I can't re-install windows

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Level 1

4 points

I can't re-install windows

Hey folks, I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015),2.2 GHz Intel Core i7-16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3-Macintosh HD-OS X El Capitan-10.11.6 (15G1004).

I recently installed windows and something wasn't right, so I decided to uninstall/re-install. so I deleted all the content from bootcamp. when I tried to re-install, I got this message:The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 9:08 PM

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Answer 1

darren.s

Community Specialist

Sep 13, 2016 11:27 AM in response to sk8n1

Hi sk8n1,

I understand that you are trying to remove Windows from Boot Camp on your MacBook Pro, but you're getting an error when trying to partition your hard drive. I know it's important to have control over the software on your computer, so I'm happy to provide some help with this.

When removing a Boot Camp Windows installation, it is important to use the Boot Camp Assistant to go through this process. Check out this article on the subject:

Boot Camp: Remove Windows from your Mac

If you installed Windows on a disk that has multiple partitions

Start up your Mac in OS X.

Quit all open apps and log out any other users.

Open Boot Camp Assistant, then click Continue.

Select “Remove Windows 7 or later version,” then click Continue.

Do one of the following:

If your Mac has a single internal disk, click Restore.

If your Mac has multiple internal disks, select the Windows disk, select “Restore disk to a single OS X partition,” then click Continue.

If you installed Windows on a disk that has a single partition

Start up your Mac in OS X.

Open Disk Utility, located in the Other folder in Launchpad.

Select the Windows disk, click Erase, choose the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, then click the Erase button.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities, cheers!

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Sep 14, 2016 1:16 PM in response to sk8n1

A BC Windows installation must be removed using BC Assistant, nothing else. Boot Camp: Remove Windows from your Mac . If you need a detailed explanation, please post the output of the following OS X Terminal command.

diskutil list

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