Bootcamp "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition" error.

Question

Bootcamp "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition" error.

Hi, all. I'm trying to remove Windows from my Mac to free up more space. However, when I try to remove it the conventional way (by using Boot Camp), I get an error that says "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition." It goes on to say "The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows." I already tried erasing the disk and unmounting it in Disk Utility. Any help would be appreciated.

MacBook, macOS Sierra (10.12.5)

Posted on Jul 15, 2017 6:33 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,636 points

Jan 9, 2019 4:11 AM in response to docsinghal

The disk looks fine. If you did not use BC Assistant to remove Windows, it may still show up as a a boot option when you use Alt/Option, because disk utility does not clean up all Windows-related information.

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,636 points

Jan 10, 2019 4:02 AM in response to docsinghal

So I can restart without fear?

Yes.

Is there something I can do clean up the leftovers from BootCamp?

Can you start a new discussion Boot Camp - Apple Community to avoid confusion with this discussion?

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Answer 3

anntd

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2019 1:49 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks! Requested output follows:

13661/1 $ diskutil eraseVolume free free disk0s3
Started erase on disk0s3
Unmounting disk
Finished erase on disk0


19981/2 $ diskutil apfs resizeContainer disk1 0g
Started APFS operation
Aligning grow delta to 48,95,38,80,576 bytes and targeting a new physical store size of 4,99,96,31,70,816 bytes
Determined the maximum size for the targeted physical store of this APFS Container to be 4,99,96,21,42,720 bytes
Resizing APFS Container designated by APFS Container Reference disk1
The specific APFS Physical Store being resized is disk0s2
Verifying storage system
Using live mode
Performing fsck_apfs -n -x -l /dev/disk0s2
Checking volume
Checking the container superblock
Checking the EFI jumpstart record
Checking the space manager
Checking the object map
Checking the APFS volume superblock
Checking the object map
error: device /private/var/folders/zz/zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000000000000/T/fsck_apfs.19616.1 failed to open with error: Permission denied
The volume /dev/disk0s2 could not be verified completely
Storage system check exit code is 66
Error: -69716: Storage system verify or repair failed

I’m attaching Disk Utility screen shots:

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Answer 4

anntd

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2019 1:57 AM in response to anntd

I had the Win10 .iso attached while running the above commands. Would that affect execution?

Adding new diskutil listings:

13759/1 $ diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme 500.3 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 314.6 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 451.0 GB disk0s2

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +451.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Macintosh HD 272.9 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Preboot 20.8 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Recovery 514.9 MB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume VM 2.1 GB disk1s4

/dev/disk2 (disk image):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-GB... +5.1 GB disk2

20128/2 $ diskutil apfs list
APFS Container (1 found)
|
+-- Container disk1 22ABD4D5-A808-4DFC-9B53-35986E99B647
    ====================================================
    APFS Container Reference:     disk1
    Size (Capacity Ceiling):      451009290240 B (451.0 GB)
    Minimum Size:                 284682588160 B (284.7 GB)
    Capacity In Use By Volumes:   275769552896 B (275.8 GB) (61.1% used)
    Capacity Not Allocated:       175239737344 B (175.2 GB) (38.9% free)
    |
    +-< Physical Store disk0s2 1437BCC6-B396-47DD-9665-E969EA680BBD
    |   -----------------------------------------------------------
    |   APFS Physical Store Disk:   disk0s2
    |   Size:                       451009290240 B (451.0 GB)
    |
    +-> Volume disk1s1 02E6062C-24F9-3635-8BB1-1D253F01E935
    |   ---------------------------------------------------
    |   APFS Volume Disk (Role):   disk1s1 (No specific role)
    |   Name:                      Macintosh HD (Case-insensitive)
    |   Mount Point:               /
    |   Capacity Consumed:         272929390592 B (272.9 GB)
    |   FileVault:                 Yes (Unlocked)
    |
    +-> Volume disk1s2 FC60E3D1-C3A0-4E87-856B-E1766DF0A74C
    |   ---------------------------------------------------
    |   APFS Volume Disk (Role):   disk1s2 (Preboot)
    |   Name:                      Preboot (Case-insensitive)
    |   Mount Point:               Not Mounted
    |   Capacity Consumed:         20803584 B (20.8 MB)
    |   FileVault:                 No
    |
    +-> Volume disk1s3 42F95A6D-E8F9-449B-9DFF-EC0E21B1B8AD
    |   ---------------------------------------------------
    |   APFS Volume Disk (Role):   disk1s3 (Recovery)
    |   Name:                      Recovery (Case-insensitive)
    |   Mount Point:               Not Mounted
    |   Capacity Consumed:         514945024 B (514.9 MB)
    |   FileVault:                 No
    |
    +-> Volume disk1s4 35917B15-9DB2-4A76-9E31-5A85B3070436
        ---------------------------------------------------
        APFS Volume Disk (Role):   disk1s4 (VM)
        Name:                      VM (Case-insensitive)
        Mount Point:               /private/var/vm
        Capacity Consumed:         2147504128 B (2.1 GB)
        FileVault:                 No

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Answer 5

anntd

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2019 5:43 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks much for looking into this.

