How to restore to single partition

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Level 1

9 points

How to restore to single partition

I have done 2 partitions with disk utility a while ago. One is the start-up disk, the other is literally empty. Now I want to install Windows via bootcamp. During bootcamp installation, bootcamp said I cant use bootcamp until I restore to a single-partition Mac OS X volume.
I went to Disk Utilities, erase partition 2 (the empty one). All files are gone but the disk is still there. I read some discussions and learn that I should do "resstore". So I hit the restore button, I put the Mac start-up disk as source and the empty disk as destination, check "erase destination" option as well.
When it run to slightly half of the process, it says "An error (2) occured while copying (no such file or directory).
Tried this 3 times, still got the same message.

Could someone let me know how to "get rid of" a partition? What I want to achieve is a single partition with Mac OS system on it so that I can run bootcamp

Many thx

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jun 16, 2007 10:26 PM

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Answer 1

howwow

Level 4

3,541 points

Jun 16, 2007 11:35 PM in response to GroovyMe

Hi.

The only way I know of restoring the hard disk to 1 partition is to erase and reformat the drive, meaning that you will loose all data and files on your current hard disk, no matter where they are in either of the partitions, or both.

I am not sure if there is a way to turn the partition into one whole again without affecting the data.

The "restore" function on Disk is basically to restore a "souce", or a copy/clone of a disk, into another, the "destination" drive. This is done so in the event of for e.g., restoring a backup drive to an internal drive, say you have just replaced a new internal disk for your Mac.

In this case, I think you are (just) trying to restore into the empty partition, which the Restore function "sees" as another hard disk volume, but your partitions are still there.

If you have an external hard drive (Firewire) or you have another internal disk that is not in use (did not know which Mac you have), of the same or larger volume. Use SuperDuper to clone the entire existing internal disk to the external one, then erase reformat and turn your current internal disk into a single partition, then restore or "clone back" your backup to the internal disk, then go ahead and install your Bootcamp and Windows.

This is the only way I know of, perhaps someone else may know of another better way.

Cheers

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Answer 2

Jun 17, 2007 7:02 AM in response to GroovyMe

DiskStudio - Create or remove a partition without reformatting your hard drive.
http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=33

With DiskStudio you can:

* Add new partitions to your hard drive.
* Delete partitions previously created by Apple's Disk Utility or DiskStudio.
* Erase and reformat existing partitions in a number of standard formats.
* Completely erase and repartition an entire hard disk.

Use DiskStudio to:

* Install a new copy of Mac OS X, but keep your original copy intact.
* Install a completely different operating system, such as Mac OS 9, on a new partition.
* Create a partition to hold special projects, such as audio or video files.
* Create a partition to hold scratch space for programs such as Adobe Photoshop.

When a hard drive is first set up for use, it is partitioned into one or more logical volumes. These appear on your desktop as though they were separate drives. Using the standard disk tools that come with the Macintosh, there is no way to change this partitioning scheme without completely erasing the entire drive and starting over. With DiskStudio, this is no longer necessary.

DiskStudio provides the tools you need to control how information is stored on your hard drive. An easy to use, non-destructive disk partitioner has been requested by more of our customers than any other type of utility. DiskStudio fills this important need for Mac OS X. With DiskStudio you will be able to quickly and easily change the way information is stored on your hard drives as your needs change over time.

System Requirements:

* PowerPC G3 or better. (Beige G3 machines not supported)
* Mac OS X 10.3 or greater.
* CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.
* 256 Megabytes RAM or higher.

Cost is $50.

 Cheers, Tom

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