Increase System Volume/Startup Disk Partition Size

Hi,
I don't know much about Macs or OSX so bear with me.. I have been searching for a simple way to increase the size of the System Volume on my daughters MacBook running Maverick. She keeps getting a warning to say that the start-up disk is full or nearly full. I have used drive magic to clear some of the temp files and also used monolingual which has helped.
The trouble is that the System Volume only has 74 MB of free space whilst the User Data partition has 172GB of free space. I have tried to clean the disk using utilities and have moved the User folder to the User Data partition but that is not really helping..
Is there a way to expand/extend the System Volume area so that it doesn’t constantly run out of space without losing the User Data?
I can’t update applications because if I try I get told there is not enough disk space available…
I have uploaded some screenshots that may help:
System Volume:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7548959/sv.jpg
User Data:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7548959/ud.jpg
If there is some software that I can purchased that could be used to do this then let me know.
Cheers
M

Everything there looks ok in that screenshot (I was looking to see if there was any [Backup] data, but you only have 400MB in the User Data partition)
I would suggest that you just have one partiton (usually named Macistosh HD, but you can name is anything you want. (Is there a reason why you have it partitoned this way?)
To expand the System Volume partiton, you first need to delete the User Data partiton.
BACK UP ALL DATA
Copy all files from the User Data Partion to an external HD (or flash drive)
In Disk Utility, select the Partiton Tab, click the User Data Partiton and click [-] to Remove
Drag the Right Corner of the System Data partiton to expand the partiton
OPTIONAL
           a) Click [+] to Add Back the User Data partiton
           b) Move the slider between the partitons to re-size
    6. Click [Apply]
    7. Copy back the User Data from the External Drive (or flash drive]
For more info see: Disk Utility - Add, Delete, and Resize Existing Volumes

Similar Messages

Increase startup disk partition size

Greetings,
I need a simple way to increase the size of my startup drive. Currently my SSD drive has 2 equal partitions of approximately 250GB. The top partition has no data or applications, it is empty and can be eliminated. The lower partition is 95% full with applications only. The operating system is 10.8.5.
Can I simply copy everything from my Home Folder (all my applications and operating system) to a secondary drive, then reformat the impacted original startup drive to one partition, then copy the Home Folder back? Will the operating system work properly? Will applications work properly? Sorry for these basic questions, but I would sincerely appreciate any knowledge on this topic.
Thanks, Scott

Use a program such as the Disk Utility, Carbon Copy Cloner, or SuperDuper to clone the contents of the bottom partition to the top one, restart from the top one, delete the bottom one, and then resize the remaining partition to the size of the drive.
If your computer is authorized to play protected iTunes Store content, deauthorize it first.
(91890)

External backup drive doesn't show in System Preferences/Startup Disk

Using SuperDuper!, I thought I created a bootable backup on my LaCie FW 200GB ext. HD. I opened System Preferences/Startup Disk to try booting from the LaCie by changing the Startup Disk to the LaCie. The LaCie didn't appear, there. My Mac HD is there, and a Network Startup icon with a question mark in it, is there. I'm on a standalone machine. My Ethernet port is used for a cable modem.
I Restarted and held down the Option key to see if the LaCie would show up that way. No luck. The LaCie is mounted on my desktop, and the System Profiler shows it on the FW bus. So, I don't really have a bootable backup drive (or volume). The LaCie is not partitioned, nor is my internal startup disk.
I did use Disk Utility & found I had to repair the LaCie. Initially, DU said the disk couldn't be repaired, but on a repeat, the LaCie shows as repaired.
How can I get the LaCie to show up in System Preferences/Startup Disk?

Select the external drive's icon and press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. In the pane labeled "Ownership and Permissions click on the small triangle gadget beside the word Details. You should see at the bottom a box labeled "Ignore permissions on this volume." If there's a checkmark in the box uncheck it. Close the Get Info window. Now see if the drive appears in the Startup Disk preference.
If you still have a problem then you might try the following:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
Next clone your system to the external drive:
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Select the destination drive on the Desktop and press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. At the bottom in the Ownership and Permissions section be sure the box labeled "Ignore Permissions on this Volume" is unchecked. Set Ownership and Permissions as follows: Owner=system with read/write; Group=admin with read/write; Other with read-only.
2. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
3. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list.
4. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
5. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
6. Select the backup or destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
7. Select the startup or source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
8. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
For added precaution you can boot into safe mode before doing the clone.

