Trouble partitioning the disk

[Will_Mac94]

Okay so I've searched and searched through the internet but any solutions that are offered up do not work.

PROBLEM:
I'm trying to partition my hard disk, the partition map currently looks like this:

I am trying to extend my OS X partition to include the free space shown below 'disk0s4'.

I have tried:

1. Click and dragging the partition icon at the bottom of the OS X partition
2. Attempting to create a new partition in terminal using:
diskutil partitionDisk /dev/disk0/ GPT JHFS+ Test 0b
(the comes up with the error 'Error: -69888: Couldn't unmount disk')

This occurs because the OS X partition cannot be unmounted. My thinking behind creating a new partition is that you can merge 2 together in Terminal that are not adjacent to each other.

3: Attempted to use iPartition but when I start it up, it says: 'Could not read disk'

I am unsure as to whether this has anything to do with the fact that my hard disk contains no core storage as when I type:

diskutil cd list...the result is 'No CoreStorage logical volume groups found'

I feel like my only other option is to backup everything. Reformat the drive and start again. If anyone has any other suggestions they would be much appreciated as I would have reformatted as a last resort!

Thank you

 

[Weaselboy]

You can't extend the OS X volume down because the space below it is not empty. Is there data in disk0s4?

Try an option key boot then select recovery HD to boot from and look at Disk Util from there. Then try to remove disk0s4 and see if that allows you to then extend OS X down into the empty space.

If that does not work, run "diskutil list" (without the quotes) in Terminal and post the output of the command here.

Don't worry about diskutil cs list as it does not appear you have any core storage volumes there.

 

[Will_Mac94]

This is what I get when I use "diskutil list":

I am unable to mount 'disk0s4' and so cannot see if there is any data in it. I have Googled around using the disk identifier and the name and what comes up most common is that it is the MBR partition. I don't know that for certain though.

Is it safe to delete it? And if so, how will this help me extend my OS X if the Recovery HD drive is still in the way?

Thank you for your help

 

[Weaselboy]

I have no idea where you got they disk0s4 volume from. Maybe from a bad Bootcamp repartition?

It also looks like you have enabled Disk Util debit mode and that is why you are seeing the recovery HD there. Try turning off debug mode and boot to recovery then what do you see in Disk Util? You will need to remove disk0s4 to get this done though.

 

[Partron22]

I feel like my only other option is to backup everything. Reformat the drive and start again. If anyone has any other suggestions they would be much appreciated as I would have reformatted as a last resort!

This is what I ended up doing when I wanted to add a third partition to my 2 partition non-boot disk. Total PITA. Apple has done something screwy that has made what used to be a simple job difficult.

 

[Will_Mac94]

I have managed to delete the 'disk0s4' partition.

I looked in the debug mode in Disk Utility and the option to 'Show every partition' was unchecked. I have also attempted to create an fstab file and insert the UUID of the Recovery HD in there but still not look. The partition is still visible in Disk Utility.

Any other suggestions?