OS X is no longer bootable

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Level 1

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OS X is no longer bootable

I had an iMac running Mac OS X and Windows 7 with boot camp. When I was in the Windows 7 parition I attempted to extend the partition in Windows Disk Management based on a tutorial I found here. In the process, I guess all of my partitions were converted to a Dynamic Disk or Unallocated Data. Neither of my partitions were bootable after this. I tried booting into Recovery mode using Command+R on boot and selected Disk Utility. Disk Utility showed me that my partitions were there but they were completely unaccessable and unable to repair them. I have no idea if my files still there. I managed to install Windows 8 on a small extra partition I had that didn't get completelt damaged. I booted into Windows 8 to see if I could access my damaged partitions but there are unaccessable and unrecognizable by windows.

Is there anything I can do to restore or rebuild these damaged partitions? I do not have a back-up image saved.

Thanks.

iMac, Windows 7

Posted on Oct 8, 2012 10:44 AM

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Answer 1

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 8, 2012 10:49 AM in response to Fishbag

That guide lists multiple methods, as well as a prominent warning not to do it without a backup.

Which method (Paragon/WinClone/iPartition/Disk Utility) did you use?

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Answer 2

Fishbag Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 8, 2012 10:55 AM in response to Csound1

That guide lists multiple methods, as well as a prominent warning not to do it without a backup.

I realize that the only reason my paritions are broken are because I made an error when attempting it. I used the Native OS Utilities suggestion.

Here is what my partitions currently look like in Disk Management:

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 8, 2012 10:59 AM in response to Fishbag

You did this?

MR user Kazyua reports that you can use the disk management utilities provided with the current operating systems if you want to do it manually. Windows 7 and OS X both have partition resizing functions built in. In OS X, open Disk Utility and manually shrink the mac HFS+ partition by dragging the lower right corner. Then in windows go to the start menu and type "disk management" into the search box then hit enter. You should get an overview of the drives you have and the individual partitions. Right-clicking on the partition gives an "Extend Volume" option. The Windows NTFS volume should then be extended into the free space you created with Disk Utility. This method has not worked for other users, so try at your own risk.

And you ignored the warning? daredevil approach you took there.

Erase your disk and reinstall, that Warning at the top of the page not to attempt without backup was serious, and DU was entirely the wrong tool.

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Answer 4

Fishbag Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 8, 2012 11:15 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

You did this?

MR user Kazyua reports that you can use the disk management utilities provided with the current operating systems if you want to do it manually. Windows 7 and OS X both have partition resizing functions built in. In OS X, open Disk Utility and manually shrink the mac HFS+ partition by dragging the lower right corner. Then in windows go to the start menu and type "disk management" into the search box then hit enter. You should get an overview of the drives you have and the individual partitions. Right-clicking on the partition gives an "Extend Volume" option. The Windows NTFS volume should then be extended into the free space you created with Disk Utility. This method has not worked for other users, so try at your own risk.

And you ignored the warning? daredevil approach you took there.

Erase your disk and reinstall, that Warning at the top of the page not to attempt without backup was serious, and DU was entirely the wrong tool.

Yes I have formatted my system countless times before so I figured I would be carefuly and could handle it. But as I said above, I buggered my system.

I'm sure there must be a way to recover the files before doing a reinstall.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 8, 2012 11:23 AM in response to Fishbag

Do you have another computer? if you have access to another Mac you may be able to boot your system into Target mode and read the disk from another machine, or, get an external drive and using the recovery partition install OSX on it, boot to it and try to access the files that way.

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Answer 6

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Oct 8, 2012 2:51 PM in response to Fishbag

Since your Windows installation still seems to be working, you may be able to install third-party software that will allow you to read the HFS partitions from within Windows and back up the data. I know that such software exists, but I don't know what it's called.

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Answer 7

Chiantii

Level 1

4 points

Oct 8, 2012 7:27 PM in response to Fishbag

You can install "Parted Magic". It's a free partitioning tool that will allow you to mount your HFS+ partition so that you can back any data up that you want.

http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=downloads

Just right click on the HFS+ Partition and choose "mount on..." - pick the device to mount it on (typically /dev/sda1). Then you can access the drive and copy any data you want to another attached USB storage device.

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Answer 8

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Oct 9, 2012 1:59 PM in response to Fishbag

Check out these programs .

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hfs-windows/

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

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