Remove Boot Camp partition without BC Assistant

[remotetechitaly]

I am new to this forum and just lost my post. So here a short version: I need to remove Boot Camp and restore the disk space to OSX. There are some issues: it is a Mac AIR with no optical, CD or other external drives, it is a gift so the user is EXTREME intimidated by the machine, I am helping remotely and the best is that there is NO space on the OSX partition even after removing the data and leaving only the programs.

I have followed the help provided by simsaladimbamba yet at step 4 we get a different screen with has two options and only the 'Download latest Windows support software from Apple" not 'Install or remove Windows 7' (grayed out).

I believe the computer is using Tiger or Leopard (not Snow Leopard) as we want to upgrade and can't due to disk size. Need the space badly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Intell]

It's likely running Leopard. No Macbook Air came with Tiger. You can remove the Boot Camp partition with Disk Utility. Open Disk Utility and select the drive, go to the partition tab, select the Windows partition, click the minus button below the drive partition layout, then click Apply. If possible it is best to back up your data before doing this as data loss can happen while doing this, but it is very rare that it does.

 

[remotetechitaly]

No options under Disk Utility

Thanks but still have problems. I got the Disk Utility open but then once selecting Bootcamp I get four choices at the top FIRST AID, ERASE, RAID, RESTORE.: FIRST AID AND ERASE --
None of the options are highlighted so I can not continue.

Even if they were, I am not sure which option to take - which option would leave me with one disk and all the disk space to use as my OSX disk?

Also, there were no minus button below the drive partition. Is there anything I can do now with the Disk Utility. Still an huge issue now that I am back.

 

[Intell]

Select the root of the drive. It will be titled after the hard drive's model. Then go the partition tab, select the Boot Camp partition, and click the minus. This is how I've done this on Tiger in the past.

 

[remotetechitaly]

Spare disk available but part of OSX drive

Thanks and bootcamp is gone & the drive which had windows on now appears as extra space when I view it through Disk Utility and does not show up in the finder menu. It now appears as though the "Spare Disk" is useless and wasted space. My goal is to reunite the windows partition with the original. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this properly but simply put, I would like to connect the spare disk with the original disk so I have more usable space.

I am running OS 10.8 but there are no lines in the corner to extend the partition (as many of the online help suggest doing). Now I have ~50GB that are not available to my OS drive which is still full.

My MAC is having issues functioning because I can not update anything due to limited disk space. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[remotetechitaly]

Need disk space from bootcamp deletion....

Hello Still Unable to Use Disk Space (see screen shot)

I removed bootcamp and no longer have any associated software. I have the partition showing up as unused and want to join it to the OS X disk (even the shared would be a help). There is no corner to drag and I cann't upgrade to Lion (or higher) because there is no diskspace (even after removing all possible data - only programs are taking full OSX disc. Advise is welcome - please note I am a novice and beginner with NO experience.

THANKS - please help if you can.

 

[monkeybagel]

Hello Still Unable to Use Disk Space (see screen shot)

I removed bootcamp and no longer have any associated software. I have the partition showing up as unused and want to join it to the OS X disk (even the shared would be a help). There is no corner to drag and I cann't upgrade to Lion (or higher) because there is no diskspace (even after removing all possible data - only programs are taking full OSX disc. Advise is welcome - please note I am a novice and beginner with NO experience.

THANKS - please help if you can.

It is saying that I believe because you are running a hybrid partition scheme. You need to download gdisk and convert back to GPT. Perhaps murphychris can chime in and provide some assistance.

It will be command line, so if you are not comfortable with that, you may need to do a backup and reinstall if possible.

 

[Intell]

What format is the "Shared" volume? You'll only be able to resize the disc if it is an HFS+ format.

It is saying that I believe because you are running a hybrid partition scheme. You need to download gdisk and convert back to GPT. Perhaps murphychris can chime in and provide some assistance.

The partition is the standart GUID partition scheme for Intell based Macs. No need for altering it.

 

[monkeybagel]

What format is the "Shared" volume? You'll only be able to resize the disc if it is an HFS+ format.



The partition is the standart GUID partition scheme for Intell based Macs. No need for altering it.

I am assuming it is in the hybrid GPT/MBR scheme since the boot camp assitant was run at least one time. If it see this, Disk Utility will report that Book Camp was used and will not want to do anything with the disk.

 

[Intell]

I am assuming it is in the hybrid GPT/MBR scheme since the boot camp assitant was run at least one time. If it see this, Disk Utility will report that Book Camp was used and will not want to do anything with the disk.

Disk Utility will still be able to remove the Boot Camp partition. But it is only able to resize other partitions that are HFS+ and if all other partitions are HFS+ as well.

 

[remotetechitaly]

How do I check the "format" of the drive?

Thanks for the advice but I am uncertain how to figure out the format? As for the reinstall it is impossible because the original owner is in US and I am in Italy. I am wondering why this is so hard. Anyway, disk utility does not have an option to combine the disk - so now what? Thanks.

 

[PowerPCMacMan]

If I am understanding you correctly you wish to combine an NTFS partition and an HFS+ partition? Can't be done.. it has to be the same format as the other partitions, meaning.. you can't have NTFS and HFS on the sane disk.

Thanks for the advice but I am uncertain how to figure out the format? As for the reinstall it is impossible because the original owner is in US and I am in Italy. I am wondering why this is so hard. Anyway, disk utility does not have an option to combine the disk - so now what? Thanks.

 

[rtheb]

CAUTION:

Do not use Disk Utility to remove your BootCamp Partition but use BootCamp Utility

If you did remove the BootCamp Partition using Disk Utility or BootCamp Utility fails to function then this may work for you.

Make sure you have verified/repaired your OSX Disk and verified/repaired Permissions.

Next make a Full BACKUP of your OSX disk before doing the steps in the following video as sometimes Disk Utility can leave you with an un-bootable system.

 

[chami1720]

Hello Still Unable to Use Disk Space (see screen shot)

I removed bootcamp and no longer have any associated software. I have the partition showing up as unused and want to join it to the OS X disk (even the shared would be a help). There is no corner to drag and I cann't upgrade to Lion (or higher) because there is no diskspace (even after removing all possible data - only programs are taking full OSX disc. Advise is welcome - please note I am a novice and beginner with NO experience.

THANKS - please help if you can.

Go to Disk Utility - Select the Total Hard drive - select the partition from the right hand side tab and select the partition you want to be removed.

Thanks. it helped..