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Bootcamp Partition Error: "Files cannot be moved"

Nice iDefrag tip .. I tried it but didn't do the boot CD defrag so I still got the error.

I ended up using the suggestion from Bootcamp. I backed up my boot drive using super duper, then erased the HD and restored the backed up image to it again. This has the same affect as a defrag but perhaps a tiny bit quicker, depending on your HDD size .. this process took ~5 hours for 80Gb of data.

Nasty error though .. I thought HFS didn't suffer from fragmentation?

Cheers,
Adam
 
msteele999 said:
In my case, the files for Parallels VM were marked unmovable.

I backed up my hard disk and deleted these files and viola!

I now have Windows XP running via boot camp
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot msteele999 that worked for me!:)

Parallels was the problem.
No extra work needed!
 
+1 for idefrag

you have to do it off the bootable DVD or from an outside source for it to work.
 
Don't mean to resurrect an old thread but I had a huge problem with this exact error message and looked all over the internet for a solution:

iDefrag works magically, took about 6 - 8 hours overnight and it partitioned like a charm. Hopefully Apple notes the error when the final version releases or includes a form of defrag for users such as myself and others (I had the error from originally partitioning 15 gigs, and I removed the partition via Boot Camp and tried to make a new partition of 40 gigs).

For future users, hopefully you know what size you want before formatting, don't experiment with a small partition with the hopes of easily upgrading to a larger partition (unless you get lucky).

Hope this helps to anyone else out there in cyberland that's frustrated with searching for a solution that doesn't involve backing up the home folder and reinstalling OS X.
 
More steps to avoid backup/reinstall

I found this thread because of problems installing Windows XP with Boot Camp (1.3b)... I also was getting the error about the Boot Camp Installer not being able to move files, and in my case couldn't create a partition with any size from 12 GB down to 5 GB (with 18 GB free).

I found the advice here useful, and I'm posting to pass along an additional tip that helped me. I followed the suggestion of removing CrossOver, but this didn't help; I then installed and used ShowVolumeFragmentation, which showed how highly fragmented my 200 GB disk had become.

Here are the two "tricks" I found useful:

1. Was able to significantly reduce fragmentation by copying big batches of files (though I wouldn't expect this to work on its own, as it must be what the BCI is trying to do.)

2. I installed OnyX and used it to delete the Spotlight index (under "Maintenance" tab, "Reset" subtab). This was probably the key as SVF had reported Spotlight index files with hundreds of fragments.

Following these steps, I able to create the 12 GB partition I wanted.
 
Remove Corrupt Files!!!

I came to this page with the same error constantly hindering me from installing windows on my MBP. I used the advice from the previous posts and got iDefrag and CDMaker and all that and proceeded to defrag my hard drive. iDefrag seemed to be working until it hit a snag and sent me another loving error message saying that iMovieHD was corrupt and could not be moved. I never even had used iMovie at all so I booted up normally and tried to copy iMovie and all its components into my external hard drive to see if this would remedy the problem. Copying iMovie failed saying the device could not be read to, meaning that somehow my file got corrupted. I also got that same error when trying to copy some music.

Therefore I located all of the files that would not allow themselves to be copied (by trying to copy them and having it fail), deleted them all, and then attempted to partition 20GB. It worked perfectly, so make sure your hard drive doesn't have any corrupt files that can't be copied.

Macbook Pro 1st Generation, 80GB hard drive (about 43GB free)
Successfully made partition of 20GB for Vista
 
After following much of the advise in this thread, Boot Camp still refused to work. Just as I was on the verge of a reinstall I found this set of steps had worked for me:
1) Get as many files off the disk as possible (I put all the things that didn't come with my MBP on a firewire disk, like Apps and home folders)
2) Erase free space (I did this from the install CD, as I had the idea JUST before a reinstall)

Now Boot Camp will make a 15GB partition where it wouldn't even make 5 before.


Cheers for advise ppl
 
Another vote for iDefrag here :) Used it last night to defrag my MBP (specs in signature). Only took about 4 hours total. Afterwards, notonly was the MBP fast as I have ever seen it, but the BootCamp partitioning took no time and completed with no errors. Bootcamp installed just fine!

Woohooo! Thanks to all the posters for their help :)
 
Bootcamp Partitioning :: iDefrag is the answer

Hello,

So I was having the same issues, not being able to partition my drive. I read through every single instance on this Forumn and they were all very helpful.

The fact that you removed Parallels and it worked for you? Well, you just got lucky, that really isn't the answer as I removed all instances of mine and that didn't help.

The only answer is to download iDefrag, or buy it, and create the DVD boot rom. Reboot your computer, hold down the C key, and let iDefrag do it's work. Let it defrag your whole machine, and reboot int OS X and partition your drive with Boot Camp.

Worked like a charm!

iDefrag rocks, really it does. I think any mac book pro user should have a copy and defrag your drive every few months.

regards,
chris vandebrooke
 
iDefrag works!

Thanks guys! iDefrag worked like a charm!

I actually didn't even have to burn and boot from a cd, I just ran the quick (online) mode and it solved the error.

Thanks again.
 
In my case the quick (on-line) method didn't work out, I still couldn't make any partition bigger than 10Gb (wanted it to be 20Gb).

Using CDMaker + iDefrag and a full defrag sesion of 5 hours, it did work out - and after a reboot I could finally make that darn 20Gb partition and install Vista without a glitch.

