Josh99Ralla

Q: Can't format former Boot Camp partition

So I stupidly erased my Boot Camp partition using Disk Utility rather than in the Boot Camp Assistant. And now I the partition is stuck as free space and i can't change it. When i select the free space in Disk Util, I can change it to Mac OS Extended and ExFAT as usual, but when I press apply, the progress bar appears for a brief second and disappears. Then it acts as if I never pressed apply; when I close the window, it says that I have unsaved changes. The free space does not appear as a drive in the left sidebar.

 

I have tried reinstalling OS X, I've tried returning to a time machine backup, I've verified and repaired the disk, but nothing has worked.

I'm left with 67GB of space unusable on my macbook now.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Oct 11, 2014 9:36 AM

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Q: Can't format former Boot Camp partition

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  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 5:36 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 5:36 PM in response to Loner T

    This is what I have before step 12. Should I go on to 12? Am I on the right track?

     

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0

     

    WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss

    or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your

    typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

     

    To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

     

    Password:

    Sorry, try again.

    Password:

    GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.0

     

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Partition table scan:

      MBR: protective

      BSD: not present

      APM: not present

      GPT: present

     

    Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.

     

    Command (? for help): p

    Disk /dev/rdisk0: 236978176 sectors, 113.0 GiB

    Logical sector size: 512 bytes

    Disk identifier (GUID): A1286177-A577-4A60-95DF-E3CB9AF2CFE7

    Partition table holds up to 128 entries

    First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 236978142

    Partitions will be aligned on 8-sector boundaries

    Total free space is 13 sectors (6.5 KiB)

     

    Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name

       1              40          409639   200.0 MiB   EF00  EFI System Partition

       2          409640       236715991   112.7 GiB   AF05  OSX-MacintoshLVG

       3       236715992       236978135   128.0 MiB   AB00  Booter

     

    Command (? for help): r

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number  Boot  Start Sector   End Sector   Status      Code

       1                     1    236978175   primary     0xEE

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): h

     

    WARNING! Hybrid MBRs are flaky and dangerous! If you decide not to use one,

    just hit the Enter key at the below prompt and your MBR partition table will

    be untouched.

     

    Type from one to three GPT partition numbers, separated by spaces, to be

    added to the hybrid MBR, in sequence: 2 3 4

    Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): y

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AF): n

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): n

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AB):

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): n

     

    GPT partition #4 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

     

    Unused partition space(s) found. Use one to protect more partitions? (Y/N): n

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number  Boot  Start Sector   End Sector   Status      Code

       1                     1       409639   primary     0xEE

       2                409640    236715991   primary     0x03

       3             236715992    236978135   primary     0xAB

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help):

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 5:44 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 5:44 PM in response to Loner T

    The final complete list before booting

     

    Last login: Sat Aug 1 02:14:14 on ttys000

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0

    Password:

    GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.0

     

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Partition table scan:

      MBR: protective

      BSD: not present

      APM: not present

      GPT: present

     

    Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.

     

    Command (? for help): p

    Disk /dev/rdisk0: 236978176 sectors, 113.0 GiB

    Logical sector size: 512 bytes

    Disk identifier (GUID): A1286177-A577-4A60-95DF-E3CB9AF2CFE7

    Partition table holds up to 128 entries

    First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 236978142

    Partitions will be aligned on 8-sector boundaries

    Total free space is 13 sectors (6.5 KiB)

     

    Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name

      1 40 409639 200.0 MiB EF00 EFI System Partition

      2 409640 236715991 112.7 GiB AF05 OSX-MacintoshLVG

      3 236715992 236978135 128.0 MiB AB00 Booter

     

    Command (? for help): r

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number Boot Start Sector End Sector Status Code

      1 1 236978175 primary 0xEE

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): h

     

    WARNING! Hybrid MBRs are flaky and dangerous! If you decide not to use one,

    just hit the Enter key at the below prompt and your MBR partition table will

    be untouched.

     

    Type from one to three GPT partition numbers, separated by spaces, to be

    added to the hybrid MBR, in sequence: 2 3 4

    Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): y

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AF):

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): n

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AB):

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): n

     

    GPT partition #4 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

     

    Unused partition space(s) found. Use one to protect more partitions? (Y/N): n

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number Boot Start Sector End Sector Status Code

      1 1 409639 primary 0xEE

      2 409640 236715991 primary 0xAF

      3 236715992 236978135 primary 0xAB

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): w

     

    Final checks complete. About to write GPT data. THIS WILL OVERWRITE EXISTING

    PARTITIONS!!

