Accessing the disk utility/recovery (Command + R) after bootcamping Windows 8.1 and removing the OS X partition?

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Accessing the disk utility/recovery (Command + R) after bootcamping Windows 8.1 and removing the OS X partition?

Hello,

I've been wanting to install Windows 8.1 on my late 2013, 120GB Macbook Pro, but want to erase and free up the extra space the OS X partition is taking up as I have no use for it at this time. My question is, will I be able to access the OS X Disk Utility (Command + R), and re-install OS X in the future?

As of right now, I am able to access the Utility, and re-download and install OS X to create a clean installation. If I erase the OS X partition, will I still be able to access those features? Are those features built into the device similar to that of an advanced BIOS settings?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 31, 2015 8:42 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

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Mar 31, 2015 8:45 AM in response to justin0025

I suggest you install OSX on an external disk and boot from it, and use your internal disk to install Windows.

Please see OS X: Installing OS X on an external volume - Apple Support.

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Answer 2

justin0025 Author

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Mar 31, 2015 9:01 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks for the quick response!

Will this create a bootable version of OS X on an external hard drive? Will this allow me to later install that version onto the internal disk? Will this allow me to access the Command + R recovery?

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Mar 31, 2015 9:06 AM in response to justin0025

1. Yes.

2. Yes, you can use the Recovery HD from the external disk, to install OSX on the internal disk.

3. Command+R is built into the Apple firmware on your Mac. It is not tied to a specific OS on the internal drive.

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Answer 4

justin0025 Author

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Mar 31, 2015 9:06 AM in response to Loner T

Thank you! Such quick and helpful responses. I will try this tonight and will report back. 🙂

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Answer 5

justin0025 Author

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Apr 2, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Loner T

I have successfully managed to install Windows 8.1 and removing OS X. Here are my steps:

1) Downloaded and installed latest version of OS X from the App Store to an External HDD.
2) Launched boot camp assistant from OS X, and installed Windows as normal through the assistant.

3) Once booted into windows, I installed the bootcamp drivers as required.

4) I tested the external HDD's version of OS X to make sure its bootable. (Plug in the External HDD, hold the option key while computer boots up. External HDD will become bootable.)

5) Once OS X boot was successful, I booted back into Windows.

6) I unplugged my External HDD and formatted the OS X internal partition using the Disk Manager.

7) I installed and downloaded Paragon Disk Manager to expand the current partition Windows is installed on. For some reason you cannot do this using the built in Windows Disk Manager and must use some sort of third party application.

8) Once partition was merged, I double checked to make sure I can successfully boot into Windows as well as the external OS X installation.

Hope this helped!

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Answer 6

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Apr 2, 2015 2:44 PM in response to justin0025

When you boot in OS X from the external disk next time, can you post the output of the following commands?

diskutil list

diskutil cs list

sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0

sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

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