Missing hard drive space after bootcamp partition

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Missing hard drive space after bootcamp partition

After making a 60gb partition with Boot Camp Assistant, Bootcamp closed without error message (i assumed it was trying to restart but i had programs running). However now in disk utility or when i try to run the windows disc, there is no partition available even though the 500gb hard drive shows up as 420gb used and 18gb unused (and 499gb big).
I have tried repairing in disk utility on startup
i have reset the NVRAM or whatever it is called.
Can't run boot camp assistaint again because it says i require at least 10gb of space.

Can anyone help me finish the installation?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 6, 2013 7:40 AM

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Answer 1

Csound1

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Mar 6, 2013 7:49 AM in response to betachange

Did you restart yet?

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Answer 2

betachange Author

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Mar 6, 2013 7:55 AM in response to Csound1

Yep, a few times now

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Answer 3

Csound1

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Mar 6, 2013 8:02 AM in response to betachange

Use BCA to return the drive to as it was before your installation failed. Then start again.

That may not work, if it does not: backup your machine to 2 seperate backups (1 bootable clone), erase the drive and restore the clone, then start again.

READ the directions (page 1 Boot Camp Assistant)

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Answer 4

betachange Author

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Mar 6, 2013 8:09 AM in response to Csound1

I don't have a hard drive available to do any backups. Is there another way?

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Answer 5

Csound1

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Mar 6, 2013 8:24 AM in response to betachange

Don't you backup at all?

It's your choice, your drive is already a mess, if it gets worse while trying to recover, game over.

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Answer 6

betachange Author

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Mar 6, 2013 8:32 AM in response to Csound1

I don't back up at the moment.
If i were to install a new hard drive in the computer is there a way i can use the old hard drive to get everything onto the new hard drive? Like use the current installation as a backup for a new drive?

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Answer 7

Csound1

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Mar 6, 2013 8:46 AM in response to betachange

You can do that, install the new drive, fit the old drive to an external case and access your data that way, you'll still be buying a drive so I don't really see any difference, except that your method (without a second data copy to turn too) still leaves your data at risk.

I still do not recommend it FYI.

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Answer 8

betachange Author

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Mar 6, 2013 8:55 AM in response to Csound1

Just that i've been thinking i should upgrade to a 1tb hard drive and this might be an appropriate time.
If i do install the new hard drive, can i use the old one as a backup clone or something? or will i have to install all my programs again?

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Answer 9

Csound1

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59,973 points

Mar 6, 2013 9:00 AM in response to betachange

If done correctly it should not be necessary to reinstall anything, just restore the clone.

Buy 2 drives, a backup drive should be at least as large as the drive it is backing up, and yours is almost full at the moment.

My suggestion, clone your internal drive to an external, this is for restoration. The restoration can be done to any compatible drive so buy the biggest you can afford/fit.

Backup is another issue, if you choose Time Machine your existing internal drive will be too small to accommodate a 1Tb replacement drive for very long, but it's a start.

Choose what you wish to do, post back if you need assistance.

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