joeldadrummer
Level 1 (6 points)

Q: Multiple Partitions and Bootcamp ???

I really need some help with Running Multiple partitions on my Macbook Pro and Bootcamp. It should be possible I think, yet I've had no luck so far.

 

I've always run two partitions on my mac, one for my everyday computing, and the other for my Pro Audio set-up (specific drivers and OSX for optimal ProTools Performance).

 

I had to delete my Audio Partition (backed up of course) to install Bootcamp and Windows 8. The Windows install went fine, but then I went back to OSX and I tried to make a new partition for my audio and it totally wiped my Windows install (Bummer as Windows took forever to insall and Update to 8.1).

I did this by reducing my Original Partition and thought it should work (after reading some experiences online).

 

So Ive tired again, this time after  using Bootcamp assistant to make the windows partition, I then immediately went back to disk utiltiy to make my 'Main' partition space smaller and create the 2nd partition from this. I thought this should work (again from reading of experiences online), but windows won't install at all now, and keeps giving me errors.

 

Is what I want to do impossible, or what might I be doing wrong?

 

I pretty much need to have the two OSX partitions and ProTools needs it's own space to truly work best, and is not compatible with Mavericks.

 

Appreciate any help here.

 

thx

Posted on Dec 22, 2013 7:07 PM

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joeldadrummer

Q: Multiple Partitions and Bootcamp ???

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 22, 2013 7:14 PM in response to joeldadrummer
    Level 10 (271,860 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 22, 2013 7:14 PM in response to joeldadrummer

    There can only be two partitions when using Boot Camp. Boot Camp shrinks the original OS X partition in order to create a second partition of the size requested in Boot Camp. There can be no other partitions on the drive. Boot Camp will refuse to work if there already is a second partition on the drive.

     

    If you wish to have multiple partitions with multiple operatings systems with each being able to boot the computer, then you need to use different software. That software is Boot Runner or The rEFInd Boot Manager.

  • by joeldadrummer,

    joeldadrummer joeldadrummer Dec 22, 2013 7:20 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Dec 22, 2013 7:20 PM in response to Kappy

    Thank you

     

    Are you sure Boot Runner will solve my issue? From their website it does not seem to mention anything about multiple partitions, only an easier way to manage your dual boot Mac?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 22, 2013 7:40 PM in response to joeldadrummer
    Level 10 (271,860 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 22, 2013 7:40 PM in response to joeldadrummer

    No, Boot Runner should provide the mechanism for managing multiple OS partitions. rEFInd is similar, but it's an update to an older software utility called rEFIt that does not work above Snow Leopard.

     

    I have not used either of them, but I did use rEFIt to run OS X, Linux, and Windows on a single drive with three partitions.

  • by joeldadrummer,

    joeldadrummer joeldadrummer Dec 23, 2013 10:33 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Dec 23, 2013 10:33 AM in response to Kappy

    I just got an email reply from Boot Runner. It will NOT support multiple partitions.

  • by Number88,

    Number88 Number88 Dec 23, 2013 10:45 AM in response to joeldadrummer
    Level 3 (750 points)
    Dec 23, 2013 10:45 AM in response to joeldadrummer

    As Kappy has said, the limiting factor is Bootcamp and its hybrid MBR, nothing else.

    If you could install all operating systems in EFI mode (and therefore GPT only) your options would be dramatically increased.

  • by joeldadrummer,

    joeldadrummer joeldadrummer Jan 7, 2014 11:12 PM in response to Number88
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jan 7, 2014 11:12 PM in response to Number88

    Thanks.

     

    Can't say I'm so tech savy as to understand about MBR or EFI though.

     

    But...would it possibly be a problem to install windows on a mac pro, first removing any extra startup drives, then putting them back in after the install? Or is this going to cause trouble?

     

    thanks again,

  • by turbostar,

    turbostar turbostar Mar 6, 2014 1:02 PM in response to Number88
    Level 4 (2,925 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 1:02 PM in response to Number88

    Kappy, Number88 et al

     

    Trying to revisit this, would it be possible if only Mavericks and W8.1 were the 2 OSs since you mentioned all OSs in EFI mode.

     

    I clean installed Mavericks today on a nMP (my USB installer showed up as EFI boot) and believe boot camp does install Windows 8.1 in EFI mode as well. Or, I could be wrong about all or some of these things.

     

    Ideally, I would like 3 - Mac OS, Mac files and Windows - partitions on the SSD.

     

    I think Joel was referring to what you see here in post #33 where in older OSs, you could 'fool' boot camp if you partitioned the drive in between the Windows install

     

    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=199262&page=2

  • by Number88,

    Number88 Number88 Mar 6, 2014 4:08 PM in response to turbostar
    Level 3 (750 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 4:08 PM in response to turbostar

    That may well be possible if the partitioning was carefully done and done at the right stage in the proceedings.

    However, any subsequent upgrade of OSX would not find what it expected and is likely to trash the MBR.

    Similarly running disk utility could do the same thing (repairing the disc).

  • by turbostar,

    turbostar turbostar Mar 6, 2014 7:39 PM in response to Number88
    Level 4 (2,925 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 7:39 PM in response to Number88

    So a 10.9.3 update when released could hose the system? So then what are all those people doing in this mega thread, simply not updating once they multi partition?

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4144252?tstart=0

  • by Number88,

    Number88 Number88 Mar 6, 2014 8:16 PM in response to turbostar
    Level 3 (750 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 8:16 PM in response to turbostar

    That's the reason a lot of them are in that thread in the first place - because an upgrade caused them to lose the ability to boot Windows on an existing multi-partition setup.