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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 11, 2014 8:40 AM in response to Csound1

Some people need assistance from an actual human being rather than a piece of written text. For me personally, reading manuals doesn't give me enough confidence to know that my flimsy decision-making & lack of experience on the task wont lead me to making terrible & heart-breaking mistakes. My personal data means too much to me to not have somebody walk me through it step by step. I am envious that you are so perfect that reading manuals is all you need.

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:44 AM in response to Barncore

The manual would have told you how to format the partition as NTFS, something that the 'actual human being' advice signally failed to do. Not a very positive affirmation of the 'actual human being' approach really.

And now I'm done, your installation works and although I totally disagree with the 'roll your own' approach it did, eventually, work.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:48 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

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.

From http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf

If a dialog appears saying “The disk cannot be partitioned because verification failed,” try repairing the disk using Disk Utility and opening Boot Camp Assistant again. If that doesn’t work, back up all the information on your Mac, then reinstall OS X. For more information, click the Finder icon in the Dock, choose Help > Help Center, and search for “reinstall OS X.”

Where is the documentation for this specific error message?

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.

I am opposed to unsupported procedures, and having been reminded (once more) how long 'alternate' methods take to complete I will remain opposed.

OP did the re-installation using Time Machine, which took overnight, so the directions and Apple recommendations were followed. In fact, cloning of disks is unsupported by Apple, but disk image backup/restore is. Bootcamp backup is unsupported by Apple. If you can restore your data in 4+ hours, you have less data to restore.

Unsupported? By whom? By Apple? You are not following the thread, then. The diskutil mergeVolume is documented by Apple including its use. Please see man diskutil.

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:52 AM in response to Csound1

The manual would have told you how to format the partition as NTFS, something that the 'actual human being' advice signally failed to do. Not a very positive affirmation of the 'actual human being' approach really.

I wouldn't have even got to that point if it weren't for an actual human. There were many hurdles to jump through before i could even get to the Windows installation phase.

How would i have known how to get passed this initial problem without a human?

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.

I didn't even know what "formatted" meant!

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:51 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

The manual would have told you how to format the partition as NTFS, something that the 'actual human being' advice signally failed to do. Not a very positive affirmation of the 'actual human being' approach really.

And now I'm done, your installation works and although I totally disagree with the 'roll your own' approach it did, eventually, work.

Yet, you chose to participate in a discussion which was "roll your own", by your semantics. 😎. And you are criticizing using Apple-documented utilities to address issues. 😁

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:54 AM in response to Loner T

Disk Utility is not recommended by Apple for use in a Boot Camp environment. BC partitions must be created and removed using Boot Camp only. I find your directions incomplete (for the procedure you describe) and far from a supported method. They also require an absurdly long time to complete.

There is no need to post further Apple documentation, I have read it and it says the same thing that I said in the early posts.

You and I will just have to disagree.

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:55 AM in response to Loner T

Whenever I see instructions posted that lack essential steps I will take an interest.

Barncore Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 11, 2014 8:57 AM in response to Csound1

They also require an absurdly long time to complete.

I don't see how that's a problem to do with our troubleshooting method. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. Backing up and restoring hard drives takes a long time, mate. Maybe blame technology..? Or life in general?

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 9:02 AM in response to Barncore

Exacerbated by the missing steps.

Please use whatever method you wish, if this was a satisfactory experience for you that's fine. I will continue to use the method suggested and supported by Apple, in my experience it is far faster and more reliable.

This thread however is an excellent example of the results of 'alternate paths and has been bookmarked for use as a cautionary tale. It will be useful.

Thanks.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 11, 2014 9:06 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

Disk Utility is not recommended by Apple for use in a Boot Camp environment.

If a dialog appears saying “The disk cannot be partitioned because verification failed,” try repairing the disk using Disk Utility and opening Boot Camp Assistant again. If that doesn’t work, back up all the information on your Mac, then reinstall OS X. For more information, click the Finder icon in the Dock, choose Help > Help Center, and search for “reinstall OS X.”

BC partitions must be created and removed using Boot Camp only.

OP did use BA to partition his drive. 😉

I find your directions incomplete (for the procedure you describe) and far from a supported method.

Yet, the OP did follow them and has a running Windows installation. 😀

They also require an absurdly long time to complete.

Yes, TM restore depends on volume of data.

There is no need to post further Apple documentation, I have read it and it says the same thing that I said in the early posts.

Can you post an Apple link for disk drive fragmentation/defragmentation? 😉

You and I will just have to disagree.

Yes, we can disagree.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 11, 2014 9:07 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

Exacerbated by the missing steps.

Please document all missing steps, for future reference.

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 9:10 AM in response to Loner T

The need to format the partition as NTFS, and the method.

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 9:21 AM in response to Loner T

Loner T wrote:

Can you post an Apple link for disk drive fragmentation/defragmentation? 😉

Sure, here's what Apple suggest to defragment the drive for a Boot Camp partition, it's the same thing I suggested many pages ago. It's also the method that (after 3 days of blind alleys) finally worked.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 11, 2014 11:59 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

The need to format the partition as NTFS, and the method.

My first post has Disk Partitioning analysis...

My second post on the thread already has a reference to the appropriate Bootcamp manual, which you chose to ignore. It has the NTFS formatting instructions included in it.

The disk steps are also clearly documented. If you choose not to read them, I wonder where the comprehension failure is? 😮

Csound1

Level 9

59,985 points

Oct 11, 2014 12:17 PM in response to Loner T

This will be the last time.

I recommend following the Boot Camp directions, solely and exclusively. I am unlikely to change that position.

I'll also note that it was your instructions the OP followed. They resulted in a wrongly formatted partition (FAT rather than NTFS) so I question the methodology as well.

Just leave it 'we disagree' this thread is way too long already.

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