Does this hard drive set up seem correct?

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Level 1

45 points

Does this hard drive set up seem correct?

My Bootcamp isn't working, so I decided to do a clean reinstall. After deleting the old BootCamp, my hard drive looks like this (this is with no external drives plugged in):

Does this seem correct? I'm guessing Container disk2 is the old bootdrive partition.

But what about the other things. What is the snapshot and "Macintosh HD - Data" drive?

I've searched online and I've read that the "Macintosh HD - Data" is where user files are kept.

But what is the snapshot drive?

Thanks for any help

I am running Macos 12.4

Posted on Jun 1, 2022 5:32 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

188,712 points

Jun 2, 2022 7:00 AM in response to big_smile

big_smile wrote:

I am safe to use that extra container to install BootCamp on it. Or am I better off just wiping everything and starting a new? Thanks!

yes, use the Bootcamp installer and see if it takes advantage of existing Container. If it creates a new Container for it's use, you will know what to do.

https://support.apple.com/guide/bootcamp-assistant/install-windows-newer-mac-boot-camp-bcmp173b3bf2/6.1/mac/12.0

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Answer 2

Jun 1, 2022 5:08 PM in response to big_smile

big_smile wrote:

Thanks, here is the terminal output:

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *1.0 TB disk0

1: EFI ⁨EFI⁩ 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk1⁩ 889.2 GB disk0s2

(free space) 650.0 MB -

3: Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk2⁩ 110.5 GB disk0s3

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +889.2 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD - Data⁩ 71.6 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume ⁨Preboot⁩ 515.7 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume ⁨Recovery⁩ 4.2 GB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume ⁨VM⁩ 1.1 GB disk1s4

5: APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD⁩ 15.2 GB disk1s8

6: APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.2 GB disk1s8s1

/dev/disk2 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +110.5 GB disk2

Physical Store disk0s3

It looks normal however—

you do have an extra Container, as you mentioned above in your post...

takes up 110.5 GB storage space <identifier: Container disk2>. The Bootcamp.app uninstaller neglected to remove it.

ref: Boot Camp Assistant User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Volumes within the same Container share the space with no penalty. Containers are the new "partition" and they do not share.

ref: Add, delete, or erase APFS volumes in Disk Utility on Mac

Verify you have a robust backup.

The guaranteed way to regain the space is to erase/reformat/initialize the parent drive as new,, then reinstall the macOS and restore your data from back up.

Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support - Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Terminal commands on the apfs have been a bit questionable and not well document in the new apfs...not so reliable. You can read more in the man page from Terminal.app copy and paste:

man diskutil | more

I have not tested this, but it would sure be nice if it works as it should. You can try and see yourself if you are inclined..and report back your success or failure.

ref: https://www.itninja.com/question/how-to-remove-container-without-data-loss-on-mac

ref: Terminal User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

big_smile Author

Level 1

45 points

Jul 1, 2022 4:38 AM in response to leroydouglas

Hi. I finally got around to reinstalling Bootcamp. During the installation process, it selected the existing blank container and installed bootcamp on that. But now that it's finished, I still see a blank container:

It is called "Container Disk 1" and takes up 110GB. I've Google around and lots of forums say that's normal. However, having 110GB taken up like that seems like a waste of space. Is it normal?

Since installing Bootcamp, I've noticed two other oddities.

When I start up Mac and hold down the alt key to select a drive, it shows the following:

But I only have 1 Windows drive, so I am not sure why it is showing two. Also, the spinning icon spins continually.

In fact, when I select the Mac drive, the icon continues to spin:

2. When I am in bootcamp and select "Restart in MacOs" it says "Could not locate OSX Boot Volume"

I am not sure if that means anything significant.

Here is how my drive looks in Disk Utility:

Although there is an option to erase the container disk, there is no option to remove it (selecting erase only wipes the container disk but doesn't remove it). Although I am not sure if it should be removed.

