Format NTFS partition on APFS container?

Question

Format NTFS partition on APFS container?

I have the standard Samsung 1TB SSD drive in my MacBook Pro. I did install BootCamp on it. Now, I need more space on the Bootcamp partition but I don't seem to be able to do it. Somehow, my main drive (on the main container) is formatted as APFS (I don't recall I formatted it that way but maybe it came factory-formatted). I have 800GB assigned to my main OS X startup partition. I currently have 150GB to my Bootcamp partition. I would like to increase the Bootcamp partition to 200GB. However, Disk Utility under High Sierra is unable to change it. So, I got a Windows freeware called MinitTool Partition Wizard. When I'm booted in Windows 10 and try to expand my Bootcamp partition, the partition tool shows me only the Windows recovery partition as a possible source to take space and allocate to my Bootcamp partition. Basically, it doesn't see the available 50GB I set aside in Disk Utility. Is there any way I can add this 50GB to my Bootcamp partition, preferably without destroying it?

I tried Bootcamp Assistant. The strange thing is when I launch it, I get a message that a Windows partition cannot be created until I have the Bootcamp tool installed. But I did have them since I already have this Bootcamp partition! The only option I have in Bootcamp Assistant is to download the Windows support software, which I did but which didn't help.

Anybody can provide some possible solution?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)

Posted on Dec 28, 2017 10:58 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 29, 2017 12:51 PM in response to NemesysSoftware

Unfortunately, you have created a larger problem for yourself. The Windows disk image will cause you more problems if you try to boot it.

Expanding Windows on a Mac officially requires an uninstall/re-install per Apple. Commercial tools like Winclone are an option.

You can try to restore the disk image (150GB) to a 200GB partition and test if it will boot. Use Bootrec.exe and/or Startup Repair and test if you can make the disk image work.

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 30, 2017 11:46 AM in response to NemesysSoftware

Excellent. I suggest you make a Winclone backup of the current installation. It allows you expand the Windows partition much more easily, without Bootrec.exe /Startup Repair.

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Answer 3

Dec 29, 2017 5:56 PM in response to Loner T

Hello.

I did purchase WinClone and I'm currently restoring the ** Boot Camp disk image onto the Boot Camp partition. It's still analyzing the source and it's been doing this for over half an hour now, with no visible progress. We'll see.

If everything fails, I can rebuild my Windows partition, I assume I would be able to also recover my personal files from the disk image. I could transfer it to a USB key if needed, so, not all is lost!

Thanks for your help. I think I will get there... eventually!

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Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 28, 2017 6:57 PM in response to NemesysSoftware

From macOS Terminal, post the output of

diskutil list

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 28, 2017 11:09 AM in response to NemesysSoftware

Do not use MinitTool Partition Wizard . I can use multiple four-letter words for that product, and 'love' is not one of them. 😉

If you want a horror story as proof, see My osX partiotion won't boot after resizing the windows bootcamp partiotion installed .

Follow BobTheFisherman 's advice, and you will have less pain.

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Answer 6

Dec 28, 2017 11:02 AM in response to NemesysSoftware

Uninstall Windows using Boot Camp Assistant then run Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows and select the size you want for Windows.

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Answer 7

Dec 28, 2017 7:05 PM in response to Loner T

laurent@Laurents-MacBook-Pro:~> diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *1.0 TB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 850.7 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP 148.8 GB disk0s3

4: Windows Recovery 896.5 MB disk0s4

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +850.7 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Mac OS X 800.0 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Preboot 55.8 MB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Recovery 1.5 GB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume VM 1.1 GB disk1s4

From what I can tell, the physical disk is divided between Boot Camp and an APFS container? I think I'm starting to understand why I can't use that additional 50GB. But I'm not sure what I can do...

