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

Csound1 wrote:

Apple deliberately disable the NTFS Write feature because it is an unreliable implementation. Are you saying that you know that it is not, can you provide some links in support of that?

Yes, which can also be deliberately enabled for a conversion from DOS-to-NTFS during a BC. BA with a checkbox saying "Install Windows" can do it and once the Windows installer is handed control, it is no longer needed. You are confusing long-term sustained read-write use vs a single-use on a file system that contains no data and is being readied for a new installation.

The second issue is that there are open-source implementations of NTFS driver (MacPorts has one called NTFS-3g). Since Apple participates and there is bidirectional give-and-take, why not use it. They do it with XQuartz.

I have seen cases where a poster clicked on the wrong partition and deleted information that they did not intend to. A loaded-gun analogy comes to mind. 😉

We have all seen disasters arise from trying to install Windows on a Mac (via any method). In my experience reading the directions (all of them) and following them exactly results in far fewer failures and subsequent disasters. When steps are missed (as in this case) things go south in a hurry.

This is already a 4 day install, that is at least 3 and a half days too long.

Oh, please link to some documentation for the "Install Windows" option you just mentioned.

Csound1 wrote:

We have all seen disasters arise from trying to install Windows on a Mac (via any method). In my experience reading the directions (all of them) and following them exactly results in far fewer failures and subsequent disasters. When steps are missed (as in this case) things go south in a hurry.

This discussion forum would not exist if everyone read the fine manuals and understood what was written. There are different levels of expertise and knowledge .

This is already a 4 day install, that is at least 3 and a half days too long.

It is irrelevant how long it takes to install in a specific situation. I am certain the OP would come not come back asking the same question again for quite some time.

Oh, please link to some documentation for the "Install Windows" option you just mentioned.

From Boot Camp: Creating an ISO image from a Windows installation DVD

When the user selects the third checkbox on this screen ("Install Windows...") and clicks on continue, and the partitioning is complete,

convert the DOS partition to NTFS.

If the user chooses to "Remove Windows...", whether the partition is NTFS or DOS is moot anyway.

I am not seeing any option for formatting the partition as NTFS there, just the usual add a partition for a Windows installation, as it has been for some time. Can you show me the NTFS option?

I do agree that users take many and varied routes, Unfortunately most of the routes take the long way around, some never get there at all. I still recommend doing it by the book, and if you started on some other path go back to the beginning and stat agin, correctly this time.

I do feel that 4 days for a 1 hour procedure is excessive, and a sign of 'other routes'

Barncore wrote:

Csound, not everyone is as all-knowing and omnipotent as you within the applesphere. I did tonnes of googling and reading, but could not understand the lingo. How would i have diagnosed what my problem was by reading a manual?

By reading and following the directions you would have not had the problem in the first place.

But it's working now so you got there.

Csound1 wrote:

I am not seeing any option for formatting the partition as NTFS there, just the usual add a partition for a Windows installation, as it has been for some time. Can you show me the NTFS option?

You are missing my point. Bootcamp Assistant should format the drive to NTFS before the control is handed to the Windows Installer. I know it does not exist .

My feedback to Bootcamp Engineers was to format it up front, without the user having manually do it.

I still recommend doing it by the book, and if you started on some other path go back to the beginning and stat agin, correctly this time.

The so called "book" has no directions on an EFI boot for W8+ on UEFI Macs and using a pure GPT disk. A user has to figure out using the BA info.plist and looking at the highlighted part and figuring out which models will support and which do not. The entire documentation is completely "silent" about UEFI.

The following search (Apple - Support - Search) returns nothing.

I do feel that 4 days for a 1 hour procedure is excessive, and a sign of 'other routes'

Here is an example of a 2+ month discussion where "something'" happened to corrupt Bootcamp - Cannot boot to windows 7 after canceling bootcamp backup . How do you expect a user to solve such problems without getting closer to the internals of Bootcamp?

Please do not forget to install Bootcamp drivers. v4.0.4033 is the appropriate version for your setup.

Loner T wrote:

Csound1 wrote:

I am not seeing any option for formatting the partition as NTFS there, just the usual add a partition for a Windows installation, as it has been for some time. Can you show me the NTFS option?

You are missing my point. Bootcamp Assistant should format the drive to NTFS before the control is handed to the Windows Installer. I know it does not exist .

Of course it should, but it doesn't. Which is what I said in the first place.

No wonder this took 4 days to complete.

Csound1 wrote:

No wonder this took 4 days to complete.

Is this really relevant to the current discussion? Touting documentation which is silent about non-availability of contiguous space is not what I expect from a corporation that prides itself in Engineering. 😉. Apple even claims, contrary to public experience, that disks do not require fragmentation. Who is educating the customer on such aspects?

This is the closest it comes to - Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Can I ask a bit more indulgence and ask you to run the version of iDefrag and post what the disk looks like now? It should help future discussions on similar subject.

Loner T wrote:

Csound1 wrote:

No wonder this took 4 days to complete.

Is this really relevant to the current discussion? Touting documentation which is silent about non-availability of contiguous space is not what I expect from a corporation that prides itself in Engineering. 😉. Apple even claims, contrary to public experience, that disks do not require fragmentation. Who is educating the customer on such aspects?

This is the closest it comes to - Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Yes it is very relevant. Boot Camps directions cover this well, the erase and restore method is the recommendation. I am opposed to unsupported procedures, and having been reminded (once more) how long 'alternate' methods take to complete I will remain opposed.

Almost all issues of this nature stem from a reluctance to read the manual.

4 days versus 4 hours would matter a great deal to me, I am envious that it does not to you.