Not able to partition my 1.0 TB internal HDD back to normal.

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Level 1

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Not able to partition my 1.0 TB internal HDD back to normal.

Recently I had 550 GB of my HDD partitioned for windows through bootcamp. It all worked out well until I thought it was time for an upgrade. I went to my Disk Utility application and deleted the windows partition, and instead of the mac OS taking up the space, it was just an empty APFS container that I couldn't delete. I opened bootcamp and made another partition on top of my mac partition and windows did not install. I deleted the partition again and it was just an empty container. I reached the point where I don't mind formatting my computer as long as I get my 1 TB mac OS back.

Posted on May 26, 2019 9:03 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 26, 2019 9:16 AM in response to Meeharbi

A BCA-created partition should not be deleted by Disk Utility and vice-a-versa, unless there are very specific issues being addressed. The recommended method is documented in Remove Windows from your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support.

Can you post the output of

diskutil list

diskutil apfs list

from macOS Terminal?

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 26, 2019 12:10 PM in response to Meeharbi

You still have the two same containers, so nothing changed. El Capitan will not recognize APFS.

Does Local Recovery work? If it does not, then Leave your internal disk as is.

Use How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support and install macOS Mojave on an external disk (32GB or larger, USB3 is preferred over USB2 for speed). If you are offered El Capitan, install it on the external disk and upgrade it to Mojave. Till you get to Mojave, do not manipulate the internal disk.

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Answer 3

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 9:15 AM in response to Meeharbi

Here is how my disk's partition menu looks.

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Answer 4

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 9:38 AM in response to Loner T

This is the diskutil list.

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Answer 5

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 9:53 AM in response to Loner T

I'm also getting this problem while reinstalling mac OS

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Answer 6

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 11:09 AM in response to Loner T

.

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Answer 7

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 11:59 AM in response to Loner T

.

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Answer 8

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 9:34 AM in response to Loner T

I already formatted the PC, and I don't think there is a way that i can access the terminal, but I will try.

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Answer 9

Loner T

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May 26, 2019 9:57 AM in response to Meeharbi

You have two APFS containers. Can you exit from Recovery and boot normally in macOS? If yes, this can be corrected when booted normally.

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Answer 10

Meeharbi Author

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May 26, 2019 10:41 AM in response to Loner T

I already erased my mac OS partition, and whenever I try installing mac OS again there is no disk to download it on.

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Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 26, 2019 10:53 AM in response to Meeharbi

Based on what you posted from terminal, there were two containers. If you erased the disk, quit the El Capitan installer, and post the same command’s output. We can then decide the next steps.

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Answer 12

Meeharbi Author

Level 1

4 points

May 26, 2019 10:58 AM in response to Loner T

So you want me to show the diskutil again? I'll also post a picture of how my disk looks in disk utility, but it might take a bit for my computer to boot up.

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