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To Loner T... We were talking earlier about me getting Windows on my Mac Yosemite (2009)...

Hey Loner T,

Our conversation apparently timed out earlier & I wasn't allowed to post any more... I hope you can still help me...I'm SO CLOSE to completing this ongoing nightmare of a task!! As of right now, I've cleared out my "trash" and I still only have 36.82 GB of free space on my start up disc. You suggested I allocate at least 100 GB to Windows when I partition (which is the step I am at...) Is there a way I can use another HD (an external one) to install Windows on? Or does it HAVE to be my internal HD/start up disc??

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 28, 2015 4:41 PM

100 replies

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 1, 2015 12:43 PM in response to Loner T

Sorry, I don't understand this question... You have to talk to me like I'm a 5 year old, haha

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 1, 2015 2:04 PM in response to jessdancer

Can you run diskutil cs list in the Terminal and post the output, if possible? You can post a photograph, if it is easier.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 1, 2015 2:59 PM in response to Loner T

I don't know how to do that. I've only been on Terminal once, and that was when I was googling "my BCA failed"... Is there a certain code I need to enter? And what do you mean by "cs"?

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 1, 2015 3:07 PM in response to jessdancer

Open a Terminal window

diskutil cs list

Triple click on the command, Copy (Command+C) the above line and Paste (Command+V) in the Terminal window and post the output. Are you still in Recovery Console? If yes, you will need to take a picture using a camera and post the output as a picture.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 1, 2015 3:14 PM in response to Loner T

This is what it says:

No CoreStorage logical volume groups found

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 1, 2015 3:18 PM in response to jessdancer

If you click on the outer most HD in DU, can you then see an Erase option in the right pane? If yes, click on it.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 10:56 AM in response to Loner T

Ok, sorry. Had to get caught up on my work that's been piling up since I started on this ongoing Windows installation process. I'm back now 🙂

So, on the very top left HD that reads "500.11 GB Internal SATA Disk", everything is grayed out. But, on the HD image just below that one in the far left column that just reads "startup disk" I can click on a box that says "erase free space". But that's it. It won't let me select the format or anything bc that's grayed out.

What now...?

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 2, 2015 11:05 AM in response to jessdancer

Are you still in Recovery Console? Here is an example from my Mac.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 11:07 AM in response to Loner T

Ok, yeah, I can totally click on the "erase" link like it shows on your screen shot, but once I'm on the erase page I can only do what I listed before. And what do you mean by "Recovery Console"?

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 2, 2015 11:16 AM in response to jessdancer

If you booted using Command+R (Local Recovery) or Command+Opt+R (Internet Recovery) and see the following options...

OK I'm at the OS X Utilities menu. Should I:

- Restore from Time Machine Backup

- Reinstall OS X

- Get help online

- Disk Utility

This is is called Recovery console. If you choose Disk Utility, and then see the window in which you have Erase option, select it for the outermost disk as in my example screen. Let it erase the disk. It will show you a progress bar in the right side pane. Once it completes, run diskutil info disk0 in Terminal and post the output if possible.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 11:29 AM in response to Loner T

Oh ok, I see. I'm gonna boot using the Local Recovery (Command + R) like I did before bc I want to recover the most updated OS version I installed: Yosemite... Unless you think there is a benefit to booting through Internet Recovery...?

Loner T

Level 9

59,477 points

Sep 2, 2015 11:48 AM in response to jessdancer

Boot using Internet Recovery, because Local Recovery will not let you erase the disk. Erase the disk and restore from TM which will give you back the current OS from TM, not the one which Apple servers would provide you.