Boot Camp disk cannot be partitioned error

Question

I have an iMac (Retina 5k, 27-inch, Late 2015) with a 3.3 GHz Intel Core i5 processor and a 2.12 TB Fusion Drive.  The Fusion Drive shows as disk 2, File System is Journaled HFS+.  (Disk1s2 shows as Apple SSD SMO128G Media).  I am trying to use Boot Camp to install Windows 8.1, 64 bit.  I have the ISO file, which I downloaded from the Microsoft site.  I have placed it on a DVD drive, as well as an external USB hard drive.  When I run Boot Camp, It downloads the support files and then goes to the creating partition message.  A few moments later, it stops with the message "Disk cannot be partitioned."  Any suggestions on what I might be able to try to troubleshoot this issue would be appreciated.  Thanks....

Duane · Answer

I have asked the moderators to move this to the Boot Camp discussion area.

SabreScott · Answer

Thanks.  I would also add that I have tried to boot using Command S and running /sbin/fsck -fy.  No issues were found.

Loner T · Answer

Can you post the output of the following Terminal commands?diskutil listdiskutil cs listsudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0sudo fdisk /dev/disk0sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk1sudo fdisk /dev/disk1The "sudo" commands will prompt for your password, and it will not be echoed back. You may also see a warning about improper use of "sudo" and potential data loss due to "abuse" of the command.

SabreScott · Answer

diskutil list/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *2.0 TB     disk0   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1   2:          Apple_CoreStorage Macintosh HD            2.0 TB     disk0s2   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk0s3/dev/disk1 (internal, physical):   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *121.3 GB   disk1   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk1s1   2:          Apple_CoreStorage Macintosh HD            121.0 GB   disk1s2   3:                 Apple_Boot Boot OS X               134.2 MB   disk1s3/dev/disk2 (internal, virtual):   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER   0:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD           +2.1 TB     disk2                                 Logical Volume on disk1s2, disk0s2                                 30E1D3F8-2FC2-4B86-A05A-5882CACCF0A9                                 Unencrypted Fusion Drive/dev/disk3 (external, physical):   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *1.0 TB     disk3   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk3s1   2:                  Apple_HFS My Passport for Mac     999.8 GB   disk3s2***************diskutil cs listCoreStorage logical volume groups (1 found)|+-- Logical Volume Group 0DD9F2EC-A20A-4FB3-89C0-01AEEF3030A5    &#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;    Name:         Macintosh HD    Status:       Online    Size:         2120528027648 B (2.1 TB)    Free Space:   114688 B (114.7 KB)    |    +-&lt; Physical Volume 64516BFC-4667-4A01-A2D5-7A38F5E4EE09    |   ----------------------------------------------------    |   Index:    0    |   Disk:     disk1s2    |   Status:   Online    |   Size:     120988852224 B (121.0 GB)    |    +-&lt; Physical Volume E60525F9-0E77-45D9-97A7-3874EDCF5057    |   ----------------------------------------------------    |   Index:    1    |   Disk:     disk0s2    |   Status:   Online    |   Size:     1999539175424 B (2.0 TB)    |    +-&gt; Logical Volume Family 29332FA0-E517-419E-9DF0-651853DF842A        ----------------------------------------------------------        Encryption Type:         None        |        +-&gt; Logical Volume 30E1D3F8-2FC2-4B86-A05A-5882CACCF0A9            ---------------------------------------------------            Disk:                  disk2            Status:                Online            Size (Total):          2114672656384 B (2.1 TB)            Revertible:            No            LV Name:               Macintosh HD            Volume Name:           Macintosh HD            Content Hint:          Apple_HFS            LVG Type:              Fusion, Sparse*********************** sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0Password:gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize&#x3D;2000398934016; sectorsize&#x3D;512; blocks&#x3D;3907029168gpt show: /dev/disk0: PMBR at sector 0gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1gpt show: /dev/disk0: Sec GPT at sector 3907029167       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  3905349952      2  GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC  3905759592     1269536      3  GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC  3907029128           7           3907029135          32         Sec GPT table  3907029167           1         Sec GPT header*****************************sudo fdisk /dev/disk0Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 243201/255/63 [3907029168 sectors]Signature: 0xAA55         Starting       Ending #: id  cyl  hd sec -  cyl  hd sec [     start -       size]------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1: EE 1023 254  63 - 1023 254  63 [         1 - 3907029167] &lt;Unknown ID&gt; 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  ***********************************sudo gpt -vv show /dev/disk1gpt show: /dev/disk1: mediasize&#x3D;121332826112; sectorsize&#x3D;512; blocks&#x3D;236978176gpt show: /dev/disk1: PMBR at sector 0gpt show: /dev/disk1: Pri GPT at sector 1gpt show: /dev/disk1: Sec GPT at sector 236978175      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  236306352      2  GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC  236715992     262144      3  GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC  236978136          7           236978143         32         Sec GPT table  236978175          1         Sec GPT header***************************************sudo fdisk /dev/disk1Disk: /dev/disk1 geometry: 14751/255/63 [236978176 sectors]Signature: 0xAA55         Starting       Ending #: id  cyl  hd sec -  cyl  hd sec [     start -       size]------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1: EE 1023 254  63 - 1023 254  63 [         1 -  236978175] &lt;Unknown ID&gt; 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

