Unmovable files: Which ones they are they?

[BootcampBS]

Hello, I'm trying to make a 40~50GB Bootcamp partition out of 80 free GBs and I'm getting that "unmovable files" error.

I've been looking for a way to find out which files are being physically stored within that 40~50GB section of the hard disk platter(s) that Bootcamp is trying to use. Does anyone know of anything that can do that?

 

[Shirasaki]

I was told that sometimes file system will put some special data at the end of current data collections on disk. Such data is invisible for user, but may be visible for some disk operating software.
When resizing spaces, if such special data is not properly moved to a new location, space resizing will fail.
Don't know what it would be in Mac OS X.

 

[BootcampBS]

I was told that sometimes file system will put some special data at the end of current data collections on disk. Such data is invisible for user, but may be visible for some disk operating software.
When resizing spaces, if such special data is not properly moved to a new location, space resizing will fail.
Don't know what it would be in Mac OS X.

I think a lot of data has already been removed from the target area, but Bootcamp won't share the details on the stragglers. It doesn't keep any log or history that I'm aware of. What about tracking read/writes to see which files Bootcamp is looking at?

And I know there is some hidden data at the beginning of all storage devices to make everything work, but I haven't heard about any at the end before. Is that normal, or would it mean there's a problem?

 

[Shirasaki]

I think a lot of data has already been removed from the target area, but Bootcamp won't share the details on the stragglers. It doesn't keep any log or history that I'm aware of. What about tracking read/writes to see which files Bootcamp is looking at?

And I know there is some hidden data at the beginning of all storage devices to make everything work, but I haven't heard about any at the end before. Is that normal, or would it mean there's a problem?

For NTFS there are lots of apps capable of doing Such. In Mac I don't know.

Again in NTFS, system keeps two backups of certain data, one in the beginning and the other in the end. I don't know anything about Mac, though.

 

[DeltaMac]

I suspect that even though you have 80GB free, you don't have enough contiguous free space to create the bootcamp partition.
This would be one of those unusual times when doing a full disk defrag should help you.

Another item to check is to turn OFF FileVault, if you are using that. It takes over the whole hard drive, and keeps space reserved for the encrypted volume. That may report that you have space available, when in fact, the File Vault won't let you use it for other purposes, such as adding a new partition. Turn File Vault off, then reboot. The Boot Camp assistant should work then.
Also, make sure that Time Machine is turned off.

 

[BootcampBS]

@Shirasaki: Oh, I never really messed around with defragging or partitions on XP.

@DeltaMac: I'm tempted to defrag, but it may or may not actually work. I'd rather find out which files are dividing the free space into chunks, and try copying and replacing them myself. FileVault has never been turned on. Nor has time machine, I've manually copied my files to another Mac.

I've also repaired permissions and verified the disk, and scoured by disk for files left behind by parallels.

Now, maybe partitioning and re-merging the HD with Disk Utility from the DVD can move things that can't be touched while booted from the HD. But is it safe?
And should I try Bootcamp again "during" or "after" a safe-mode boot?

 

[Benjamin Frost]

You could try selecting all files and dragging them to the desktop.

If not all of them move, the computer will tell you.

 

[Shirasaki]

@Shirasaki: Oh, I never really messed around with defragging or partitions on XP.

@DeltaMac: I'm tempted to defrag, but it may or may not actually work. I'd rather find out which files are dividing the free space into chunks, and try copying and replacing them myself. FileVault has never been turned on. Nor has time machine, I've manually copied my files to another Mac.

I've also repaired permissions and verified the disk, and scoured by disk for files left behind by parallels.

Now, maybe partitioning and re-merging the HD with Disk Utility from the DVD can move things that can't be touched while booted from the HD. But is it safe?
And should I try Bootcamp again "during" or "after" a safe-mode boot?

I don't let filevault on because I need boot camp to access Mac partition.

Well, I guess such files are file system files, thus they are not accessible by normal finder or other similar file managers. An example of such files under NTFS is $MFT.