My system showing startup disk full. I am using mac book pro retina display 15"

I would like to know how to clean the startup disk. The system showing startup disk is full and not opening files in photoshop and other softwares. I was trying to upgrade OS X Mavericks it required 4.99 gb space. available is 1.99 only. I have connected an external HD but it is showing readable only cant able to copy or delete files. But previously it was copying and removing. Please help

To fix your external drive try reformatting it with Disk Utility. (This assumes there is no data on it now that you wish to keep because it will erase the drive.)
Your disk space is low enough that you are in danger of not being able to boot the machine. You are on the right track trying to offload some files to an external disk.
See https://discussions.apple.com/message/24012341#24012341 .

Bootcamp disk icon does not appear in the System Preferences/Startup Disk. Any help ideas ?

Everything works fine but the Bootcamp disk icon does not appear in the System Preferences/Startup Disk.
When I am in Win7 I am easily rebooting my iMac by right-clicking on the Bootcamp icon.
When I am in Mac OS I wish to do same but that Bootcamp icon does not appear. Everytime I am restarting my iMac and pressing on the Option key to select the Windows disk.
Does anyone have an idea how to adjust to bring the Bootcamp icon to the Startup Disk panel ?

Use BootChamp instead; perhaps you have an NTFS 3rd party driver installed and has its own control panel.

System Preferences Startup Disk Vs. Boot with Option key depressed.

External FW drive connected via standard 400 FW cable, is recognized by System Preferences>Startup Disk, proving that it contains a valid OS X system. But when selected, and clicking Restart, first in the System Preferences>Startup Disk window, then in the modal dialogue, the computer beeps, but does not restart. Same behavior when the computer's internal drive is selected.
The only way to select a startup disk is booting the computer (select Restart from Apple Menu) holding the Option key, clicking the required icon, and then clicking the arrow at the right end of the window.
I have run DiskWarrior, zapped the PRAM (that should take care of startup settings), no change.
Sum up: System Preferences>Startup Disk does not perform.
Powerbook PPC.

Charly,
there might be a timing problem. At the time when the Mac PRAM asks for the startup disk the firewire disk might not be "present" yet. Can you turn on the external disk manually?
Does the preference pane "remember" your selection of the startup disk or does it change it back to the internal disk?
You might want to run some system maintenance, especially clean the caches: Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance
If this answered your question please consider granting some stars: Why reward points?

Hard time for selecting Startup Disk (partition) in Mac Classic II.

Dear coleagues, I'd like your help to understand and solve a tricky trouble. I'm sorry for the long text, but the issue is probably living in a small detail.
The issue regards a Mac Classic II with internal and external HDDs. Internal HDD has two partitions, a smaller with System 7.1 (first) and a larger with System 7.5.3 (second). This one is installed there since 5 years ago, working fine.
The (just installed) external HDD has 6 partitions (because of its size 9 Gb). It has been formated runing VCP in this Classic II itself and all partitions are initialized with HFS. It is intended to be a backup for my Classic II as well as my Mac Plus. I've started Installing System 7.5.3 in its third partition. Other partitions remain still empty.
Using only internal HDD I can already perceive that "Startup Disk" control panel is unable to change the boot partition attribute between partitions in the same drive. When I open "Startup Disk" it usualy both partitions of internal HDD are highlighted. I can select a Zip Drive, for instance, and it will boot from Zip. But, when I switch it back to HDD, doesn't bother wich partition I select, it will always boot with the same partition (usually 7.5.3). Then, If i open Startup Disk CP again, both partitions are again highlighted.
To switch between partitions in the same drive, I use Lido 7.5.6 PMount and there I select the boot partition. Then every time I select my HDD, that'll be the default boot partition.
My conclusion is that in Mac Classic II the Startup Disk CP is unable to set a partition within a drive, it selects the drive only. The boot will obey the drive's partition table flag. That's why I can do it whith Lido, writing directly at HDD's flags.
Now, attaching the external HDD, I can see all its partitions in Startup Disk CP and then I select one of them (the 3rd, with 7.5.3). Before rebooting, I close and open again the Startup Disk CP, then I can see all its 6 partitions highlighted. Just like I've been doing with the internal HDD, probably the solution to set a specific boot partition would be through Lido 7.5.6 PMount again. But Lido is unable to handle this drive. It appears gray in the drives list.
What does it sound to you? What would you recommend to test? Is there an alternative for Startup Disk CP?
Thank you.
Regards, Ciro (Brazil)

