That’s the problem, though, that popup button is dimmed, so I cannot select anything. I only see “current” once, and it is just text; the popup to the right of it is dimmed, not letting me select anything. I’m on my main drive (500gb Hitachi). On Jun 6, 2014, at 7:43 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Alex, > > Sorry I was so slow at responding. I was fighting with a Server this > afternoon and the battle isn’t won yet. Anyway, those things are immaterial > to your issues. You don’t need to use the “Add” button at all. Unless I’m > misunderstanding you in some way, do things in this order: > > • start up from your thumb drive. > • choose the Disk Utility option. > • select the drive in your Mini, should be listed as capacity followed by > manufacturer. (eg. 1 TB WDC) > • press once on the Partition tab. > • press on the “Current" pop-up and set to one. > • make sure the format is MacOS Extended (Journaled). > • enter “Macintosh HD” for the name. > • press the Options button. Make sure GUID is selected. > • press the Apply button. > > Your drive will now be totally wiped removing any old partitions and creating > a drive with volume “Macintosh HD” as a single partitioned drive. > > • quit Disk Utility. > • choose Install MacOS X from the table and press Continue. > • follow the prompts to install Mavericks. > > Let it do its thing. It will restart and continue with the install then ask > you to start filling in Apple ID info and such. If you wish to create a new > partition after the installation for other OS installations, go back into > Disk Utility and use the Add button from there. Remember, you need to be on > the actual drive, not a named volume in order to do live partitioning. > > HTH. > > Later… > > Tim Kilburn > Fort McMurray, AB Canada > > On Jun 6, 2014, at 1:38 PM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Well, this is odd. Absolutely everything in the partition tab is dimmed, >> including the all-important “add” button. I don’t know if I did something, >> or if this is more evidence of drive problems, but I’m unable to add a >> partition. Did I miss a step, like erasing both existing partitions first? >> On Jun 6, 2014, at 1:56 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> What I’m asking you to do is, in Disk Utility, select your drive. That is, >>> the thing that reads 1 TB Hitachi blah blah or whatever make your HD is, >>> not the already partitioned volumes. Then, go to the Partition tab and >>> partition your HD with one partition, MacOS Extended (Journaled) with name >>> Macintosh HD. As well, press the Options button in this window and ensure >>> that your HD will have the GUID schema. Apply this change and you’ll have >>> one volume on your drive with name “Macintosh HD”. When you run the >>> Mavericks Installer from your thumb drive, the Recovery Partition will be >>> automatically created. >>> >>> Hope this is clearer. Sorry for any confusion. >>> >>> Later… >>> >>> Tim Kilburn >>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>> >>> On Jun 6, 2014, at 11:44 AM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Sorry, I just want to clarify one point. All the “clean install Mavericks” >>>> articles I’ve found say to format your disk/partition. They seem to imply >>>> that you will magically have a Macintosh HD partition, even if it is the >>>> only partition on an otherwise blank drive, or that you simply don’t erase >>>> that partition at all. In your email, did you mean that the installer will >>>> automatically create a partition of the proper size and name if one does >>>> not already exist? I’d rather not go through this multiple times, so I >>>> want to do everything right on the first try if I can. Thanks for your >>>> patience. >>>> On Jun 6, 2014, at 12:25 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi Alex, >>>>> >>>>> Yes, I’m saying that you should totally wipe the HD. That is, after >>>>> starting up from the thumb drive, go to Disk Utility and re-partition >>>>> your drive to one partition named Macintosh HD. Any subsequent >>>>> partitions should be done later on the live drive. This will ensure that >>>>> the Recovery Partition is created properly. Not sure where the other >>>>> individual got there info but this is sound practice. If you used >>>>> DiskMaker X to create your bootable Mavericks Installer, on the thumb >>>>> drive or the built-in “Create Install Media” utility of the Mavericks >>>>> Installer, then a proper Recovery Partition will be automatically >>>>> created. If you used the Disk Utility method, then the Recovery >>>>> Partition must have already existed in order to create a proper >>>>> installation. The problem in your case is that you need to do a total >>>>> re-format, so, using the existing Recovery Partition is not of any >>>>> benefit. Refer to >>>>> >>>>> http://www.macworld.com/article/2056561/how-to-make-a-bootable-mavericks-install-drive.html >>>>> >>>>> for info on these limitations. In addition, if you didn’t perform a >>>>> complete wipe during your last clean install, these errors may have >>>>> carried over thus any disk structure issues would have persisted. >>>>> >>>>> Hope this makes sense. >>>>> >>>>> Later… >>>>> >>>>> Tim Kilburn >>>>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>>>> >>>>> On Jun 6, 2014, at 9:34 AM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Thanks. I’m in the beta partition now, copying a few files over to my >>>>>> external hard drive. The problem is here too: Finder just hung for about >>>>>> thirty seconds, while my Mac’s HD made the sound I’ve come to dread. >>>>>> Still, it’s working, thankfully; my main partition won’t even boot. >>>>>> >>>>>> As to wiping, I’m still not sure what to do. I mean, I know how to >>>>>> format the drive from the OS X on my thumb drive and then install, the >>>>>> question is, what do I do