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I'm trying to create a second partition, but the disk utility window is confusing.
Disk Utility window
What happens if I hit 'Apply'? I have more than enough room for a 60GB partition, but the text is kind of scary. "To erase and partition the selected disk . . ." Does that mean the files on my HD wold be erased if I make the partition? If so, is there a way to make a partition without erasing what's already on the HD?
MacBook 2008 model running OSX 10.7.5
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Will creating a partition erase my HD?
#1
Dustin1985 
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Posted 19 January 2013 - 02:58 AM
#2
icerabbit
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Posted 19 January 2013 - 02:25 PM
Dustin1985, on 19 January 2013 - 02:58 AM, said:
I'm trying to create a second partition, but the disk utility window is confusing.
Disk Utility window
What happens if I hit 'Apply'? I have more than enough room for a 60GB partition, but the text is kind of scary. "To erase and partition the selected disk . . ." Does that mean the files on my HD wold be erased if I make the partition? If so, is there a way to make a partition without erasing what's already on the HD?
MacBook 2008 model running OSX 10.7.5
Disk Utility window
What happens if I hit 'Apply'? I have more than enough room for a 60GB partition, but the text is kind of scary. "To erase and partition the selected disk . . ." Does that mean the files on my HD wold be erased if I make the partition? If so, is there a way to make a partition without erasing what's already on the HD?
MacBook 2008 model running OSX 10.7.5
Creating a new partition in/on a disk is different from partitioning a disk in its entirety. Fortunately, in recent years, adding a partition can be done "on the fly" without erasing the entire hard drive. As long there is enough free space it typically can be done trouble free. The only issue I'd see is if at one point your drive was nearly full, and you actually have data stored in the section that will partitioned off. So make sure you have your data backed up. Whatever was in that new partition space will be inaccessible.
Quote
Create new partitions on a disk
You may be able to create new partitions on a disk without losing any of the files on the disk. Each partition works like a separate disk. You may need to create a new partition if you want to install multiple operating systems on your computer. You can also create partitions to help organize your files.
As a precaution, back up your data before creating new partitions on your disk
Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in Launchpad.
Select the disk where you want to create a new partition and click Partition.
Select an existing partition in the Volume Scheme list, and click Add (+).
Disk Utility splits the partition into two, leaving the data from that partition in one of the new partitions. If the partition is less than half-full, Disk Utility creates two partitions of equal size. Otherwise, it creates one partition large enough for the data, and another partition with the remaining space.
Resize the partitions as needed.
You can drag the dividers between the partitions in the Volume Scheme list, or you can select a partition in the Volume Scheme list, and then enter a value in the Size field.
Choose how to format the partitions that will be erased or created.
For each new partition, select it, enter a name, and then choose a format.
Click Apply.
You may be able to create new partitions on a disk without losing any of the files on the disk. Each partition works like a separate disk. You may need to create a new partition if you want to install multiple operating systems on your computer. You can also create partitions to help organize your files.
As a precaution, back up your data before creating new partitions on your disk
Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in Launchpad.
Select the disk where you want to create a new partition and click Partition.
Select an existing partition in the Volume Scheme list, and click Add (+).
Disk Utility splits the partition into two, leaving the data from that partition in one of the new partitions. If the partition is less than half-full, Disk Utility creates two partitions of equal size. Otherwise, it creates one partition large enough for the data, and another partition with the remaining space.
Resize the partitions as needed.
You can drag the dividers between the partitions in the Volume Scheme list, or you can select a partition in the Volume Scheme list, and then enter a value in the Size field.
Choose how to format the partitions that will be erased or created.
For each new partition, select it, enter a name, and then choose a format.
Click Apply.
From http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5845
Confirmed in OSX Lion the missing manual page 434. Online preview of said page
So, with Lion and plenty of free space, you should be good to go.
Make sure you have a backup of your data.
This post has been edited by icerabbit: 19 January 2013 - 02:27 PM
#3
smax013
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Posted 21 January 2013 - 05:58 PM
icerabbit, on 19 January 2013 - 02:25 PM, said:
Dustin1985, on 19 January 2013 - 02:58 AM, said:
I'm trying to create a second partition, but the disk utility window is confusing.
Disk Utility window
What happens if I hit 'Apply'? I have more than enough room for a 60GB partition, but the text is kind of scary. "To erase and partition the selected disk . . ." Does that mean the files on my HD wold be erased if I make the partition? If so, is there a way to make a partition without erasing what's already on the HD?
MacBook 2008 model running OSX 10.7.5
Disk Utility window
What happens if I hit 'Apply'? I have more than enough room for a 60GB partition, but the text is kind of scary. "To erase and partition the selected disk . . ." Does that mean the files on my HD wold be erased if I make the partition? If so, is there a way to make a partition without erasing what's already on the HD?
MacBook 2008 model running OSX 10.7.5
Creating a new partition in/on a disk is different from partitioning a disk in its entirety. Fortunately, in recent years, adding a partition can be done "on the fly" without erasing the entire hard drive. As long there is enough free space it typically can be done trouble free. The only issue I'd see is if at one point your drive was nearly full, and you actually have data stored in the section that will partitioned off. So make sure you have your data backed up. Whatever was in that new partition space will be inaccessible.
Quote
Create new partitions on a disk
You may be able to create new partitions on a disk without losing any of the files on the disk. Each partition works like a separate disk. You may need to create a new partition if you want to install multiple operating systems on your computer. You can also create partitions to help organize your files.
As a precaution, back up your data before creating new partitions on your disk
Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in Launchpad.
Select the disk where you want to create a new partition and click Partition.
Select an existing partition in the Volume Scheme list, and click Add (+).
Disk Utility splits the partition into two, leaving the data from that partition in one of the new partitions. If the partition is less than half-full, Disk Utility creates two partitions of equal size. Otherwise, it creates one partition large enough for the data, and another partition with the remaining space.
Resize the partitions as needed.
You can drag the dividers between the partitions in the Volume Scheme list, or you can select a partition in the Volume Scheme list, and then enter a value in the Size field.
Choose how to format the partitions that will be erased or created.
For each new partition, select it, enter a name, and then choose a format.
Click Apply.
You may be able to create new partitions on a disk without losing any of the files on the disk. Each partition works like a separate disk. You may need to create a new partition if you want to install multiple operating systems on your computer. You can also create partitions to help organize your files.
As a precaution, back up your data before creating new partitions on your disk
Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in Launchpad.
Select the disk where you want to create a new partition and click Partition.
Select an existing partition in the Volume Scheme list, and click Add (+).
Disk Utility splits the partition into two, leaving the data from that partition in one of the new partitions. If the partition is less than half-full, Disk Utility creates two partitions of equal size. Otherwise, it creates one partition large enough for the data, and another partition with the remaining space.
Resize the partitions as needed.
You can drag the dividers between the partitions in the Volume Scheme list, or you can select a partition in the Volume Scheme list, and then enter a value in the Size field.
Choose how to format the partitions that will be erased or created.
For each new partition, select it, enter a name, and then choose a format.
Click Apply.
From http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5845
Confirmed in OSX Lion the missing manual page 434. Online preview of said page
So, with Lion and plenty of free space, you should be good to go.
Make sure you have a backup of your data.
Key part in red. Even if the process is a non-destructive partitioning method, I STRONGLY suggest backing up to be on the safe side. Major disk operations like non-destructive partitioning have the possibility of going screwy, in which case if you don't have a backup, then you are SOL. Yes, the possibility, in theory, is small, but experience tells me that is when the "universe" likes to mess with you.
[soapbox]Back up = good...No back up = bad[/soapbox]
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