Dear Jan, good Evening.
Thank you for your time.
In fact I can select a specific partition, but by closing and reopenning Startup Disk CP I realize that the selection has been attributed to the physical drive (all partitions highlighted).
I have tried Startup Disk CP in both System 7.1 and System 7.5.3. They do the same way.
Internal HDD has been formated, partitioned and initialized with Apple HD CS Setup.
This external HDD in a different way. Apple HD SC Setup hasn't been able to "see" it, probably because of its prior format system. Lido neither. That's why I went to VCP. Moreover, as it is too big for 68030, I had to format it attached to a Performa 6360. After formating, I've let VCP make set the partitions in HFS mode (partitions with 512, 1024 and 2032 Mb).
I've mounted VCP in Mini VMac to get some screenshots for you:
Bringing it back to Mac Classic II, it could be mounted with Lido, but System 7 has asked to initialize all partitions again. I've accepted, installed system 7 on it, and it didn't boot. Then I've repeated the partitioning and initializing procedures using Apple HD SC Setup (since now there's a Mac HDD with "small" logical drives). Nothing changed.
I'm following your tip about System Picker. I've downloaded the sit file and read about it. It seems to be able to overlay the problem. I'm gonna try it and report back here.
But I feel still uncomfortable not to be able to do things the regular way. As far as I know, the boot partition is an attribute of a drive partition in partition map, just like the "Active Partition" found in FAT systems. I should be able to write there as I can do with Lido in internal HDD.
Thank you, Jan.
Best regards,
Ciro Bruno.

Disk Partition Sizes - Best Practices

In the old days of SunOs 4.x we used to spend a lot of time figuring out disk slice sizes to make sure that we maximized the space on the old 200 meg disks.
Then once we started using the 1 to 4 gig disk we used just make it one big slice and not worry about things filling up because when it was full, it was full.
Now, we have these huge 32 gig to 100+ gig drives and things become tricky again. I was wondering how other large companies are slicing up their drives and what thie best practices are.
The size I was interested in were for:
8,18,36,72,146 G disk
My thought is that the 8 gig is still small enough to do the complete disk, but the others may need some thought.
If some people could let me know what they do for:
/var
/opt
/usr
I know that we should handle non DB machines different than DB machines so any advice on that would be great.
Thanks in advance.

well normally when I setup systems I don't like /usr or /var or anything so I lump everything into root "/", since you don't have any other filesystems your space dun get "locked" and wasted it also makes it easier to do manual backups like ufsdumps also.
But if you do want to partition the exception would be /var and /opt as a lot of patches and software normally defaults to these 2 as the base installation directory but as I said normally I throw everything into "/".
Then there's slice 2, 3, 4 and 7 which normally I don't install anything on them
slice 2 is "backup" represents the entire disk, it can be used but normally nobody touches this. if you use it, I think there will be a problem if you wanna do things like 'dd'
not sure now but In the old days when you used things like volume manager, vm will take slice 3 and 4 as a private/public region if you have data on it prior to encapsulation it will move the data to other slices for you, but if there are no free slices to move data to from slice 3 and 4 then vm install will fail or if you want to unencapsulate the rootdisk later on you will have a confusing problem as orignally your data from slice 3 and 4 was moved elsewhere during vm encapsulation.
slice 7 by default with I first install os I will either leave it blank for future or allocate 10mb to it, this is in case I wanna mirror the disk using disksuite so I normally designate slice 7 of all the disks as my metadb, if you use up all the space and leave slice 7 blank you can still allocate space to it for metadb by allocating a few sectors to it from the "swap" area in cdrom single user mode.

Startup disk partition map repair difficulties

Disk Utility is reporting that "The partition map needs to be repaired because there's a problem with the EFI system partition's file system." However, after booting into the Recovery HD and attempting to repair this, I keep getting the error, "Live file system repair is not supported." And yet I can verify that I am definitely not booting from the startup disk so I don't know why or how this is happening. Any ideas on next steps short of backing up, reformatting and wiping the drive?
Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Hi Richard,
If you are having issues resolving a disk issue when booted to the Recovery partition on the internal hard drive, especially issues regarding partitions themselves, you may want to try creating a Recovery System on an external volume, as outlined in the following article:
OS X: About Recovery Disk Assistant
Regards,
- Brenden

Adding system to Startup Disk Preferences

I recently erased my windows partition and recreated it (so I could make it bigger) however it no longer shows up in the Startup Disk System Preferences. I can only boot to it by holding down option on start up and then it appears. How can i get it to appear in the Startup menu like before?

