Repartitioning bootcamp...

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Level 1

8 points

Repartitioning bootcamp...

I am attempting to restore a bootcamp partition I had with Windows 7 on it. I backed up the partition by making an iso in terminal, which probably wasn't the best thing to do. This iso is about 100GB and on my main partition and an external hard drive I have. Using disk utility I deleted the boot camp partition and resized it to 225GB. After I resized it I used termial to try and restore the iso by using the command "sudo dd if=~/Bootcamp.iso of=/dev/disk0s4" Then after a long long time all of my files are back on the new boot camp partition, but all of the sudden it is only 100GB. Where did the other 125GB go? Also, I can't boot to the drive by holding the option key since the drive isn't listed. What am I doing wrong?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 3, 2012 3:19 PM

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Answer 1

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

May 3, 2012 3:36 PM in response to Grahf85

You can't do what you are trying to do. It will not work. First off OS X can not Write to NTFS formatted partitions. Windows will only install and run on a partitiion formatted NTFS. The only way to format a partition NTFS on a Mac it to use a Version of Windows. The only way to use a version of Windows on a Mac to format a partition NTFS is to use Boot Camp to install it and during the Windows install format the partition NTFS.

So it looks like you are doing everything wrong.

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Answer 2

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 3:50 PM in response to Shootist007

OS X is writting to the partition. After I use terminal I can take files from the boot camp partition and place them on my os x partition. So if I do a fresh install of Windows on the boot camp partition will I then beable to use the iso to restore all of my files?

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Answer 3

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

May 3, 2012 3:57 PM in response to Grahf85

Is the partition formatted NTFS? If it is OS X is NOT writing to it. It may be taking part of it and changing it to FAT32 but it is not writing to a NTFS partition. It can't.

Will you be able to use the ISO after a reinstall of Windows? No I don't think you can. You have to use some other program to backup and restore a boot camp windows partition. I forget the name of that program.

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Answer 4

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 3:57 PM in response to Shootist007

I never said it was formatted to NTFS.....

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Answer 5

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

May 3, 2012 3:58 PM in response to Grahf85

OK simple fact is you can't do what you are trying to do. It will not work.

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Answer 6

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 3:59 PM in response to Shootist007

You are saying that is is impossible to restore boot camp with an iso?

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Answer 7

May 3, 2012 4:02 PM in response to Grahf85

To a partition that is not formatted NTFS, yes.

Allan

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Answer 8

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 4:04 PM in response to Allan Eckert

OK so if I use the windows 7 install disc and format the boot camp partition to NTFS then I can use terminal with the iso or should I try it through windows?

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Answer 9

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 4:08 PM in response to Grahf85

If I wanted to I could just move most of my files I want to keep from the boot camp partition to my OS X partition and do a fresh install of windows and move everything back over after that. I really don't want to install a bunch of programs and updates all over again though...

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Answer 10

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

May 3, 2012 4:11 PM in response to Grahf85

You can't move a BC partition over to OS X. Boot Camp is for installing Windows on it own separate partition. Once that is done you really can't do anything to that partition if you want Windows, or even OS X, to boot again (although OS X should still boot).

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Answer 11

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 4:12 PM in response to Shootist007

I am moving 100GBs of files between the boot camp partition and my os x partition now. I tried a word doc just to make sure it works and it does work. You like to say "no" don't you 🙂

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Answer 12

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

May 3, 2012 4:14 PM in response to Grahf85

I give up. Yes you can copy FILES to and from OS X and a Boot Camp partition. But you can NOT move the partition, which is what you said.

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Answer 13

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 4:15 PM in response to Shootist007

I said "I could just move most of my files" FILES being the key word

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Answer 14

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 3, 2012 5:05 PM in response to Grahf85

Grahf85 wrote:

I said "I could just move most of my files" FILES being the key word

Correct, but you won't be able to boot Windows and you will get a partition the same size as your ISO.

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Answer 15

Grahf85 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 3, 2012 6:11 PM in response to Csound1

Csound, I don't know what you're talking about, or what anyone here is talking about. I already moved the files. Windows boots fine, I installed it. I assume you're talking about moving the files from os x to windows. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

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