Partition Problem

[peter1234]

I successfully partitioned and installed windows xp on my MBP yesterday using boot camp. Tried to do the same today on my iMac but have received the following message when trying to partition:

"The disk cannot be partitioned because some files cannot be moved.
Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again."

Sorry, but I don't understand. Does this mean I will need to restore the HD from Time Machine? How risky is all of this?

Any help gratefully received!

Peter

 

[Neil321]

Try defragging your HDD with iDefrag

 

[xUKHCx]

Try defragging your HDD with iDefrag

Defragging does work quite often ( i have done it at twice successfully) but it is worth noting that it is quite a dangerous process and can hose your data so make a backup before attempting the procedure.

 

[Trip.Tucker]

Try defragging your HDD with iDefrag

There is no benefit to defragmenting on a Mac. Those who have grown up on Windows seem to make this same mistake over and over. Defragmenting has been sometimes necessary on FAT, FAT32 and less frequently on NTFS, but does not apply to *nix file systems or to HPFS, et al.

 

[ergdegdeg]

I have the same problem and would like to avoid paying 40$
Can I just quit all apps and reformat my HD with Disk Utility? Or do I have to do it with the OS CDs? (I do have up to date backups with Time Machine)

 

[Neil321]

There is no benefit to defragmenting on a Mac. Those who have grown up on Windows seem to make this same mistake over and over. Defragmenting has been sometimes necessary on FAT, FAT32 and less frequently on NTFS, but does not apply to *nix file systems or to HPFS, et al.

Yes I'm fully aware that its NORMALLY not necessary to defragment your HDD on a Mac because OS X does auto defrag, but i'd suggest you google that error and the necessary fix before spouting off, to the OP the only other method would be to find that unwanted file(s)and delete it then try again

 

[Neil321]

I have the same problem and would like to avoid paying 40$
Can I just quit all apps and reformat my HD with Disk Utility? Or do I have to do it with the OS CDs? (I do have up to date backups with Time Machine)

If you want to reinstall the OS ( bit drastic ) you would need the disk's the only other method would be to use something like Disk Inventory X to find the unwanted file( s ) delete them and try to install windows again

 

[ergdegdeg]

I already used Disk Inventory X and moved my Parallels files and my iPhoto library (the only bigger files) to my external. The error still comes up.
So I'm just trying to do what the pop-up tells me - reformat my drive

 

[Neil321]

I already used Disk Inventory X and moved my Parallels files and my iPhoto library (the only bigger files) to my external. The error still comes up.
So I'm just trying to do what the pop-up tells me - reformat my drive

Reinstalling the OS would work i suppose as your starting with a blank canvas, if you have already moved all your stuff to an external try it

 

[xUKHCx]

There is no benefit to defragmenting on a Mac. Those who have grown up on Windows seem to make this same mistake over and over. Defragmenting has been sometimes necessary on FAT, FAT32 and less frequently on NTFS, but does not apply to *nix file systems or to HPFS, et al.

Defragging does work quite often ( i have done it at twice successfully) but it is worth noting that it is quite a dangerous process and can hose your data so make a backup before attempting the procedure.

I have the same problem and would like to avoid paying 40$
Can I just quit all apps and reformat my HD with Disk Utility? Or do I have to do it with the OS CDs? (I do have up to date backups with Time Machine)

Reinstalling the OS would work i suppose as your starting with a blank canvas, if you have already moved all your stuff to an external try it

Reinstalling is another work around for this problem and one I have also used. I had full bootable backups made via Superduper so this process wasn't too taxing as I was at least able to use my computer while the data was copying back over. So if you have a good backup system it is solveable, from your stand point you need to use the original disks to install reformat and clone back from your Time Machine drive.

 

[Neil321]

Reinstalling is another work around for this problem and one I have also used. I had full bootable backups made via Superduper so this process wasn't too taxing as I was at least able to use my computer while the data was copying back over. So if you have a good backup system it is solveable, from your stand point you need to use the original disks to install reformat and clone back from your Time Machine drive.

Looks the like the best plan of action then, i was pretty lucky when i had this error & only needed to delete a couple of large files before reinstalling windows its just all the updates & crap that goes with it that bugs the life outa me

 

[peter1234]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have defragmented the HD as suggested but this has made no difference - still get the same error when trying to partition.

Am happy to try Dick Inventory X but how will I know which is the unwanted file causing the problem?

 

[vivegannaidoo]

There is no benefit to defragmenting on a Mac. Those who have grown up on Windows seem to make this same mistake over and over. Defragmenting has been sometimes necessary on FAT, FAT32 and less frequently on NTFS, but does not apply to *nix file systems or to HPFS, et al.

So does this mean i can safely defrag my windows xp on my iMac, or would this cause problems? (newbie)

 

[Neil321]

So does this mean i can safely defrag my windows xp on my iMac, or would this cause problems? (newbie)

Yes he's right in one way as their is no benefit to defragging the hard drive on a Mac as OS X auto defrags files under 20mb and that only leaves 1% so its not worth it. But sometimes large files cannot be moved a documented fix is to defrag the HDD

As for your question yes its safe and wont cause problems as their two separate OS's on two separate partitions