Hmmm, that could be the reason - using Winclone to restore the old Windows system rather than reinstalling. But this is just a guess on my part.
You might consider using the Startup Disk control panel installed in Windows with the driver installation. Select the Windows system and reboot. Then use it to select the OS X partition and reboot into OS X. Then see if it shows up in the OS X preferences - Startup Disk.

System Profiler | Startup Disk BSD Assigned Name

This is a recurring issue, although I'm not sure whether or not it matters.
My question(s): When run from within the OS (Leopard 10.5.8) on my HD - Why do both System Profiler and Disk Utility recognize my startup/boot BSD name to be = disk2s2?
I'm curious because, when run from my Leopard Install DVD, both System Profiler & Disk Utility recognize and display what I believe is (or should be) the correct startup/boot BSD name (disk0s2).
Does it make any difference?
Regardless, I still would appreciate someone who can explain why my startup/boot BSD name in the past always has been the same "disk0s2". Whereas now it's "disk2s2".
Again, in the past I've noticed this (difference) on more than one occasion after formatting/installing my OS on a brand new hard drive. Current info listed below:
Bay 1 = WD Caviar Black 640GB, 32MB Cache <startup/boot> Name: "Earth" System Profiler BSD: disk2s2 Mount Point: /
Bay 2 = Hitachi E7K1000 1TB, 32MB Cache, Name: "Studio", System Profiler BSD: disk1s2, Mount Point: /Volumes/Studio
Bay 3 = Hitachi E7K1000 1TB, 32MB Cache, Name: "Text", System Profiler BSD: disk0s2, Mount Point: /Volumes/Text

This is a recurring issue, although I'm not sure whether or not it matters.
My question(s): When run from within the OS (Leopard 10.5.8) on my HD - Why do both System Profiler and Disk Utility recognize my startup/boot BSD name to be = disk2s2?
I'm curious because, when run from my Leopard Install DVD, both System Profiler & Disk Utility recognize and display what I believe is (or should be) the correct startup/boot BSD name (disk0s2).
Does it make any difference?
Regardless, I still would appreciate someone who can explain why my startup/boot BSD name in the past always has been the same "disk0s2". Whereas now it's "disk2s2".
Again, in the past I've noticed this (difference) on more than one occasion after formatting/installing my OS on a brand new hard drive. Current info listed below:
Bay 1 = WD Caviar Black 640GB, 32MB Cache <startup/boot> Name: "Earth" System Profiler BSD: disk2s2 Mount Point: /
Bay 2 = Hitachi E7K1000 1TB, 32MB Cache, Name: "Studio", System Profiler BSD: disk1s2, Mount Point: /Volumes/Studio
Bay 3 = Hitachi E7K1000 1TB, 32MB Cache, Name: "Text", System Profiler BSD: disk0s2, Mount Point: /Volumes/Text

Boot Camp Startup Disk Partition Problem

Hi,
I am using MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012).
I'm trying to install Windows 8.1 through Boot Camp Assistant ver. 5.1.3.
I get the follow error message when I open Boot Camp Assistant
This is the screenshot of my DU's partition tab
It seems like the problem is because I have two partitions, but I don't know why I have disk0s1.
I've never touched DU before.
Is it safe to delete disk0s1?