EDIT: for some reason, the main container uses the entire 850.7GB. Disk Utility reports no free space available when I do a Get Info on the container:

Volume type : APFS Container

BSD device node : disk1

Connection : PCI

Device tree path : IODeviceTree:/PCI0@0/PEG2@1,2/SSD0@0/PRT0@0/PMP@0

Writable : No

Is case-sensitive : No

Volume capacity : 850,650,968,064

Available space (Purgeable + Free) : 0

Purgeable space : 0

Free space : 0

Used space : 850,650,968,064

Owners enabled : No

Is encrypted : No

Can be verified : Yes

Can be repaired : Yes

Bootable : No

Journaled : No

Disk number : 1

Media name : AppleAPFSMedia

Media type : Generic

Ejectable : No

Solid state : Yes

S.M.A.R.T. status : Not Supported

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 28, 2017 7:08 PM in response to NemesysSoftware

Your layout has two parts - disk0s3 and disk0s4. BCA will not touch this disk. Run the following commands only once, otherwise you will lose data.

diskutil eraseVolume jhfs+ BC1 disk0s3

diskutil eraseVolume jhfs+ BC2 disk0s4

diskutil mergePartitions jhfs+ BCMP disk0s3 disk0s4

diskutil list

If you see only disk0s3 (and no disk0s4), then

diskutil eraseVolume fat32 BOOTCAMP disk0s3

and now run BCA and click on Restore/Remove. Once it is clean, re-run BCA and try to install Windows.

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 29, 2017 10:31 AM in response to NemesysSoftware

Now...

If you see only disk0s3 (and no disk0s4), then

diskutil eraseVolume fat32 BOOTCAMP disk0s3

and now run BCA and click on Restore/Remove. Once it is clean, re-run BCA and try to install Windows.

There is no need to destroy the APFS container.

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Answer 10

Dec 29, 2017 10:48 AM in response to Loner T

OK, I ended up formatting the physical disk. Then created a 200GB Windows MS-DOS FAT partition. Then, created an APFS container with the rest of the disk (800GB). So, now, I have to recover everything. Seems that was the only way to get what I wanted which was to get a 200GB Windows partition...

My only concern is to be able to recover my Windows partition that I saved as a disk image and be able to boot from it...

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Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,546 points

Dec 29, 2017 5:38 PM in response to NemesysSoftware

Apart from Winclone, the second method of expanding Windows on a Mac is to use GParted. This requires creating a FAT partition, converting it to Free Space, absorbing it NTFS, and then running Startup Repair/Bootrec.exe as required.

The issue you have now is that there is no longer an on-disk NTFS partition. On a Mac, ** should not be used to make an image of a partition which uses a non-native file system (NTFS). Unix DD is the utility for such tasks.

What is the possibility of re-installing Windows and your applications? I assume you have a backup of your non-OS Windows files.

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Answer 12

Dec 28, 2017 5:20 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Thanks, Bob.

There is just a problem. When I launch Boot Camp Assistant and click the "Continue" button, I get an error message that says:

"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."

Like I said, I already have a Windows partition. So, why isn't Boot Camp Assistant able to see it?

What can I do?

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Answer 13

Dec 28, 2017 8:14 PM in response to Loner T

Dear Loner T!

I found you through Google Search since I accidentally deleted my Macs internal hard drive and lost over 200 gb on it. You seem to know what you are talking about! It would mean the world to me if you would take the time to look at my question and respond.

Accidentally Deleted my Macs Internal Hard Drive.. XD

Thank you for reading!

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Answer 14

Dec 29, 2017 9:38 AM in response to Loner T

Loner,

If I understand your commands above correctly, that will merge my current Windows 10 partition with the Windows Recovery partition? How does that help me make the Windows partition use the additional 50GB?

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Answer 15

Dec 29, 2017 10:12 AM in response to Loner T

OK, I've run all the commands above. I ended up only with disk0s3. However, I'm still stuck with 150GB, not the 200GB I want. What's next? Destroy my APFS container? Am I going to be able to resize it?

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