 MiB   EF00  EFI System Partition

       2          409640       236715991   112.7 GiB   AF05  OSX-MacintoshLVG

       3       236715992       236978135   128.0 MiB   AB00  Booter

     

    Command (? for help): r

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number  Boot  Start Sector   End Sector   Status      Code

       1                     1    236978175   primary     0xEE

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): h

     

    WARNING! Hybrid MBRs are flaky and dangerous! If you decide not to use one,

    just hit the Enter key at the below prompt and your MBR partition table will

    be untouched.

     

    Type from one to three GPT partition numbers, separated by spaces, to be

    added to the hybrid MBR, in sequence:

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