Hi, I am indeed using Yosemite.
Please see my output below
diskutil list
/dev/disk0
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *750.2 GB   disk0
   1:                  Apple_HFS                         209.7 MB   disk0s1
   2:          Apple_CoreStorage                         749.3 GB   disk0s2
   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk0s3
/dev/disk1
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD           *748.9 GB   disk1
                                 Logical Volume on disk0s2
                                 B431B5DA-5653-4555-B698-B49FF0EBE308
                                 Unlocked Encrypted
/dev/disk2
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:     FDisk_partition_scheme                        *8.1 GB     disk2
   1:                 DOS_FAT_32 WININSTALL              8.1 GB     disk2s1
diskutil cs list
CoreStorage logical volume groups (1 found)
|
+-- Logical Volume Group 44DD3F84-BCDD-4C47-A70C-6AEDA2F1664E
    =========================================================
    Name:         Macintosh HD
    Status:       Online
    Size:         749296615424 B (749.3 GB)
    Free Space:   18939904 B (18.9 MB)
    |
    +-< Physical Volume 4A4380C6-6005-4F15-A705-F7F3D13575B1
    |   ----------------------------------------------------
    |   Index:    0
    |   Disk:     disk0s2
    |   Status:   Online
    |   Size:     749296615424 B (749.3 GB)
    |
    +-> Logical Volume Family F353CD2D-8D25-4009-B483-8E7AF98117BC
        Encryption Status:       Unlocked
        Encryption Type:         AES-XTS
        Conversion Status:       Complete
        Conversion Direction:    -none-
        Has Encrypted Extents:   Yes
        Fully Secure:            Yes
        Passphrase Required:     Yes
        |
        +-> Logical Volume B431B5DA-5653-4555-B698-B49FF0EBE308
            Disk:                  disk1
            Status:                Online
            Size (Total):          748925353984 B (748.9 GB)
            Conversion Progress:   -none-
            Revertible:            Yes (unlock and decryption required)
            LV Name:               Macintosh HD
            Volume Name:           Macintosh HD
            Content Hint:          Apple_HFS
sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0
gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=750156374016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1465149168
gpt show: /dev/disk0: PMBR at sector 0
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Bad CRC in GPT table at sector 1465149135
       start        size index contents
           0           1         PMBR
           1           1         Pri GPT header
           2          32         Pri GPT table
          34           6
          40      409600      1 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
      409640 1463469952      2 GPT part - 53746F72-6167-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
1463879592     1269536      3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
1465149128          40
sudo fdisk /dev/disk0
Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 91201/255/63 [1465149168 sectors]
Signature: 0xAA55
         Starting       Ending
#: id cyl hd sec - cyl hd sec [     start -       size]
1: EE 1023 254 63 - 1023 254 63 [         1 - 1465149166] <Unknown ID>
2: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused
3: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused
4: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused

I installed bootcamp but became a pain to use so I unistalled it. Now every time I turn my Macbook pro on it keeps asking me what startup disk to use. I tried using the system preferences to correct this but it hasn't worked. Can someone help

I installed bootcamp but became a pain to use so I unistalled it. Now every time I turn my Macbook pro on it keeps asking me what startup disk to use. I tried using the system preferences to correct this but it hasn't worked. I even restored my mac back to factory settings but it still asks me what startup disk to use. I have looked everywhere for a solution but one anywhere

Delete the System Preference .plist file (preference file) and when rebooting and #2 Reset the PRAM
Deleting the System Preference or other .plist file
..Step by Step to fix your Mac
Then head to System Preferences > Startup Disk and select the OS X volume to boot from.

Why does Windows 7 not show up in System Preference's "Startup Disk"

Why does Windows 7, installed via Boot Camp, show up when you hold down the option key when booting but the drive does not show up in System Preferences under the Startup Disk icon.
As an aside Windows 7 runs perfectly on my MacBook.
- Mike

Now I found I'm not alone. My situation is similar but not exactly the same.
I recently switched from the white MacBook to latest mac mini, tried installing XP Pro not successful for some reasons then tried Win7 (build 7000). On my old macbook this worked perfectly.
Got win7 updated and picked win7 as startup disk in windows, used that for few days without going back to leopard. On just one occasion I booted with 'alt' key pressed (using a PC keyboard) I have choices of drives so I thought everything was fine. As soon as I booted into leopard I found no win7 partition in system>preference>startup disk, OMG I couldn't boot back to win7 since then. From that point onwards the 'alt' key didn't work for me. Every time only leopard can be booted.
What can I do now?
Why it was OK in macbook but didn't work on mini? Is it worth investing on a mac external keyboard just to get the 'option' key?

Corrupt "Startup Disk" icon in System Prefs

Wish I could post a pic, but I can't. The icon for the Startup Disk in my System Preferences is all messed up. It's way too wide, looks like a light switch with a circle or something down in the corner, and the title isn't even there.
Old skool: rebuild the desktop.
New millennium:...?
Thanks for any suggestions! (All software updates installed.)

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions ...
It could be that your System Preferences are corrupted. It happens... Try this. Locate this file;
com.apple.systempreferences.plist It's here: /Home/Library/Preferences. Open the Preferences folder, locate that file, drag it to the Trash, empty the Trash and reboot. Go to your System Preferences/Startup Disk pane and see if the icon is behaving.
Also, if you haven't already done so, create a new user: System Preferences/Accounts and see if the System Preferences/Startup Disk icon looks like it should in that account. The reason for doing this is to see if the problem is system wide or just your Home Folder.
Also, can't hurt to run Disk Utility. It's in your Applications/Utility folder. Repair Disk Permissions and see if that makes a difference.
Hope something helps!
Carolyn

Increase System Volume/Startup Disk Partition Size

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