Since updating to macOS Catalina l now have 2 surplus folders Preboot and Preboot 1 both dating back to 2017, although they don't seem to causing any problems they are annoying - can they be safely deleted?
I ended up deleting them from the recovery console and haven’t had a single issue since then. I believe this is simply a side effect of the upgrade which slipped through QC and very much doubt Apple will issue a fix...
Reinstalling from the recovery partition did it for me. (No more Preboot folder. Multiple generic icons and iMovie problem that comes up when increase contrast and reduce transparency are checked have not gone away.)
You can't delete it. It's necessary for booting your Mac.
You can try to reinstall macOS Catalina from the AppStore or wat for 10.15.1
I have the same issue. I got four Preboot folders, all with the same content. I can't remove these folders. When I try to remove them I get this error message: “Preboot” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by macOS."
They are harmless, however, they should be hidden by default. Same issue here.
To those who still like to fix this without a complete re-install, try this, please:
1. Disable SIP (you'll have to boot into the Recovery system for that), e.g. see https://support.studionetworksolutions.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003839246-How-to-disable-Systems-Integrity-Protection-SIP-in-macOS
2. Once back in normal Catalina, go into Terminal and enter: "sudo mount -uw /"
3. Now try to hide the Preboot folder with these Terminal commands:
sudo chflags hidden /Volumes/Preboot
sudo chflags hidden /Preboot
Does that hide the Preboot folder?
Thomas Tempelmann wrote:
if Chris Brown10 could change the "Solved" answer to mine
Changing "Solved" has never been possible in the past, at least for the OP. I'm sure our host could change it, if you were able to attract their attention.
I want to do a clean install but I received dire warnings concerning the Preboot file attached to the root. An Apple service person is checking with one of their engineers. Hoping that a clean install will fix glitchy Pages app which won't retain material entered.
Can you post a screen shot of the “dire warning” please? Also an explanation of where and what “Preboot file” you reference and how it is attached to root? This discussion has been about some ghost Preboot folders, not a file.
I haven’t heard of any such warning, nor do I understand what situation it’s telling you to avoid.
If the Apple service person guides me back to that screen again, I will take a screenshot incase this is an issue for others. I am not able to answer your questions concerning where or what. I quoted "Preboot file attached to the root".
I have the same issue, however mine are located in /System. I would love to know how to get ride of them as they only appeared after upgrading from High Sierra to Catalina...
Any idea how to delete or at least hide these folders?
So you think this will be addressed in an update?
I have the same issue and perhaps Apple will fix it in the next update.
Sorry, I don't have any Preboot folders at the moment (observing from Mojave). I'll keep watch and let you know how things go if they start showing up again.
Preboot folders