     

    Do you want to proceed? (Y/N): y

    OK; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to /dev/rdisk0.

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Warning: The kernel may continue to use old or deleted partitions.

    You should reboot or remove the drive.

    The operation has completed successfully.

    iMac:~ RalphImac$

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Loner T

    What do I do next after rebooting?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 5:57 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 5:57 PM in response to ralphejims

    This is not correct and it is my mistake. This should be done on disk1 not disk0. Your BC partition is on disk1.

     

    This is why you see this on disk0

    GPT partition #4 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

    disk1 has 4 partitions.

     

    The disk0 can be returned to a single Protective MBR using the following steps.

     

    sudo disk /dev/rdisk0

    x

    o

    n

    o

    w

    y

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:09 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:09 PM in response to Loner T

    Ok here is what I got

     

    Last login: Sat Aug 1 03:04:02 on console

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ sudo disk /dev/rdisk0

    Password:

    sudo: disk: command not found

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ disk /dev/rdisk0

    -bash: disk: command not found

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk0

    GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.0

     

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Partition table scan:

      MBR: hybrid

      BSD: not present

      APM: not present

      GPT: present

     

    Found valid GPT with hybrid MBR; using GPT.

     

    Command (? for help): x

     

    Expert command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number Boot Start Sector End Sector Status Code

      1 1 409639 primary 0xEE

      2 409640 236715991 primary 0xAF

      3 236715992 236978135 primary 0xAB

     

    Expert command (? for help): n

     

    Expert command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number Boot Start Sector End Sector Status Code

      1 1 236978175 primary 0xEE

     

    Expert command (? for help): w

     

    Final checks complete. About to write GPT data. THIS WILL OVERWRITE EXISTING

    PARTITIONS!!

     

    Do you want to proceed? (Y/N): y

    OK; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to /dev/rdisk0.

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Warning: The kernel may continue to use old or deleted partitions.

    You should reboot or remove the drive.

    The operation has completed successfully.

    iMac:~ RalphImac$

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 6:16 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 6:16 PM in response to ralphejims

    Disk0 looks good. This is what was expected.

     

    Disk size is 236978176 sectors (113.0 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number Boot Start Sector End Sector Status Code

      1 1 236978175 primary 0xEE

     

    The updated steps for disk1 are

     

    Rebuild MBR to match the new GPT information thus resetting the Hybrid MBR.


    1. Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk1
    2. P  (Print list of parts)
    3. R  (Recover)
    4. O (print current Hybrid MBR)
    5. H (chooses Hybrid)
    6. Partitions numbers to be hybridized: 2 3 4
    7. Y  (Good for GRUB question)
    8. N  (part 2 boot flag)
    9. N  (part 3 boot flag)
    10. N  (part 4 boot flag)
    11. O  (print current Hybrid MBR)
    12. W (Write the new MBR)
    13. Y (Yes! write the new MBR)
    14. Reboot

     

    Here is sample Q&A for this section. Please notice the Press Enter/Return.

     

    Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): Y

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AF): Press Enter/Return

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AB): Press Enter/Return

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #4 (MBR partition #4)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default 07): Press Enter/Return

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): N

     

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:18 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:18 PM in response to Loner T

    It is almost the same. I have to stop here. Maybe it is because I have already deleted the windows partition through BCA?

     

     

    Last login: Sat Aug 1 03:04:28 on ttys000

    iMac:~ RalphImac$ Sudo gdisk /dev/rdisk1

    GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.0

     

    Warning: Devices opened with shared lock will not have their

    partition table automatically reloaded!

    Partition table scan:

      MBR: protective

      BSD: not present

      APM: not present

      GPT: present

     

    Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.

