How to rejoin disk partitions (free space+Macintosh HD)

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Level 1

4 points

How to rejoin disk partitions (free space+Macintosh HD)

I made a disk partition recently on my Macbook Pro (OsX Version 10.9.5). Before partition I had only one, Macintosh HD (250GB) however I made a partition of free space (17.87GB) because I was thinking to dual boot my Mac but I changed my mind. So at the moment my Macintosh HD space is 232.79GB. I am unable to rejoin that free space back into my Macintosh HD space. There is no option to drag the space in the corner as many forms suggested. I don't know how to rejoin them back to having 250GB together.
Help needed pleas

e.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Oct 1, 2014 3:02 AM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 1, 2014 4:55 AM in response to VuuuuV

Click on the 'minus sign', then click on the bottom partition, then click on APPLY.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

VuuuuV Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2014 5:20 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

when none of the spaces (Macintosh HD or free space) are selected the 'minus sign' is disabled (can't be selected). I only get the option to click on the 'plus sign'.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 1, 2014 6:14 AM in response to VuuuuV

I just tested this on my MBP. First click on the partition that you want to delete and the 'minus sign' should be activated.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

VuuuuV Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2014 6:52 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Nope. the minus sign still remains disabled. could it be somehow it got corrupted?
if i restore a time machine backup would it bring back the Macintosh HD drive back to its original state?

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 1, 2014 7:55 AM in response to VuuuuV

VuuuuV wrote:

Nope. the minus sign still remains disabled. could it be somehow it got corrupted?
if i restore a time machine backup would it bring back the Macintosh HD drive back to its original state?

Time machine should restore as of the backup date that you select. I personally opt for a reinstall of the OSX.

I find your Disk Utility display very odd. Note these from my Mavericks disk:

Note that my display has 5 Options, yours has only two.

By any chance have you been experimenting with Yosemite OSX?

Ciao.

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Answer 6

VuuuuV Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2014 8:17 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Negative. I haven't experimented with Yosemite at all. Only installed the updates from app store last week or so. I was going to dual boot my MB with Ubuntu if that means anything but before i could i changed my mind and this problem occurred. I tried recover mode (CMD+R after start up chime) and disk utility seemed to act similar to as you saw in the screenshots.

I tried to format the free space as a normal drive as MacOS Extended (journaled) format and it takes my confirmation in order to follow through it but nothing really happens after that. I can't quit Disk Utility since it says it has some unsaved changes. I'm guessing its the partition but nothing happens after that unless I force quit DU. The log of the Disk Utility remains to say this as the last process prior to force quitting.

"2014-10-01 19:14:02 +0400: Preparing to partition disk: “APPLE SSD SM0256F Media”

but like i said nothing happens after that. I left it for hours and tried.

anyways just confirming before i do reinstall the OSX it would make the HDD back to one solid 250GB correct?

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Answer 7

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Oct 1, 2014 8:22 AM in response to VuuuuV

VuuuuV wrote:

anyways just confirming before i do reinstall the OSX it would make the HDD back to one solid 250GB correct?

No. Installing the OS simply installs the OS on the partion/disk you select.

Boot into the Recovery drive (restart with Command R) and run Disk repair on the drive and partitions.

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Answer 8

VuuuuV Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2014 9:16 AM in response to Chris CA

Still stuck with the unusable empty space after doing repair disk from Recovery Mode. Nothing changed. Is there no way around via terminal I can allocate the free space back or fix this somehow?

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Answer 9

VuuuuV Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2014 10:17 AM in response to VuuuuV

Okay I managed to fix it! I just made another partition of the least possible size which was same size as what I previously had as free space (17.87GB) so once it finished making that partition and it combined the free space within the new partition so it was around 30GB compartment altogether. I then just selected that partition and clicked on the 'minus sign' and it automatically allocated that space back into my Macintosh HD. All 250GB back in one disk. phew!

thank you both of you for such quick assistance with this problem!

Cheers!

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Answer 10

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Oct 1, 2014 10:30 AM in response to VuuuuV

Glad you got it sorted!

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