However, I won't get my hands on my machine for at least a week now since I have other HW issues (not disk related) which support is currently fixing.

Once I get the machine back I'll start a new discussion combining everything together.

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Answer 6

isopaite

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2019 4:35 PM in response to Loner T

Loner T,

I have been trying to solve this issue for months now. I've tried many of the terminal command prompts you have suggested for other users but none of them seem to help.. I am still getting "The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.." error. I would be so grateful if you could take a look at my disk utility list to see if there is something I can try.

diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme 500.3 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 314.6 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 307.0 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data OSXRESERVED 8.0 GB disk0s6

4: Apple_HFS BC2 127.9 GB disk0s4

5: Apple_HFS BC1 56.7 GB disk0s3

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +307.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Macintosh HD 40.9 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Preboot 44.1 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Recovery 1.0 GB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume VM 1.1 GB disk1s4

/dev/disk2 (disk image):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US... +5.1 GB disk2

I have restored my computer and am still getting the same error.

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Answer 7

Feb 9, 2019 4:48 AM in response to charguytechguy

Same issue here guys, and after several attempts, my disk state is not ideal now.

Here is diskutil list, any ideas to get it back to a good state?

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *251.0 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 122.0 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data OSXRESERVED 8.0 GB disk0s3

4: EFI NO NAME 104.9 MB disk0s4

5: Microsoft Reserved 16.8 MB disk0s5

6: EFI NO NAME 104.9 MB disk0s6

7: EFI NO NAME 104.9 MB disk0s7

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +122.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Untitled 53.9 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Preboot 44.0 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Recovery 517.0 MB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume VM 1.1 GB disk1s4

/dev/disk2 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *535.7 GB disk2

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk2s1

2: Apple_HFS 512 Flash Storage 535.3 GB disk2s2

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,636 points

Feb 9, 2019 5:30 AM in response to Darrensw777

Can you start a new discussion to avoid confusion? The EFI NO NAME indicates external storage connected to the Mac during Windows installation, when it may not be requested or required. You do not need external storage for installers, if you Mac is a 2015 or later model.

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,636 points

Feb 9, 2019 5:30 AM in response to Darrensw777

Can you start a new discussion to avoid confusion? The EFI NO NAME indicates external storage connected to the Mac during Windows installation, when it may not be requested or required. You do not need external storage for installers, if you Mac is a 2015 or later model.

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Answer 10

Feb 9, 2019 7:58 AM in response to Loner T

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've been trying for hours but get message saying "Your post cannot be saved" then saying post limit exceeded. Then site down for maintenance. Is it always like this? Only joined today. Anyway, will post soon as I can but no external devices in answer to your point in your reply.

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Answer 11

Feb 9, 2019 8:00 AM in response to Loner T

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've been trying for hours but get message saying "Your post cannot be saved" then saying post limit exceeded. Then site down for maintenance. Is it always like this? Only joined today. Anyway, will post soon as I can but no external devices in answer to your point in your reply.

Reply

Answer 12

Feb 9, 2019 8:01 AM in response to Loner T

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've been trying for hours but get message saying "Your post cannot be saved" then saying post limit exceeded. Then site down for maintenance. Is it always like this? Only joined today. Anyway, will post soon as I can but no external devices in answer to your point in your reply.

Reply

Answer 13

Feb 9, 2019 8:03 AM in response to Loner T

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've been trying for hours but get message saying "Your post cannot be saved" then saying post limit exceeded. Then site down for maintenance. Is it always like this? Only joined today. Anyway, will post soon as I can but no external devices in answer to your point in your reply.

Reply

Answer 14

Feb 9, 2019 8:26 AM in response to Loner T

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've been trying for hours but get message saying "Your post cannot be saved" then saying post limit exceeded. Then site down for maintenance. Is it always like this? Only joined today. Anyway, will post soon as I can but no external devices in answer to your point in your reply.

Reply

Answer 15

isopaite

Level 1

8 points

Feb 9, 2019 8:58 AM in response to Loner T

Thank you for your response!

I've rebooted and here is my diskutil output:

diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme 500.3 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 314.6 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 307.0 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data OSXRESERVED 8.0 GB disk0s3

4: Apple_HFS BC2 127.9 GB disk0s4

5: Apple_HFS BC1 56.7 GB disk0s5

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +307.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Macintosh HD 66.1 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Preboot 44.1 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Recovery 1.0 GB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume VM 1.1 GB disk1s4

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