Here is how my drives look via terminal using the command: diskutil list internal

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *1.0 TB     disk0
   1:                        EFI ⁨EFI⁩                     209.7 MB   disk0s1
   2:                 Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk2⁩         819.0 GB   disk0s2
   3:       Microsoft Basic Data ⁨OSXRESERVED⁩             10.0 GB    disk0s3
   4:       Microsoft Basic Data ⁨BOOTCAMP⁩                60.9 GB    disk0s4
   5:                 Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk1⁩         110.5 GB   disk0s5

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      APFS Container Scheme -                      +110.5 GB   disk1
                                 Physical Store disk0s5

/dev/disk2 (synthesized):
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      APFS Container Scheme -                      +819.0 GB   disk2
                                 Physical Store disk0s2
   1:                APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD - Data⁩     51.4 GB    disk2s1
   2:                APFS Volume ⁨Preboot⁩                 512.3 MB   disk2s2
   3:                APFS Volume ⁨Recovery⁩                4.2 GB     disk2s3
   4:                APFS Volume ⁨VM⁩                      1.1 GB     disk2s4
   5:                APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD⁩            15.2 GB    disk2s8
   6:              APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.2 GB    disk2s8s1

Is this all normal? If not, how do I go about fixing it?

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Answer 4

ku4hx

Level 7

23,592 points

Jun 1, 2022 6:19 AM in response to big_smile

Macintosh HD is your system drive; Macintosh HD - Data is all your data. Both are necessary for proportion of your Mac.

Exactly what problems are you having now that you've reinstalled the OS?

This is what I have:

All is perfectly normal in all of our systems exactly like what you have.

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Answer 5

big_smile Author

Level 1

45 points

Jun 1, 2022 7:22 AM in response to ku4hx

Thanks! I wasn't have any problems with the Mac side (only with Bootcamp) and I wasn't sure if the structure I posted was normal.

In mine the container disk is separate, but in yours it is all part of the main drive. Is that normal? Thanks!

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Answer 6

Jun 1, 2022 7:27 AM in response to big_smile

big_smile wrote:

Thanks! I wasn't have any problems with the Mac side (only with Bootcamp) and I wasn't sure if the structure I posted was normal (especially as in mine the container disk is outside of the main tree). But it seems to be okay, so thanks! :)

I am running Macos 12.4

Since Big Sur uses a “snapshot” of the current system for its (SSV) Signed System Volume, as you see in the list.

This is the new normal... This would be the 'Macintosh HD' yes

< APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.2 GB >

Let's see it from Terminal.app for a better look, copy and paste:

diskutil list internal

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Answer 7

big_smile Author

Level 1

45 points

Jun 1, 2022 8:02 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks, here is the terminal output:

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):
  #:            TYPE NAME          SIZE    IDENTIFIER
  0:   GUID_partition_scheme            *1.0 TB   disk0
  1:            EFI ⁨EFI⁩           209.7 MB  disk0s1
  2:         Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk1⁩     889.2 GB  disk0s2
          (free space)             650.0 MB  -
  3:         Apple_APFS ⁨Container disk2⁩     110.5 GB  disk0s3

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):
  #:            TYPE NAME          SIZE    IDENTIFIER
  0:   APFS Container Scheme -           +889.2 GB  disk1
                 Physical Store disk0s2
  1:        APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD - Data⁩   71.6 GB  disk1s1
  2:        APFS Volume ⁨Preboot⁩         515.7 MB  disk1s2
  3:        APFS Volume ⁨Recovery⁩        4.2 GB   disk1s3
  4:        APFS Volume ⁨VM⁩           1.1 GB   disk1s4
  5:        APFS Volume ⁨Macintosh HD⁩      15.2 GB  disk1s8
  6:       APFS Snapshot ⁨com.apple.os.update-...⁩ 15.2 GB  disk1s8s1

/dev/disk2 (synthesized):
  #:            TYPE NAME          SIZE    IDENTIFIER
  0:   APFS Container Scheme -           +110.5 GB  disk2
                 Physical Store disk0s3

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