Help Needed with Partition Issue on MacBook Pro! Cannot claim free space!

[salvator]

Hi guys,

I hope you're all doing well. I'm in a bit of a pickle and could really use your advice. I own a 13-inch 2019 MacBook Pro, and recently I had to send it for repairs at the Apple Store. To keep my sensitive data safe, I decided to create a new partition to install macOS for the Apple Store to use.

However, during the installation process, it stopped halfway, and I had to quit it. After that, I erased the new partition, but now I'm facing a problem. Whenever I try to delete the new partition to reclaim the 35.2 GB of space back to my SSD, I encounter an error stating that the disk is corrupted and needs first aid.

I've tried running First Aid multiple times, even in recovery and internet recovery mode, but unfortunately, it failed every time. I really don't want to erase everything and start over with a backup, as that might be my last resort.

Has anyone experienced a similar issue or knows how to fix this? I'd be immensely grateful for any advice or suggestions on how to resolve this problem without resorting to a full erase.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Fishrrman]

My solution is tedious but guaranteed to work.

First, use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to back up your "regular" partition to an external drive. Both SD and CCC are FREE to download and use for 30 days, this will cost you nothing.

Next, I'd suggest you boot to INTERNET recovery
Command-OPTION-R
at boot.

When you get to the internet utilities, open disk utility.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Go to the "view" menu and choose "show all devices".

YOU CANNOT SEE THE INTERNAL DRIVE UNLESS YOU DO THIS !

Now look at "the list on the left".
The topmost item should be the internal drive.
Click on it and click "erase".
Erase to APFS, GUID partition format.

Quit disk utility and open the OS installer.
You didn't tell us which OS you're using.
The installer will offer the latest version that will run on the MBP you have.
(Ventura? not sure)

Start clicking through. The Mac will reboot one or more times, and the screen will go dark for a minute or more with no other indication of activity. BE PATIENT.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
CONNECT YOUR BACKUP and start clicking through.
When setup assistant asks if you wish to migrate from another drive, YES, do this.
Point the way to the backup and give setup assistant time to digest everything.

I suggest you migrate everything to get back to where you were before.

Again -- This WILL get rid of the extra partition, and put things back as they should be.

Good luck.

 

[salvator]

My solution is tedious but guaranteed to work.

First, use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to back up your "regular" partition to an external drive. Both SD and CCC are FREE to download and use for 30 days, this will cost you nothing.

Next, I'd suggest you boot to INTERNET recovery
Command-OPTION-R
at boot.

When you get to the internet utilities, open disk utility.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Go to the "view" menu and choose "show all devices".

YOU CANNOT SEE THE INTERNAL DRIVE UNLESS YOU DO THIS !

Now look at "the list on the left".
The topmost item should be the internal drive.
Click on it and click "erase".
Erase to APFS, GUID partition format.

Quit disk utility and open the OS installer.
You didn't tell us which OS you're using.
The installer will offer the latest version that will run on the MBP you have.
(Ventura? not sure)

Start clicking through. The Mac will reboot one or more times, and the screen will go dark for a minute or more with no other indication of activity. BE PATIENT.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
CONNECT YOUR BACKUP and start clicking through.
When setup assistant asks if you wish to migrate from another drive, YES, do this.
Point the way to the backup and give setup assistant time to digest everything.

I suggest you migrate everything to get back to where you were before.

Again -- This WILL get rid of the extra partition, and put things back as they should be.

Good luck.

Hi thank you for your reply.

I use Time Machine is that a good option and will it back up and restore everything?

I am using Ventura.

I'm aware about this option but is there to repair and resolve the issue without formatting the drive and doing this entire tedious process?

I don't want to go through this entire thing .

 

[Fishrrman]

Time machine should work (I've never used it, ever).

Hmmm...
I'm wondering if the "erase all content and settings" feature will also get rid of messed-up partitions? (Apple may not have thought of that...)

I suggest you try "erase all content and settings" first, to see if it works. However...

...If the partitions are "still there" afterwards, then the ONLY WAY to get rid of them that I can see will be to
- boot to recovery
- erase the ENTIRE drive (do this using disk utility and MAKE SURE you go to DU's "view" menu and choose "show all devices")
- install a completely new copy of the OS
- restore from your tm backup during setup.

In the future, I suggest you DO NOT attempt to create any additional "partitions" on the drive...