How do I remove the Parallels partition?

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Level 1

30 points

How do I remove the Parallels partition?

I have read other responses but I am not seeing the precise answer I am looking for. I know how to uninstall Parallels and the XP from my MacBook Pro. That's not the question. The question is, once I do that, how do I remove the partition that Parallels created on my HD? I want only 1 partition on my HD - the one that has Maverics (the first partition - the bootable partition).

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), iLife 11 + Aperture 3

Posted on Apr 26, 2014 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Matt Clifton

Level 7

29,981 points

Apr 26, 2014 9:14 AM in response to Camping Doc

Parallels doesn't create partitions, it uses a disk image - basically just a big file that lives in your Documents folder.

Boot Camp does create partitions, and if you originally used that, you should launch Boot Camp Assistant (in your Utilities folder) to remove the Windows partition.

Matt

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Answer 2

Apr 26, 2014 9:24 AM in response to Camping Doc

Well, again, Parallels does not itself create a separate partition, so if you're seeing something in Disk Utility, it wasn't created in Parallels. DU does not "see" the Parallels disk image as a partition on your Mac HD, although it's possible that the image is listed in the sidebar on the left of Disk Utility.

Can you post a screenshot of your Disk Utility window showing the partitions?

Matt

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Answer 3

Camping Doc Author

Level 1

30 points

Apr 26, 2014 9:22 AM in response to Camping Doc

Thanks, Matt. That clarifies what I read in some earlier posts. So I assume that when I look at Disk Utility and see 2 partitions, what I am really seeing is the disk image that Parallels lives in, as well as the real partition. If I run into problems once I get into this, I will try Boot Camp Assistant (though I have never used it before). Thanks.

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Answer 4

Camping Doc Author

Level 1

30 points

Apr 26, 2014 9:51 AM in response to Matt Clifton

Well, I removed Parallels according to their standards and now DU only shows my main partition. All is well and your first answer was the right one. Thank you.

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