If I create a partiton to install Snow Leopard, can I get that space back later?

Question

Level 1

10 points

If I create a partiton to install Snow Leopard, can I get that space back later?

I just upgraded to Lion, I checked most of my software to make sure it was compatible, but somehow forgot about Pro Tools 9, and I now have decided to install Snow Leopard on a partition in order to run Pro Tools 9, my question is, if I make a partition, say 50 GB, can i ever get that 50 GB back when Pro Tools 9 becomes compatible with OS X Lion? I have a MacBook Pro 13-inch (latest, thunderbolt), with a 500 GB hard drive. Responses apreciated

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 25, 2011 1:41 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 25, 2011 1:46 PM in response to bigluc23

Hi b,

You'll definitely be able to get it back, it just depends how much moving around you might have to do. Worst case is deleting the partition, cloning to a different HD, re-partitioning the HD, and cloning back. There are also apps which allow re-partitioning.

Reply

Answer 2

bigluc23 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 25, 2011 1:51 PM in response to tjk

So disk utility wolnt allow me to reclaim that space for my main Lion partition?

Reply

Answer 3

dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Jul 25, 2011 1:55 PM in response to bigluc23

You'll be cutting some of Parition 1 off to make partition 2. At a later date you can delete partition 2 and restore that space to Parition 1.

Reply

Answer 4

Jul 25, 2011 1:57 PM in response to bigluc23

bigluc23 wrote:

So disk utility wolnt allow me to reclaim that space for my main Lion partition?

It will and it's easy enough for you to test and see. Just set up a very small parition in Disk Utility so see how it works, then use Disk Utility to delete it.

Regards,

Colin R.

Reply

Answer 5

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 25, 2011 2:17 PM in response to bigluc23

bigluc23 wrote:

So disk utility wolnt allow me to reclaim that space for my main Lion partition?

You've already seen the answers to this, and they are correct, DU should be able to do this. Note that DU has in the past sometimes had issues restoring a partition in this manner, which is why I explained that in the worst case scenario . . . . It may be that DU is better at this these days, but I know from personal experience (and posts here) there were issues in the past, so I do not count on it. ymmv

Reply