Peter Shof

Q: Windows partition in boot menu persists even after removing through disk utility

Hi.

I've installed Windows 10 (through bootcamp) on my macbook pro few month ago, used it for a while and decided to delete it completely. I've removed partition by using the disk utility in mac os. Everything worked well, my Macintosh partition got all the storage and so on, but few days ago I needed to wipe all data. I've moved into the recovery and spotted that windows partition still persists in the boot selection menu. Disk Utility, however, can't see any other partitions but macintosh os and recovery. If I boot to windows partition through the boot menu, macbook instantly throws me recovery error familiar to this one: http://www.eightforums.com/attachments/installation-setup/63068d1435091968t-help -windows-8-1-cant-boot-error-0xc0000225-blad-0xc0000225.jpg

Can someone tell me how to remove windows from the boot menu? It still exists even after a full os x reinstall. Removing from the bootcamp menu also doesn't helps. I'm running latest el capitan on MacBook Pro 13" mid2014

Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.5), bootcamp, windows, remove, bug

Posted on Jun 14, 2016 1:04 AM

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Q: Windows partition in boot menu persists even after removing through disk utility

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  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Jun 14, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Peter Shof
    Level 10 (93,314 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 14, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Peter Shof

    NEVER remove the Windows partition through Disk Utility. Boot Camp Assistant is the app to do this process, as it removes the hidden Windows partition too. By removing the Windows partition with Disk Utility you left that partition, so your Mac still thinks that Windows is installed on your Mac.

     

    I suggest you to open Boot Camp Assistant, plug the USB drive with the Windows installer (if you still have it) and create the Windows partition again. Hold down the Alt key after the restart and boot up in OS X. Open Boot Camp Assistant again and follow the steps to remove the Windows partition. Finally, go to System Preferences -> Startup Disk, and set your OS X partition as the startup drive.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jun 14, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Peter Shof
    Level 7 (23,613 points)
    Safari
    Jun 14, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Peter Shof

    Peter Shof wrote:

     

    I've moved into the recovery and spotted that windows partition still persists in the boot selection menu.

    This is because your disk's EFI partition is used by Windows for EFI booting. Please see Re: Can't resize Macintosh HD partition as a reference. You will need to either remove the Microsoft directory from the EFI partition, or use Time Machine, backup OS X, wipe your internal disk, and restore from TM.