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Level 1

16 points

Boot camp: "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition"

Hey guys,

Would really appreciate some help on this!

I used to successfully use bootcamp and have an extra partition so i could use Windows aswell, until my HD crashed and i had to take it to the Apple Hospital. When i got the computer back and restored my old backup Time Machine clone, i couldn't create a new partition for Windows. It doesn't let me get passed the first screen.

What happens is: I load up Boot Camp as usual, push Continue passed the Introduction screen, then i get a msg pop up that says:

The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.

The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.

Then i push Ok and it goes back to the BootCamp introduction screen. I.e. i can't get passed this msg.

I looked in Disk Utility and of course my internal HD already is Mac OS Extended (Journaled) so i have no idea why it isn't being recognised as one partition.

What do i have to do to be able to install windows on this computer without having to format my entire Mac and installing everything again? I really need the exact clone of what i have right now. I do have an external HD for making backup clones using Time Machine though.

Some specs:

- Boot Camp Assistant version is 3.0.1

- Mac OSX 10.6.2 (yeah i guess i'm old school now)

- 2.66 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM

- I have no other partitions currently, just my current mac one

Any questions just ask. I would love to resolve this tonight.

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), iOS 6.1.2

Posted on Oct 8, 2014 4:05 AM

104 replies

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 7:03 AM in response to Loner T

Ok I just tried to boot in safe mode and then create a partition in there, unfortunately i got the same error. 😟

Does that mean i have to do item#3 now? Is there nothing else we can try before i opt for the "erase and restore" measure?

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 9, 2014 7:12 AM in response to Barncore

Before you embark on a time-consuming sojourn, download iDefrag (http://www.coriolis-systems.com/iDefrag.php). There is Demo version, which you can run on your disk. It would be good to see a screen shot of what it shows.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 9, 2014 7:19 AM in response to Loner T

The demo won't defrag anything, for that you have to pay. In my experience it will fail to do what the OP needs, but refunds aren't too arduous to obtain. And an erase and restore usually will fix the issue.

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 7:25 AM in response to Loner T

Csound1 is right, you can't defrag using the demo. But here is a screenshot of what it shows anyway:

I will buy it if you believe it will help........

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 9, 2014 7:51 AM in response to Barncore

Please do not buy iDefrag. The Demo version is good enough to see what it looks like. The best method is to use a TM/Windows backup and restore. Winclone is a much better investment.

Can you post the screen shot using an external image sharing service (like IMGUR), if possible?

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 7:55 AM in response to Loner T

Interesting new tidbit -- i just did a "Verify Disk" run again using Disk Utility, and now the result says "The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK." Uhh ok? It's fixed now is it? Nonetheless, partition still gave me the same error.

Here's the screenshot

http://i.imgur.com/cv09VN0.png[

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:05 AM in response to Barncore

Verify (and Repair) typically will not defragment the disk. It is good though to have it marked clean by DU. The Backup/Restore is the cleanest method.

The iDefrag screenshot shows too many small chunks spread all over. I suggest you start your backups.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:04 AM in response to Barncore

The simplest way to fix this (now that iDefrag has confirmed what Boot Camp Assistant (BCA) rather poorly said) is to erase your drive and restore from a clone. It's safe and not cripplingly slow, although it is slow. You'll get a coherently laid out drive with all the free space in one place for BCA to use. A Time Machine backup is an alternative, but it is the second choice.

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:13 AM in response to Csound1

Ahhh alright fine, i surrender -- i'll clone and restore, lol. 😝

Few questions:

- I thought a Time Machine backup was a "clone" backup? So there's a difference? How do i make a clone? I only have one external HD. Is it safe to format the external HD in favour of making a new "clone" on it instead of TM? What program do i make an external "clone" on? (disk utility i imagine?)

- Which is the longer process -- formatting my mac's HD or restoring my mac's HD from a clone? (just trying to figure out which one to leave running while i'm asleep.

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:12 AM in response to Loner T

Winclone is a much better investment.

What can Winclone do for me?

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:21 AM in response to Barncore

Time Machine creates a file containing the history of your files, a clone is a snapshot in time of your hard drive, you could if you wish boot from the clone and use it as if was the internal drive it is that exact. For this purpose I prefer a clone, although a current Time Machine backup works equally well, if not as simply.

They both take a long time so if you already have a TM backup that is current, use it.

The best cloning software is Carbon Copy Cloner, and yes you could reformat the TM drive and make a clone on it, but I would put it back in use as a TM drive afterwards. Actually I would use another drive entirely.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:25 AM in response to Barncore

Barncore wrote:

Winclone is a much better investment.

What can Winclone do for me?

If you choose, Winclone can let you backup and restore Bootcamp Windows. It will also create a Hybrid MBR or a EFI boot, depending on what you need. In your case, since EFI Boot is not an option, it will backup/restore the MBR and the Windows backup.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:26 AM in response to Loner T

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:34 AM in response to Csound1

Well i already have a Time Machine backup from earlier today so i might aswell use that, if the result is equal (only difference being some minor complication, right?).

Do either of you have a good link i can use as a guide for this clone and restore bizzo?

Also, is it something i can let run while my sleep? (i'm about to go to bed)

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 9, 2014 8:38 AM in response to Loner T

If you choose, Winclone can let you backup and restore Bootcamp Windows. It will also create a Hybrid MBR or a EFI boot, depending on what you need. In your case, since EFI Boot is not an option, it will backup/restore the MBR and the Windows backup.

Not sure i quite understand what that means exactly. What's an MBR? And an EFI for that matter?

Also, i already went ahead and bought iDefrag, which i will refund tomorrow (don't worry it's no problem). Honestly, is it worth trying that first, before i go the longer journey of formatting and restoring?

Boot camp: "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition"