How can I safely delete a Linux partition?

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How can I safely delete a Linux partition?

Hi all. I'm in a bit of a difficult situation.

I need to install a program in my Macbook for work. The program is natively supported on both MacOS and Windows (it has a START_PC.exe and a START_OSX.app file), and my boss has provided a Google Drive link to download the ISO. The problem is, when I download it on my 2014 Macbook pro with Mojave, the program won't start. By accident, I discovered that if I downloaded the ISO on Ubuntu and mounted the disk partition using EXT4fuse, it would run in my Mac. I was then able to copy the files into the Applications folder and install the app on MacOS.

Happy to not have to dual-boot anymore, I deleted the Linux partition using Disk Utility. However, after restarting the computer, it would no longer boot into any OS! So I booted into recovery mode, reinstalled MacOS, reinstalled Ubuntu, downloaded the app in Ubuntu again, mounted the Linux partition with EXT4fuse again, transferred the working app to MacOS again, and then made a Time Machine backup. Once again, I deleted the Linux partition, and once again, the computer would no longer boot. So, I booted into recovery mode, and tried to reinstall from my Time Machine. But, after reinstalling from the Time Machine, I would get to the login screen and then... nothing. Enter my password and watching the little loading animation go on and on and on.

So, I deleted the entire disk and reinstalled MacOS from Mavericks. I've now got Mojave working with an older Time Machine, but I've lost two days reinstalling operating systems and I still don't have my application installed and working. So, I have to install Ubuntu one more time, download the app one more time, mount the Linux partition in EXT4fuse one more time, transfer the files one more time, and delete the Linux partition one more time.

How can I do this without breaking my MacOS system?

Posted on Jun 23, 2020 4:53 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

68,672 points

Jun 23, 2020 7:02 PM in response to donnymurph

Why are you dual booting with Linux? Install Linux in a Virtual Machine. Or boot from a Live Linux USB drive. Or install Linux to an external drive. I would never install another OS side by side on the same drive as another OS as it will usually end in disaster at some point as you have discovered.

Have you tried downloading the file using a different browser on macOS? There should be no reason for the convoluted method to install your macOS app. You should be figuring out why macOS won't deal with the file.

Have you tried "burning" the .iso file to a USB drive so that macOS may be able to access the contents? macOS is very stupid when it comes to mounting .iso files. Try using Etcher (Mac/Windows/Linux) to "burn" the iso to a USB drive.

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Answer 2

donnymurph Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 23, 2020 9:06 PM in response to HWTech

The virtual machine worked! I copied the application into MacOS from the Linux VM through a shared folder. I have no idea why the application works if copied into MacOS from Linux, although my best guess would be something to do with file systems, that is if the computers at work are Windows machines formatted in FAT32, and Linux is formatted in Ext4, that may have influenced the readability of the files.

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

68,672 points

Jun 24, 2020 7:40 AM in response to donnymurph

I'm glad one of the suggestions worked out for you. You definitely had an odd problem. I wish I could say this is the first time I've seen macOS behave strangely.

I know a live USB boot won't work, since I need somewhere to save the file, and Linux can't mount Mac partitions as far as I know.

FYI, Knoppix allows you to create a persistent storage area on the remaining section of a Live Knoppix USB drive. You may even be able to do this manually with other Live Linux USB drives by using one of the Linux partitioning utilities and adding a partition to the free space at the end of the USB drive (not always possible, but will usually work). Of course you will need to format that new partition as well.

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Answer 4

donnymurph Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 23, 2020 8:44 PM in response to HWTech

You've given me lots of options to consider, so thanks a lot for that. I know a live USB boot won't work, since I need somewhere to save the file, and Linux can't mount Mac partitions as far as I know. I can definitely explore using a virtual machine and see if that solves my problem. As for burning to a USB, well, it's worth a shot, although it's not mounting the ISO that's the problem; it's after I mount the ISO that I've been having issues. I'm also currently downloading the file from Safari, to see if that makes a difference (my default browser is Firefox).

EDIT: Safari download didn't work.

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Answer 5

HWTech

Level 9

68,672 points

Jun 24, 2020 9:33 AM in response to donnymurph

Unless the .iso file was too large for the FAT32 file system it should not matter unless you were removing the macOS app from the .iso to the FAT32 volume. An .iso file is basically an image file so the contents within the image shouldn't care about the file system hosting the .iso file itself. You could format the external drive/USB stick as exFAT using Disk Utility to store the .iso file if the size is beyond the capacity of the FAT32 file size limitation.

It doesn't surprise me to find macOS needing assistance though. A couple of times I had to resort to Linux to do something as simple as to correctly print out a .pdf file. Could not get macOS to print the file even though Preview and other apps displayed it properly. I was able to research how to print the .pdf from the Linux command and set up the printer on Linux in less time than it took me to attempt to print the file with macOS.

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Answer 6

donnymurph Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 24, 2020 9:11 AM in response to HWTech

It was definitely strange. My best guess is that it was a file system issue. Work uses Windows machines, so their disks would be Fat32 formatted. My external HDD is also Fat32, because I didn't know any better when I first started using it. So I suppose that by downloading it into an EXT4 disk and then transferring it into MacOS through EXT4fuse, I managed to bypass that problem.

I didn't know that about the live disk partitioning. It probably still wouldn't have worked, because my Ubuntu ISO is on an 8GB USB and the work files were about 4.3GB, but it's still good to know in the long run.

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How can I safely delete a Linux partition?

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