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[ms] · Est. May 2002

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Forums / Computers / Electronics / Games

OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

20 durable postsStarted 2014-05-16Latest 2014-05-23
#143201Post 1 of 20

Can anyone help me fix this? I can't find anything online and I'm not able to grow back my main partition, so there is a 100GB of unclaimed space just being wasted on my HD right now.

Any idea how to fix this? The OSX gui tools wont let me resize or save the parition to get my space back.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/KrcN8MV.png[/IMG]

#1715401Post 2 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Try a software like iPartition?

#1715532Post 3 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Reso - the fact that [I]you[/I] are asking MS how to fix a software related issue tells me you are most likely f*cked... sorry in advance I couldn't be any help. Have you called Apple?

#1715537Post 4 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

^^Im going to check out that software above, if it will do what i want in free mode i might be good. I havent been able to find any good fixes online and Im usually good at sorting all of this out.

Im not sure if I can call apple since Im not sure if I have a support account etc.

#1715545Post 5 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

I don't recall ever seeing anything like the problem you have. Quite weird.

#1715597Post 6 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

I'd just buy a new hard drive. Maybe a solid state.

#1715621Post 7 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Can't hurt to walk it into a store. I've found if you're nice and truly I'm need of help from apple - they usually fix issues for free or cheap

#1715692Post 8 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

I dont want to lug a bigass 27" imac into the mall...I haven't had time to fix this yet but hopefully I can figure it out. I can always wipe the computer and reinstall it to get my 100GB back but I dont want to mess with that.

#1715701Post 9 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

I assume you tried this?

[QUOTE]You can't change the size of the partition on which the OS is installed. You have to reboot and hold down the alt-key before OSX gets to start, then choose to launch Disk Utility instead. [/QUOTE] [url="http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1573123"]Can't resize partition in Mountain Lion - MacRumors Forums[/url]

iPartition seems to work for this guy on the second attempt:

[QUOTE]I had copied the 500gb of data, and was all set to erase my 1 terabyte source drive... when as a last ditch effort, i tried a partition program called "iPartition". For the second time, that is. I finally figured out that all you have to do is drag the colored circle wheel around and VOILA. This program does what Disk Utility won't: resize the partition without destroying anything. (Did take longer than expected though, about 20 minutes). Destry rides again, yeeha! [/QUOTE]

#1715703Post 10 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

yeah I think I tried the first step, but I don't see a recovery partition? It just seemed to only have my main osx partition, plus thats all that shows up via the screenshot too.

I'll check out ipartition and see if it can do what I want, hopefully for free.

#1715706Post 11 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Hmm what recovery partition are you referring to? I think that thread was referring to a recovery boot disk which might've been made on a flash drive when you update/install a new Mac OS. I have a vague memory of that.

As long as you can boot into Disk Utility before the main OS you might have a chance to change fiddle with the partition your OS is on.

#1715783Post 12 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

I thought there was a hidden partition or something that would show up when I boot to the boot chooser screen to let me select it and re-install osx from scratch? I don't think I have that and only see my main osx partition.

I'm not too sure how the reinstall process works though so I may be wrong. I guess it is here, just hidden to keep things nice and clean like apple likes to do.

[code] $ sudo diskutil list /dev/disk0 #: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER 0: GUID_partition_scheme *1.0 TB disk0 1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1 2: Apple_CoreStorage 897.6 GB disk0s2 3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3 /dev/disk1 #: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER 0: Apple_HFS Macintosh HD *897.3 GB disk1 /dev/disk2 #: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER 0: Apple_partition_scheme *16.1 MB disk2 1: Apple_partition_map 32.3 KB disk2s1 2: Apple_HFS Flash Player 16.1 MB disk2s2 imac:~[/code]

#1715785Post 13 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

[QUOTE]Just hold down Command-R during startup and OS X Recovery springs into action. It lets you choose from common utilities: You can run Disk Utility to check or repair your hard drive, erase your hard drive and reinstall a fresh copy of OS X, or restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup. You can even use Safari to get help from Apple Support online. And if OS X Recovery encounters problems, it will automatically connect to Apple over the Internet.[/QUOTE]

[url="http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/"]Apple - OS X Recovery restores your Mac with a few clicks. [/url]

You just need to access Disk Utility at boot up before entering the OS. See if you can adjust the partition from there. You can't adjust the main partition your OS is on when you're IN the OS. From what I remember even 3rd party software only provide a GUI for main partition adjustments, after which you'll have to log out so the software can run scripts to make said adjustments.

#1715795Post 14 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Ahhh this is what I was looking for.

I am booted into the tool now, but I still dont understand why the hell I can't grow my partition into the used space.

It wont let me resize the partition still into the unused space, but I can click the + button and it will let me split my existing partition into two, so it will resize it that way. What the hell.

#1715796Post 15 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Actually this looks to be doing the same crap as when I use disk util while the OS is booted.

I try and make a new partition with the 100G free space, but when I click apply it doesnt actually do anything, when I close the program it says there are unsaved changes. So I can't change anything still. It seems that its still touching the root disk, so its not letting me edit it.

#1715797Post 16 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

I also don't understand why I can't resize the rootdisk when I'm in it because I can run BootCamp Assistant and it will shrink the OSX partition and create a Windows partition while I'm in the OS...

#1715826Post 17 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

These are all wonderful questions for an apple employee :lol:

#1715830Post 18 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

[QUOTE=res0nat0r;1127428]I also don't understand why I can't resize the rootdisk when I'm in it because I can run BootCamp Assistant and it will shrink the OSX partition and create a Windows partition while I'm in the OS...[/QUOTE]

I haven't used BootCamp, that's odd. I always thought the root partition is untouchable from within the OS. I thought it made sense in theory since doing anything to the root partition might require files to be moved and the partition table rewritten, kinda like renovating your apartment while you and everything you own are still in it :lol:

#1715831Post 19 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

[QUOTE=floridaorange;1127491]These are all wonderful questions for an apple employee :lol:[/QUOTE]

We're just enjoying the process of trying to solve this :lol:

#1715847Post 20 of 20

Re: OSX - Cannot reclaim free space partition

Yup feather you are right, normally you can't resize the live partition you are sitting in, but somehow it works for bootcamp.

Also Florida I just checked my OSX subscription and unfortunately I'm out of coverage for phone support, unless I pay. I'm not paying some fool probably $50 to solve this, I am an internet Jedi.

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