Disk Utility cannot modify NTFS formatted drive

Question

Level 1

0 points

Disk Utility cannot modify NTFS formatted drive

Tried to install Windows XP via bootcamp process in Leopard 10.5.2. Created 32 gb partition for install. Rebooted into Window XP setup process. Formatted the drive with NTFS (I thought this was just the 32 gb partition; however, it formatted the entire drive). Lost everything. Rebooted off the Leopard install disk. Ran disk utilities to format drive and reinstall Leopard. Disk utilities will not allow me to do anything to the internal hard drive. All options are disabled, no partitions, nothing. The SMART status is verified. The write status is ready only. The Partition map scheme is unformatted. I am really surprised that something that seemed so straight forward with bootcamp could cause such dire consequences. Thanks in advance for any help.

iMac Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.2), Bootcamp, Windows XP, NTFS, Disk Utility

Posted on Mar 4, 2008 8:47 PM

Reply

Answer 1

xnav

Level 5

7,113 points

Mar 5, 2008 7:45 AM in response to shawnster1

Make sure the HD itself is highlighted in the left column of Disk Utility. Select the 'Partition' tab. Click the pulldown under 'Volume Scheme' and select '1 Partition'. This should enable the other optiions.

Reply

Answer 2

shawnster1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2008 9:01 AM in response to xnav

Tried this no success. Disk utility does not allow any action to any item listed in the left hand column everything is disabled. I only have the internal hard drive and the Leopard boot disk listed on the left. I know it is hard to fathom that this is the case, but I cannot do anything to the drive at all regardless of which internal disk icon I select. Thanks,

Reply

Answer 3

xnav

Level 5

7,113 points

Mar 5, 2008 10:18 AM in response to shawnster1

Try the LiveCD version of this:
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
or
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

Reply

Answer 4

xnav

Level 5

7,113 points

Mar 5, 2008 11:00 AM in response to shawnster1

BTW, I think the reason DiskUtility won't work for you is that it thinks that your HD is the active boot device even though you booted from DVD. One of the utilities listed above should be able to fix the flag.

Reply

Answer 5

shawnster1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2008 10:45 PM in response to xnav

Testdisk for Mac OS worked like a champ. Put my disabled iMac into target mode and was able to run testdisk from another iMac. Not exactly sure what it did, I just analyzed the disk then quit. Was able to delete the NTFS partition and erase the disk back to mac format. Thanks a million xnav!

Reply