with my partitions? I have two, one Macintosh >>>>>> HD and one OS X Beta Partition. When I did a clean install back in >>>>>> March, I had only the Macintosh HD partition and so didn’t need to >>>>>> worry. I reformatted that partition, but didn’t actually erase it, as >>>>>> people I asked told me that completely erasing the Macintosh HD >>>>>> partition could turn out badly. Are you saying that I should format the >>>>>> entire drive, wiping out both partitions? If I do that, won’t it affect >>>>>> the installation of the OS, or will the installer partition as necessary? >>>>>> On Jun 6, 2014, at 12:43 AM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> For expediency purposes, I wouldn’t worry about re-mapping partitions >>>>>>> etc., you’re just going to wipe the drive and re-partition anyway. >>>>>>> Regarding grabbing those files, if you startup from your thumb drive, >>>>>>> then go under it’s Apple menu to Startup Disk, you should be able to >>>>>>> select the 10.9.3 beta partition as your startup disk. if things are >>>>>>> OK in that area of the HD. Once you’ve started with that version of >>>>>>> the OS, you could quickly get the files you want and place them onto >>>>>>> whatever media you want. You could then go ahead and do the total >>>>>>> wipe/re-partition and re-install from your 10.9.3 thumb drive. It’s >>>>>>> best to do it from there since it needs to be done from a external >>>>>>> source in order to completely reformat the drive. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you’re unable to startup from your beta partition, then the drive is >>>>>>> in fairly rough shape and you’d either need to use Terminal commands to >>>>>>> grab those files or just give up on them. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> HTH. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Later… >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Tim Kilburn >>>>>>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Jun 5, 2014, at 9:51 PM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thanks guys. I have a thumb drive with Mavericsk that I’ve used >>>>>>>> before, and that I keep around now that we have a couple Macs in the >>>>>>>> house. I’ll use that. Before I do though, is there any way to copy off >>>>>>>> any other files I’d like to keep, ones I could recover but that it’d >>>>>>>> be easier just to have if I can get them? I could probably boot into >>>>>>>> that beta partition and copy, but I don’t know if I’ll have the >>>>>>>> permissions to do that. I’ll also need a way to erase the beta >>>>>>>> partition, if that is indeed the problem. I only tested one OS, the >>>>>>>> 10.9.3 beta a month ago, but I suppose it could have caused the >>>>>>>> problem. Anyway, can I erase that from Disk Utility on the recovery >>>>>>>> HD, and if so, how would I do that and merge its space back to >>>>>>>> Macintosh HD? >>>>>>>> On Jun 5, 2014, at 11:11 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I agree with Chris that it could very likely be a software thing. >>>>>>>>> So, since you have a Time Machine backup that is fairly up-to-date >>>>>>>>> and you say that you have your important files backed up, I’d go for >>>>>>>>> the reformat and reinstall option. If you don’t have an external HD >>>>>>>>> or the cables that I mentioned earlier, there is a neat little >>>>>>>>> utility within the Mavericks Installer that allows you to build a >>>>>>>>> bootable Mavericks installer on a flash drive that is at least 8 GB >>>>>>>>> in size. If you wish to go that way, I can share instructions with >>>>>>>>> you. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Later… >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Tim Kilburn >>>>>>>>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Jun 5, 2014, at 9:00 PM, 'Chris Blouch' via MacVisionaries >>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> You mentioned a 50GB partition for OSX betas. So were you running >>>>>>>>>> beta OSes on this box? If so, it's at least plausible that the beta >>>>>>>>>> OSX had some kind of bug which mangled data structures on the drive >>>>>>>>>> and, since it had access to your non-beta partition, it could have >>>>>>>>>> mangled your regular OSX boot drive as well. In other words, this >>>>>>>>>> could still have been a software issue. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> CB >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On 6/5/14, 9:17 PM, Alex Hall wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>>>>>>> So, here's the status of my Mac Mini's hard drive. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> * Two repairs from the Recovery HD resulted in an error telling me >>>>>>>>>>> to format ad re-install. >>>>>>>>>>> * I did just that at the end of March, and given that two repairs >>>>>>>>>>> couldn't fix whatever errors have accumulated after three months, >>>>>>>>>>> it seems like the drive itself is having problems. >>>>>>>>>>> * The SMART status of the drive is "verified", not "failing", which >>>>>>>>>>> seems odd given the previous points. >>>>>>>>>>> * The drive is partitioned into two: 450gb for OS X, and 50gb for >>>>>>>>>>> OS X betas. I don't yet know if the beta partition works, but both >>>>>>>>>>> share a drive so I'm not optimistic. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Any ideas? I looked at replacing the drive, but the iFixIt >>>>>>>>>>> instructions are scary and require special tools. The Mini is not >>>>>>>>>>> under Apple Care protection, and my nearest Genius bar is almost >>>>>>>>>>> three hours away. Am I just doomed, or is there a >>>>>>>>>>> check/repair/miracle program I could run? Any suggestions are >>>>>>>>>>> appreciated. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>>> email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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