Volume erase failed - not enough space (Disk Utility)

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Level 1

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Volume erase failed - not enough space (Disk Utility)

I have a Seagate external 3T drive for Time Machine backup of my 24 " Early 2009 iMac running Yosemite 10.10.4 . The Seagate is partitioned 2T for Time Machine and 1T for separate backup functions. I no longer need the data on the second, 1T partition, so I attempted to erase it to use for other backups. The error message is "Volume erase failed . . . Mediakit reports not enough space to complete operation." My solution is to resize the partitions giving #2 more room for the erasure but it is EXTREMELY slow. My entire iMac since upgrading to Yosemite is EXTREMELY, excruciatingly slow (that's another problem). Any suggestions on how to erase just one of the two partitions for reuse? Thanks, Rod

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

Rod Miller Author

Level 1

60 points

Jul 23, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Rod Miller

My attempted solution (to increase the partition space on the partition I want to erase) increased the space on the partition I want to erase but I still get the error message there is not enough space to complete the erase operation. I supposed I can begin dragging and dropping files from the partition I want to erase and gradually reduce the volume of files while increasing the free space? Or am I just getting in deeper? Could use some help here . . .

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Answer 2

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Jul 23, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Rod Miller

IMHO if your backup is up-to-date and you have NOTHING you need from it I would suggest you erase the entire thing using Disk Utility (go to partition tab) , make it one partition (Partition Layout: change to 1 partition) then select the format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
NOTE: THIS DELETES ALL YOUR BACKUP DATA ON BOTH PARTITIONS (but I think you already know that)

You may want to take the opportunity to test the validity of the drive once formatted (go to First Aid tab and select the drive, then Verify Disk) and this could take a few minutes or much longer.

You can use the drive as 3TB time machine backup once OS X sees the drive is available on your computer. OS X will preemptively see it and ask you if you want to use it and turn Time Machine on if it was not already once you tell it to use it.

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Answer 3

Rod Miller Author

Level 1

60 points

Jul 23, 2015 1:58 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Thanks Jimmy . . . I've seen this suggestion. Unfortunately, Partition 1 is my Time Machine backup disc so I can't erase the entire Seagate drive. Partition 2 is an earlier cloned copy of my HD before I installed Yosemite. I am now 3 generations passed Yosemite installation on my iMac and no longer need it - although I would love to reinstall Mavericks. Frankly, Yosemite has screwed up my iMac so badly it hardly functions - it is soooooo painfully slow. I want to use Partition 2 for Time Machine backup of my two laptops. Right now, they're backed up along with my iMac on Partition I . . . that is filling up so I'd like to move the laptop backups to Partition 2. Ideas?

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Answer 4

Rod Miller Author

Level 1

60 points

Jul 23, 2015 6:51 PM in response to Rod Miller

Figured it out from a Google search that took me to another community support site . . . highlight the partition you want deleted then tick delete ➖, which erases it but leaves it formated. Then add it back ➕. Simple - I'm doing my laptop backups.

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