I'm a bit angry at Apple by simply saying 'reinstall your system' to actually hide the real problem - fragmentation. Reinstalling everything is for sure a problem but they don't really care if the users have to go through all that hassle to install Windows.

On top of all this issues, I thought HFS+ did take care of fragmentation on its own? Or is that just an unconfirmed rumor?
 
Another vote for iDefrag here!

The quick (on-line) method didn't work out so I needed to create a boot DVD (wouldn't fit on a CDR) in order to run the full defrag session. Took about 5-6 hours for me too.

After that was complete..... my files were lined up..... drive was defragged...... nice consecutive white space showed up on screen and I was ready to rumble. Quick boot back into OS X and boot camp worked like a charm.
 
I am having the same problem. I visited Coriolis Systems website but the company states that the current version of iDefrag is not compatible with Leopard. What other suggestions do you have? I have been using vmware but I want to install Windows under Bootcamp. Thanks.
 
hajime said:
I am having the same problem. I visited Coriolis Systems website but the company states that the current version of iDefrag is not compatible with Leopard. What other suggestions do you have? I have been using vmware but I want to install Windows under Bootcamp. Thanks.
Click to expand...

You'll have to find another defragmentation program compatible with Leopard, then. Drive Genius is a program; not sure if it's as good as iDefrag and dunno about Leopard compatibility. Just search the web for HFS+ defragmentation programs; I'm sure you'll find some.

If you have a backup of your harddrive (i.e. using Time Machine, SuperDuper!, Carbon Copy Cloner, or whatever) you can do this:

1. Make a new backup, to match the most recent version of your harddrive.
2. Start up from your backup if you're using SuperDuper!, Carbon Copy Cloner, or any program that creates an exact duplicate of your original drive. Startup from your Mac OS X Install DVD if you're using Time Machine. I can't help you if you're using a backup program that stores things in weird ways that I'm not familiar with.
3. Restore your hard drive as though your drive randomly got deleted or you're installing a new hard drive. Everything will be copied to the beginning of the drive, so you won't have to move anything around when you repartition.
 
IDefrag worked for me!

thanks for the tip Jackslater !! I lost so much time with Apple bootcamp FAQ, formatting and restoring my laptop... before I finally looked on google for this problem and found this forum.
I bought IDefrag, ran Compact Defrag and I was able to partitionate my disk after that! yeah! Why bootcamp doesn't simply say the real problem?? :confused:
 
flamenkilla said:
thanks for the tip Jackslater !! I lost so much time with Apple bootcamp FAQ, formatting and restoring my laptop... before I finally looked on google for this problem and found this forum.
I bought IDefrag, ran Compact Defrag and I was able to partitionate my disk after that! yeah! Why bootcamp doesn't simply say the real problem?? :confused:
Click to expand...

I fail to see why you formatted/restored your laptop, and THEN followed the solution in this forum; you should only have to do one or the other...

Boot Camp doesn't say the real problem because for some users it's too hard to understand. I know several people who still can't understand that their MacBooks can run Windows even after I've demonstrated doing so on my own MacBook. Sigh.
 
I had the defrag error when partitioning as well. I backed everything up to an external drive, reinstalled Leopard and created a new user account, then used BootCamp Assistant to create the Windows partition. Only after the Windows partition was in place did I use Migration Assistant to restore all my old programs and settings and data. Then I installed XP SP2 on the new partition, installed the Apple drivers, and after booting the partition into Fusion, installed VMWare Tools. And away I went.

Years of building my own Windows computers trained me for this. ;)

I'm disappointed that Apple doesn't have a defrag utility, even if it's hidden under some advanced setting somewhere. I'll have to get one.
 
Idefrag

m1ss1ontomars said:
I fail to see why you formatted/restored your laptop, and THEN followed the solution in this forum; you should only have to do one or the other...

Boot Camp doesn't say the real problem because for some users it's too hard to understand. I know several people who still can't understand that their MacBooks can run Windows even after I've demonstrated doing so on my own MacBook. Sigh.
Click to expand...

Basically, I had a partition before on my macbook. Then deleted it. Later on, when I wanted one again with bootcamp, it gave me the error message we're talking about. "cannot move files, so format and restore..." so I did what it said... But after restoring and running bootcamp, got the same error message again and again (tried different size). I didn't know what to do, I was stuck. So, hopefully i found this forum! Idefrag was the solution for me. I don't have much space on my disk, that's probably why it was too much fragmentized... I brought all my files at the beginning of the drive, so I had enought consecutive space to partitionate it. Hope it helps to understand with the whole story...
 
I'm running idefrag off of another mac right now, and its almost done, but I still see a few red spots along the hard drive bar on the bottom of idefrag. Should I be concerned that it still wont work? I have a feeling it is not going to and I'll have to re-install Leopard...:( lol
 
Has anyone figured out how to fix this bootcamp issue on leopard?? I cant use idefrag because it wont work on leopard. I need to get XP working but bootcamp wont let me do this! Agghhh so frustrating, im not going to do what it says and wipe my computer. Is there any alternative to idefrag for leopard?!
 
bootable dvd idefrag

ElCambo said:
How do i make a bootable dvd with idefrag?
Please help, im new to this.
Click to expand...

I didn't know before either, but when I downloaded the file online, it explains it. They have the program and you just have to copy it on a cd or dvd
Hope this helps!
 
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