Disk Utility showing multiple disk containers

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Level 1

8 points

Disk Utility showing multiple disk containers

The issue started when I was using bootcamp assist. It failed because it couldn't partition the disk. I re-tried multiple times thinking it was a fluke. But, now I have multiple container disks that can't be deleted. Any help would be appreciated I've provided some screenshots below. Thanks.

I've tried

Erasing, and deleting the volume
Converting the containers into Mac Os Extended (Journaled)
Creating a USB Installer

MacBook Pro, macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)

Posted on Feb 19, 2018 5:58 PM

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Answer 1

JumpMan01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2018 4:18 PM in response to Kappy

The partition was made because I tried multiple times to install windows, and I seen a similar issue being posted by a forum member, and followed some of the solutions proposed to him. One being making a fusion drive. Disk Utility scan failed on "Container disk1"? but it looks like he has a different issue so I might have done that for no reason.

CoreStorage fusion is the main drive, it's 128 GB

I also have a USB ready with High Sierra if needed.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 21, 2018 7:31 PM in response to JumpMan01

I believe you can erase the drive then reinstall macOS.

Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch

If possible backup your files.

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the CommandandRkeys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
Set the Format type to APFS or to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

This will install the version of OS X you had installed.

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Answer 3

DonH49

Level 6

16,704 points

Feb 20, 2018 3:00 PM in response to JumpMan01

I've had troubles also but I've learned to use a bootable External Yosemite drive to clear it out and start over. That's if your Mac can be bootable with Yosemite.

Just remember next time, a container is all you need. You can have multiple bootable volumes created on that one container. Think of the container as a medical bridge for the MEDIA to make working with partitions and volumes and space far more easier than in the past.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 20, 2018 3:16 PM in response to JumpMan01

Have you partitioned the drive? Have you been setting up USB flash drives? Is CoreStorage Fusion the main HDD, and, what size is it? If you select it what is displayed as you have these other entries?

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Answer 5

JumpMan01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2018 10:42 PM in response to dot.com

dot.com wrote:

What do you get for the Terminal commands:

df -kt

diskutil list

Good luck...

Spooks-MacBook-Pro:~ spook$ df -kt

Filesystem 1024-blocks Used Available Capacity iused ifree %iused
Mounted on

/dev/disk5s1 43945312 25420344
16338700 61%
462143 9223372036854313664 0%
/

devfs 194 194 0
100% 674 0
100%
/dev

map -hosts 0 0 0
100% 0 0
100%
/net

map auto_home 0 0 0
100% 0 0
100%
/home

/dev/disk5s4 43945312
1048596
16338700 7% 1 9223372036854775806 0%
/Volumes/VM

/dev/disk5s3 43945312
995720
16338700 6% 24 9223372036854775783 0%
/Volumes/Recovery

Spooks-MacBook-Pro:~ spook$ diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *121.3 GB
disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB
disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk5 45.0 GB disk0s2

3: Microsoft Basic Data OSXRESERVED 8.0 GB disk0s9

4: Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP 23.0 GB disk0s10

5: Apple_APFS Container disk1 8.0 GB disk0s3

6: Apple_APFS Container disk4 17.0 GB disk0s4

7: Apple_APFS Container disk2 8.0 GB disk0s5

8: Apple_APFS Container disk3 12.1 GB disk0s6

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +8.0 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s3

/dev/disk2 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +8.0 GB disk2

Physical Store disk0s5

/dev/disk3 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +12.1 GB disk3

Physical Store disk0s6

/dev/disk4 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +17.0 GB disk4

Physical Store disk0s4

/dev/disk5 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +45.0 GB disk5

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume CoreStorage Fusion 26.0 GB disk5s1

2: APFS Volume Preboot 43.0 MB disk5s2

3: APFS Volume Recovery 1.0 GB disk5s3

4: APFS Volume VM 1.1 GB disk5s4

Here's what I got 🙂

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 21, 2018 10:55 AM in response to JumpMan01

Can APFS be used with Time Machine, Boot Camp, and File Vault? might provide some help. If the SSD is formatted APFS then you cannot use Boot Camp at this time. Maybe that is why you did not succeed or you tried using Disk Utility to create the Windows partition instead of using Boot Camp Assistant.

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Answer 7

JumpMan01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 21, 2018 6:40 PM in response to Kappy

It's starting to make sense. At least, some of it. I was reading an article. Here

That claims there is no "back-out mechanism" out of afps the only way is to erase the main drive, and revert back to a clone that's not on high sierra. If I haven't made a backup when I was on "Sierra, or El Capitan" how would I go about doing this?

Or

Would the only option be to downgrade?

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