The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition

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Level 1

4 points

The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition

I am trying to install Windows 8.1 on my 2009 Mac Pro Tower. I am aware that this is the last version of Windows to work with BootCamp on my Mac.

Every time I open BootCamp Assist I get the error message: "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition"

This is bizarre because neither of the internal drives in the Mac Pro have any extra partitions (that I am aware of or that Disk Utility is showing). My Mac Pro has two internal drives, one SATA (typical Toshiba 7200 drive) and one SSD attached via PCIe (https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDACL6G.S/)

When it kept throwing throwing the above error message on the SSD via PCIe, I thought it might have to do with the hardware from OWC. Therefore, I decided to try the SATA drive instead. I completely wiped the SATA drive (held down Command + R during startup, ran Disk Utility in recovery mode and completely wiped the drive) and installed OSX Yosemite on it. But even the SATA drive after being completely wiped with a clean install of OSX still throws the exact same error message.

Can anyone help/advise?

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Mac Pro 4,1 Late 2009

Posted on Aug 24, 2016 10:48 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 24, 2016 11:03 AM in response to Josephm

Did you run SMC and NVRAM Reset with the single SATA disk in the MP?

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Josephm Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 24, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Loner T

Removed the SSD via PCIe from the MP -- just in case the error was related. Running exclusively off the SATA now.

Ran both SMC and NVRAM Reset and still no luck.

Any other suggestions Loner T?

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 24, 2016 12:45 PM in response to Josephm

From OSX Terminal, can you post the output of

diskutil list

diskutil cs list

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Answer 4

Josephm Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 24, 2016 1:03 PM in response to Loner T

Here you go!

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 24, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Josephm

According to Mac Pro (Early 2009) - Technical Specifications , the original storage configuration was

Storage

Four 3.5-inch cable-free, direct-attach hard drive bays with built-in independent 3Gb/s Serial ATA channels; four internal hard drive carriers included

Up to 8TB of internal storage3 in hard drive bays 1 through 4 using hard drives in the following capacities:

640GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm, 16MB cache

1TB or 2TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm, 32MB cache

Optional Mac Pro RAID Card with 512MB cache and 72-hour cache battery backup

18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Writes DVD+R and DVD-R discs at up to 18x speed

Writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 8x speed

Writes DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed

Writes DVD-RW discs at up to 6x speed

Reads DVDs at up to 18x speed

Writes CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 32x speed

Reads CDs at up to 32x speed

One open optical drive bay for optional second SuperDrive

Since you have a 4TB drive, partitioning it is a challenge for BC Assistant. Can you run

diskutil repairDisk disk0

from OSX Terminal manually, and retry BC Assistant.

If it does not work, we will need to manually partition the disk and use a physical W8.1 DVD to install Windows.

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Answer 6

Josephm Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 24, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Loner T

Yeah running the disk utility from the terminal did not effect BC Assistant.

Makes sense. I figured my issues had to do with a hardware configuration I was not privy to.

So if I manually partition the drive like this (see attached screenshot) and take my Windows ISO file and create a DVD with the built in super drive, I should be in business?? Or am I over simplifying? Sorry for sounding like such a noob.

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 24, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Josephm

The Windows partition must be within the first 2TB of the disk. This has to do with MBRs and BIOS mode installation of Windows.

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Answer 8

Josephm Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 24, 2016 2:23 PM in response to Loner T

So like this? Sorry again to sound like such a dummy.

For someone with my limited experience level, would it maybe just make more sense to buy a new drive and install it in one of the 3 available SATA bays? Then use that drive with BC Assistant and save this 4TB drive for backups on both the SSD and the new Windows drive?

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 24, 2016 2:55 PM in response to Josephm

Split the disk in half and split the upper half and use the lower quarter. You can also get a 2tb SATA disk and use the full 2Tb.

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Answer 10

Josephm Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 24, 2016 9:17 PM in response to Loner T

Thanks again for all your help Loner T! I actually ended up getting it to work following this article about converting my partition to a GPT: http://fgimian.github.io/blog/2016/03/12/installing-windows-10-on-a-mac-without- bootcamp/

Including this little addendum for El Capitan: http://superuser.com/questions/508026/windows-detects-gpt-disk-as-mbr-in-efi-boo t

Just in case you were interested. Really appreciate your time!

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Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Aug 25, 2016 5:56 AM in response to Josephm

On older Macs, EFI Boot of Windows may not work properly. Please test your hardware for proper functionality under Windows. If you are happy, back up OS X , Windows and create a Windows System Restore point.

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