Partitioning Disk

Aydinz · #1 10-29-2008, 07:31 AM

is it possible to partition my system disk without losing my system. So at the moment i have my system on a 112GB HDD but i want to cut off about half of it to make that second half a backup disk, is there anyway to do this without it wiping my disk to start with?

Thanks

nfoav8or · #2 10-29-2008, 08:08 AM

if your disk is partitioned in the GUID partition scheme already, you can... if MBR, nope. You'd have to make an image of your install and place it somewhere else, then do a restore using the install DVD and reinstalling chameleon.

if you have GUID, simply use Disk Utility and resize your partition and create a second behind it. All should work as normal.

EDIT: with MBR, it is possible, just problematic at times... Thanks Dies.

Aydinz · #3 10-29-2008, 09:23 AM

how do i go about creating an image, whenever i try it says unable to create image (resource busy)

Aydinz · #4 10-29-2008, 10:10 AM

i have made a disk image using Disk Utility, if i restore that disk image to the newley partitioned drive will it be able to boot or will i need to install cameleon again after the restore?

Voyn1x · #5 10-29-2008, 02:29 PM

You will yes, just boot using the install disk

nfoav8or · #6 10-29-2008, 07:04 PM

@ Aydinz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voyn1x

You will yes, just boot using the install disk

To add on to this... Yes, you'll need to install Chameleon again, and boot into the HD by using the install disk.

Also, I would recommend using the Install DVD's Disk Utility or a test partition to create an image to make sure that the HD isn't being accessed while you are creating it.

Voyn1x · #7 10-29-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfoav8or

To add on to this... Yes, you'll need to install Chameleon again, and boot into the HD by using the install disk.

Heh, thats what I meant to write but didn't make it very clear

Dies · #8 10-29-2008, 10:20 PM

This might be too late for the OP, but maybe it will help someone else.

You CAN shrink an hfs+ partition on an MBR drive, you just can't expand it at this point, at least as far as I know.

To shrink the partition, start by disabling journaling

sudo -s
diskutil disableJournal diskXsX

obviously replace X with your target disk and partition, then use a linux liveCD such as

Parted Magic

or Ubuntu or anything that has gparted or parted available, to shrink the partition, reboot and re-enable journaling

sudo -s
diskutil enableJournal diskXsX

It goes without saying that you should make a backup before playing around with your filesystems.

nfoav8or · #9 10-30-2008, 03:36 AM

Dies - I've actually tried that before and have screwed up my system 2 out of 3 times doing it. I gave the above method for beginners not wanting to "accidentally" mess their systems up.

But yes, you are correct. It can be done

Aydinz · #10 10-30-2008, 07:44 AM

i just made an image, reformatted my disk, this time to GUID format and restored the image

and it worked without a hitch

so easy