Loner T · Answer

1. Copy the ISO to the Mac&#x27;s Documents folder. Unmount the ISO if it gets automatically mounted.2. Disconnect all external storage. 3. Run SMC/NVRAM Reset.     Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support     How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support4. Boot into Internet Recovery and run diskutil repairDisk disk0 .5. Run BC Assistant, and point to the ISO in Documents folder, when prompted. Partition your internal drive.6. Once the Windows installer starts, disconnect any network cables, and connect them only after Windows is fully installed and you have a created a Windows System Restore point.7. Please report any issues.Reference - https://help.apple.com/bootcamp/assistant/6.0/#/bcmp173b3bf2

SabreScott · Answer

Followed all steps without issue, however after Step 4, rebooted and ran BC Assistant and received same error; "Your disk could not be partitioned.  An error occurred while partitioning the disk."

Loner T · Answer

Did you get an error or can you post a screenshot/log of the Repair?In Application -&gt; Utilities -&gt; Console logs may also have disk related error messages.

SabreScott · Answer

Here are entries related to Boot Camp.  Thanks for continued help!  5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents/PkgInfo5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents/MacOS/Boot Camp Assistant5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents/MacOS/Boot Camp Assistant/..namedfork/rsrc5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:18:51.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: SpotlightNetHelp(522) deny(1) file-read-data /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents/MacOS/Boot Camp Assistant5/1/16 11:18:54.476 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Failed to connect (optionContinue) outlet from (DAWindowController) to (NSButton): missing setter or instance variable5/1/16 11:18:54.476 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Failed to connect (quitItem) outlet from (DAWindowController) to (NSMenuItem): missing setter or instance variable5/1/16 11:18:57.926 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Selected disk&#x27;s capacity: 4 GB, used space: 140734750134344 GB5/1/16 11:18:58.103 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Selected disk&#x27;s capacity: 4 GB, used space: 140734750134344 GB5/1/16 11:18:59.601 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: BUG in libdispatch client: kevent[EVFILT_MEMORYSTATUS] add: "Operation not supported" - 0x2d5/1/16 11:18:59.722 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: assertion failed: 15E65: libxpc.dylib + 78986 [2CC7CF36-66D4-301B-A6D8-EBAE7405B008]: 0x895/1/16 11:19:07.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: coreduetd(75) deny(1) file-read-metadata /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:19:07.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: coreduetd(75) deny(1) file-read-metadata /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:19:07.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: coreduetd(75) deny(1) file-read-metadata /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:19:07.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: coreduetd(75) deny(1) file-read-metadata /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:19:07.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: coreduetd(75) deny(1) file-read-metadata /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app5/1/16 11:19:46.940 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: -[DAWindowController softwareUpdateDidBegin:]5/1/16 11:26:51.440 AM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: BCA: partition Error &lt;A problem occurred while resizing Core Storage physical volume structures.&gt; (-69733)5/1/16 11:30:22.326 AM diskarbitrationd[73]: Boot Camp Assistant [568]:56579 not responding.5/1/16 1:20:57.711 PM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Disk 3 is not SATA or PCI.5/1/16 1:20:57.859 PM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Selected disk&#x27;s capacity: 4 GB, used space: 140734750134344 GB5/1/16 1:20:58.025 PM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: Selected disk&#x27;s capacity: 4 GB, used space: 140734750134344 GB5/1/16 1:21:25.835 PM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: -[DAWindowController softwareUpdateDidBegin:]5/1/16 1:28:05.110 PM Boot Camp Assistant[568]: BCA: partition Error &lt;A problem occurred while resizing Core Storage physical volume structures.&gt; (-69733)