     

    Command (? for help): p

    Disk /dev/rdisk1: 1953525168 sectors, 931.5 GiB

    Logical sector size: 512 bytes

    Disk identifier (GUID): D7A2F2DF-3726-47CC-B9F7-242CD2B86DB6

    Partition table holds up to 128 entries

    First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 1953525134

    Partitions will be aligned on 8-sector boundaries

    Total free space is 13 sectors (6.5 KiB)

     

    Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name

      1 40 409639 200.0 MiB EF00 EFI System Partition

      2 409640 1952255591 930.7 GiB AF05 OSX-MacintoshLVG

      3 1952255592 1953525127 619.9 MiB AB00 Boot OS X

     

    Command (? for help): r

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): o

     

    Disk size is 1953525168 sectors (931.5 GiB)

    MBR disk identifier: 0x00000000

    MBR partitions:

     

    Number Boot Start Sector End Sector Status Code

      1 1 1953525167 primary 0xEE

     

    Recovery/transformation command (? for help): h

     

    WARNING! Hybrid MBRs are flaky and dangerous! If you decide not to use one,

    just hit the Enter key at the below prompt and your MBR partition table will

    be untouched.

     

    Type from one to three GPT partition numbers, separated by spaces, to be

    added to the hybrid MBR, in sequence: 2 3 4

    Place EFI GPT (0xEE) partition first in MBR (good for GRUB)? (Y/N): y

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #2 (MBR partition #2)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AF):

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): n

     

    Creating entry for GPT partition #3 (MBR partition #3)

    Enter an MBR hex code (default AB):

    Set the bootable flag? (Y/N): n

     

    GPT partition #4 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

     

    Unused partition space(s) found. Use one to protect more partitions? (Y/N):

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:23 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:23 PM in response to Loner T

    And also I have this from (command R)

     

    -bash-3.2# fdisk /dev/disk1

    Disk: /dev/disk1 geometry: 121601/255/63 [1953525168 sectors]

    Signature: 0xAA55

             Starting       Ending

    #: id  cyl  hd sec -  cyl  hd sec [     start -       size]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1: EE 1023 254  63 - 1023 254  63 [         1 - 1953525167] <Unknown ID>

    2: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused     

    3: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused     

    4: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused     

    -bash-3.2# gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: mediasize=1000204886016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1953525168

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: PMBR at sector 0

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: Pri GPT at sector 1

    gpt show: /dev/disk1: Sec GPT at sector 1953525167

           start        size  index  contents

               0           1         PMBR

               1           1         Pri GPT header

               2          32         Pri GPT table

              34           6        

              40      409600      1  GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B

          409640  1951845952      2  GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

      1952255592     1269536      3  GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC

      1953525128           7        

      1953525135          32         Sec GPT table

      1953525167           1         Sec GPT header

    -bash-3.2#

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:30 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:30 PM in response to Loner T

    What is the next step? Any solution?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 6:30 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 6:30 PM in response to ralphejims

    If the BC/Windows partition has been deleted, then

    GPT partition #4 does not exist or is too big; skipping.

    is expected.

     

    Boot normally, run BCA, partition and try Windows installation. If you end up with the same error, we can repeat the steps.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:34 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:34 PM in response to Loner T

    Ok, I will take a little rest. Its already late here. you will get my report when you wake up in the morning.

    Thanks Man!

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 6:35 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 6:35 PM in response to ralphejims

    Please post back when ready.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:42 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:42 PM in response to Loner T

    I always delete the wininstall (windows iso) that I have in my usb flash and start afresh by downloading the iso and windows support software. This is why it takes a bit long. Can I go on with the window iso already contained in the usb flash without creating the window iso again?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 31, 2015 6:47 PM in response to ralphejims
    Level 7 (24,307 points)
    Safari
    Jul 31, 2015 6:47 PM in response to ralphejims

    Let me clarify something. You are rebuilding the USB Installer, not downloading the whole ISO to USB, are you?

     

    BCA downloads Support Software, open the ISO on your Mac, copies and integrates these two to create an Installer from which it boots. Once this USB Installer is built, it is not necessary to rebuild it.

  • by ralphejims,

    ralphejims ralphejims Jul 31, 2015 6:55 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2015 6:55 PM in response to Loner T

    After each failure attempt, I normally erase the usb. Then from boot camp I select all the 3 options (creating iso from system already in my computer, downloading software for windows and installing windows) in order to continue.

     

    Or am I expected to select only the last option (installing windows) after each failure. But I thought it is only for those who are using optical drive.

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