Bootcamp problems

[SamL05]

Hello all,

When installing Windows 10 using bootcamp, the disk was getting partitioned and I think bootcamp assistant quit itself or closed itself. When going into disk utility to check, there was already a BOOTCAMP partition and I can't delete it using bootcamp as a error message shows up saying The startup disk cannot be partitioned or restored to a single partition.

How do I delete the partition?

Thanks.

KR Sam.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

• Backup your Mac partition with SuperDuper.
• Boot with the SuperDuper drive.
• Repartition & Reformat the original disc as one Big macOS drive.
• Copy the SuperDuper drive back to the original.
• Reboot with the original drive.
• Redo the Bootcamp partition creation process.

 

[SamL05]

• Backup your Mac partition with SuperDuper.
• Boot with the SuperDuper drive.
• Repartition & Reformat the original disc as one Big macOS drive.
• Copy the SuperDuper drive back to the original.
• Reboot with the original drive.
• Redo the Bootcamp partition creation process.

Is using SuperDuper the only way to restore the hard drive back to one partition or is there another way? When using SuperDuper to backup the Mac partition, what format does the external hard drive have to be?

Also, can I just delete the partition using disk utility or would that harm my Mac or hard drive?

Thank you!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

There's probably a variety of tools you could use here that might work. That suggestion doesn't involve any cost if you have a spare drive to which you can SuperDupe.

Format the clone in whatever format your existing drive is formatted (HFS?).

Once you've got a complete, bootable copy of your internal drive on that external, you can use any tools to try to delete the Bootcamp partition. If you boot with the SuperDupe'd copy, it's Disk Utility tool might be able to delete the Bootcamp partition and basically restore the macOS partition as if you never allocated the space to Bootcamp. If so, you don't have to reformat the macOS partition and reverse the SuperDupe. You just reboot using the internal (macOS) drive and then attempt to recreate a Bootcamp partition from scratch.

The SuperDuper clone is just a safety net to cover a variety of possibilities as you attempt to reclaim the Bootcamp space to potentially try again.

Odds are you can "just delete the partition using Disk Utility" (without harming the Mac or hard drive). But there is always a little risk of something going wrong and corrupting the macOS side, which could lead to having to reformat the WHOLE drive. It's this scenario where having a complete backup of the macOS would be crucial.

 

[SamL05]

There's probably a variety of tools you could use here that might work. That suggestion doesn't involve any cost if you have a spare drive to which you can SuperDupe.

Format the clone in whatever format your existing drive is formatted (HFS?).

Once you've got a complete, bootable copy of your internal drive on that external, you can use any tools to try to delete the Bootcamp partition. If you boot with the SuperDupe'd copy, it's Disk Utility tool might be able to delete the Bootcamp partition and basically restore the macOS partition as if you never allocated the space to Bootcamp. If so, you don't have to reformat the macOS partition and reverse the SuperDupe. You just reboot using the internal (macOS) drive and then attempt to recreate a Bootcamp partition from scratch.

The SuperDuper clone is just a safety net to cover a variety of possibilities as you attempt to reclaim the Bootcamp space to potentially try again.

Odds are you can "just delete the partition using Disk Utility" (without harming the Mac or hard drive). But there is always a little risk of something going wrong and corrupting the macOS side, which could lead to having to reformat the WHOLE drive. It's this scenario where having a complete backup of the macOS would be crucial.

Hello,

Thank you for going into detail about deleting the Bootcamp partition and information about SuperDuper. I backed up my hard drive and then deleted the bootcamp partition using Disk Utility. So all has been fixed now.

Sam

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Glad to hear it. Retain your backup so you can easily do the same thing again as you try to create the bootcamp partition and potentially run into the same problem again. After you have succeeded in getting your Bootcamp partition in place and fully functional, that backup becomes less important (it will age as you do new things on the macOS side). But it's a great safety net while this kind of work is being done.

 

[SamL05]

Glad to hear it. Retain your backup so you can easily do the same thing again as you try to create the bootcamp partition and potentially run into the same problem again. After you have succeeded in getting your Bootcamp partition in place and fully functional, that backup becomes less important (it will age as you do new things on the macOS side). But it's a great safety net while this kind of work is being done.

Yes, I agree with you about the backup and how it's a great safety net. I have managed to create a bootcamp partition successfully and have been able to install Windows on it. Thank you!

Sam

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Glad I could help. The ability to run macOS and Windows in a single box is one of the best benefits of Apple computers. A chunk of our fellow consumers seem to be wishing that away thinking they want A-series Macs but I hope Apple realizes the great value of this 2-in-1 capability.

The reality of the world where computers are used for work is that more than 9 times out of 10, Windows rules. A Mac that can't "just work" with Windows in such situations very likely becomes the spare computer to leave at home, opting to take the Windows computer on the work trips because it will be the one that can much more likely connect with whatever one encounters. I think some of the very, VERY Apple-centric people forget that (because it doesn't apply to them, so it shouldn't apply to anyone else either) but that IS working Mac reality. Even Apple themselves lean heavily on non-Apple-based systems & networks for iCloud support, because Windows and PCs rule the bulk of the computing world and our favorite is only smallish niche.

Enjoy!