Loner T · Answer

Please disconnect disk3 (My Passport) till Windows is fully installed. Re-run step 3 and try again.

SabreScott · Answer

Hi, nothing has been attached to the Mac, but just to be sure, I ran it again just now and got below in the log.  The only thing attached to the Mac is the network cable and a sound out cable.  My Passport is not attached and I don&#x27;t see it listed in Finder at all.  Thanks.***************5/1/16 8:07:12.337 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Failed to connect (optionContinue) outlet from (DAWindowController) to (NSButton): missing setter or instance variable5/1/16 8:07:12.337 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Failed to connect (quitItem) outlet from (DAWindowController) to (NSMenuItem): missing setter or instance variable5/1/16 8:07:12.443 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Disk 3 is not SATA or PCI.5/1/16 8:07:12.494 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Disk 3 is not SATA or PCI.5/1/16 8:08:34.140 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Disk 3 is not SATA or PCI.5/1/16 8:08:34.273 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Selected disk&#x27;s capacity: 4 GB, used space: 140734639394888 GB5/1/16 8:08:34.404 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: Selected disk&#x27;s capacity: 4 GB, used space: 140734639394888 GB5/1/16 8:08:35.628 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: BUG in libdispatch client: kevent[EVFILT_MEMORYSTATUS] add: "Operation not supported" - 0x2d5/1/16 8:08:35.735 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: assertion failed: 15E65: libxpc.dylib + 78986 [2CC7CF36-66D4-301B-A6D8-EBAE7405B008]: 0x895/1/16 8:09:14.873 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: -[DAWindowController softwareUpdateDidBegin:]5/1/16 8:15:54.028 PM Boot Camp Assistant[4524]: BCA: partition Error &lt;A problem occurred while resizing Core Storage physical volume structures.&gt; (-69733)

SabreScott · Answer

I decided to pursue a different avenue and installed the free version of VirtualBox from Oracle and then installed Windows in the virtual machine.  My past experience with virtual machines was not great, as the guest operating system was pretty sluggish.  So far, however, after installing the VirtualBox Guest Additions (adds specific drivers for the version of Windows which fixed a mouse performance issue) after the Windows install, it is running pretty well.  So I can work in Windows when I have a specific need and don&#x27;t have to reboot to do so.  Just an idea if anyone else is hitting the Boot Camp Assistance issues like I was.

Loner T · Answer

I use a Bootcamp installation and import it as VM in a VM engine (any one), so I have benefits of both worlds. Glad to see you have a reliable and usable Mac.

Freis1968 · Answer

I have been having this same issue with my late 2015 5k iMac.  I spent so much time with AppleCare techs and even engineers and top level engineers cannot figure out the problem.  It&#x27;s apparently a huge bug for select iMac 5k owners and I&#x27;m one of the unlucky ones.apple finally gave up and never replied back to me.