Trying to reset an iMac HD to one partition

Long story but here's the gist: I've got an iMac (2010 as I recall) that has two partitions; the previous owner had one as the Mac OS and the other as Windows 7. Both partitions have been erased and formatted as Mac partitions. Booting from the Recovery Drive (Invisible) Partition, I'm trying to restore a single partition, Mac-only. But it won't let me; tells me that one of the drives cannot be unmounted.
I think it's the Recovery Partiion, so I attempt to resize one of the two partitions to give the lion's share (so to speak) to Mac. Cannot unmount.
So then I figure I'll just restore Lion to the one partition and try again. But Lion doesn't recognize either partitions as installable even though they've both been reformatted.
What am I missing here? I keep thinking it's something simple I'm overlooking.

Okay, just figured it out. Knew I would *after* I posted the query.
You cannot change the partition from the Recovery Partition. I should have remembered that.
Booted from my USB Stick Lion installer and repartitioned with no trouble.

Similar Messages

White screen on my ipod touch, what can I do? Tried the reset and restore and niether one worked.

Over the weekend my ipod Touch, generation 3, turned to a white screen. I didn't drop it or anything, just turned it on and it was white. I tried to turn it off and on with no luck, several times, it still just comes up as a white screen. I also tried a restore from my computer and again no luck. Did the screen die on me or is there something else I can do? It is over two years old and I am the only owner. It is up to date with software and has always performed flawlessly. Any suggestions?

Sounds like a logic board issue. Check with some third-party repair depots. Some have flat-rate repair costs.
Basic troubleshooting steps.
17" 2.2GHz i7 Quad-Core MacBook Pro  8G RAM  750G + 120G OCZ Vertex 3 SSD Boot HD 

Trying to reset my IMAC

I bought an open box IMAC at Bestbuy and it has a lot of songs and pictures on it so I went into Disk Utility and erased everything.
I thought I would have an "out of the box" IMAC.
Now I can't do anything. I'm stuck in the Disk utility and can't reinstall OS X or anything since it wasn't my appleid that originally installed OS X.
I'm about to take this thing back if I can't figure it out.
Any help would be appreciated.

Hello ReyRay,
You would need a Lion/Mountail reinstall bootable USB to reinstall the operating system. Either that or restart the machine and hold down the 'option' key while it is rebooting. Then maybe it will let you boot to the recovery partition. You will need Internet connectivity. If you do not feel comfortable reinstalling the OS you could bring it back in or maybe ask the salesperson who sold it to you if they can talk you through the process over the phone.
Did you get AppleCare? If so maybe you can call Apple and they can talk you through it.
I know it's probably a big box to lug back and forth to the store.
Hope it turns out ok.
Mark

I have an iMac 20 inch early 2009 software osx 10.8.1(12b19)...i am not able to use my internet, outlook, or any messenger. tried troubleshooting, reseting safari, disabling firewall, deleted intego...still no internet

I have an iMac 20 inch early 2009 software osx 10.8.1(12b19)...i am not able to use my internet, outlook, or any messenger. tried troubleshooting, reseting safari, disabling norton firewall, deleted intego...still no internet. i did delete intego without uninstalling so im wondering if that caused the problem. everytime i try to open safari it displays this: Safari can't open the page: "http://www.yahoo.com/". the error is: "the operation couldn't be completed. Operation not permitted" (NSPOSIXErrorDomain:1)

Like nearly all antivirus utilities for OS X, Norton a/k/a Symantec and Intego are worthless junk that will cripple your Mac. Remants of one or both are most likely preventing Safari from communicating.
Search the forums for techniques to eradicate them - simply disabling them or dragging their apps to the Trash is not likely to be sufficient. Start by reading this procedure from Symantec:
http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH103489
For Intego: http://support2.intego.com/kb/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=214
... i did delete intego without uninstalling so im wondering if that caused the problem.
I believe you are correct. Download and run its uninstaller.

IMac refuses to allow OS install --trying to reset iMac

I want to reset an iMac back to the original state before it was used.
Things I have tried include :
At startup pressing C and booting of the DVD Installation
Result: screen freezes with Apple logo waited 15 min before restart
Changed boot sequence using the DVD Install Utility program to boot the CD
Result: Apple logo with 'moving gear' then choose Utility, then OS reset got one of two messages
- nice format stating A new OS could not be installed or
- a bugfix dump requesting a hard reboot...
MACs are new to me but I thought I could wipe out an existing HD and reload the OS. So far no luck,

I got it, here are some articles that will help you on how to prepare a Mac for sale.
Prepare a Mac For Sale & Preparing your Mac for sale.

TS1702 My 3G iphone only loads few apps since I updated and the camera doen't work anymore, what now. Tried to reset to original settings and now it won't load apps, even old ones.

My 3G iphone only loads few apps since I updated and the camera doen't work anymore, what now. Tried to reset to original settings and now it won't load apps, even old ones.

What model iPod do you have? If yo have a 2G iPod. many developers when they updated their apps to support iOS 5 and 6 dropped compatibility for iOS 4.2.1 and earlier.

My iPad is asking me for a restriction pass code but I have never set one so I don't know what it is. I'm trying to reset the device because I have sold it.

My iPad is asking me for a restriction pass code but I have never set one so I don't know what it is. I'm trying to reset the device because I have sold it.

Try erasing the device using iCloud.com - assuming that you were using iCloud and the Find my iPhone app on the device.
What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod ...
if that doesn't work, try recovery mode.
If you can't update or restore your iOS device - Support - Apple

I am trying to reset my admin password because I forgot my original one.

I am trying to reset my admin password because I forgot my original one.

OS X: Changing or resetting an account password

Hi my account was locked for some security reasons and i forget the securicty questions and when i am trying to reset my password through email i am not gettig mail to my id can any one help

hi my account was locked for some security reasons and i forget the securicty questions and when i am trying to reset my password through email i am not gettig mail to my id can any one help.
<Edited by Host>

Have you checked Spam? I have noticed recently in my Gmail that Google sends some mails from Apple to the Spam folder.
<Edited by Host>

I use photoshop CS3. Shortly, when I try to use one of the tools, they react only with the eraser. So I cannot use the other tools. I tried to reset in general preferences all warnings. Then I can use the tools again, but with the next picture I get stuck

I use photoshop CS3. Shortly, when I try to use one of the tools, they react only with the eraser. So I cannot use the other tools. I tried to reset in general preferences all warnings. Then I can use the tools again, but with the next picture I get stuck with the eraser again. What can I do? Joost van Santen

Have you tried resetting all tools?

My Ipod Video 30 GB isnt playing any songs any more, i can find them all but when i want to play one the player stops at 0:00, and i tried a reset and to formate it and so on but nohting seems to work, what can i do?

My IPod Video 30 GB isn't playing any songs any more, i can find them all but when I want to play one the player stops at 0:00, and I tried a reset and to formatted it and so on but nothing seems to work, what can i do?

Please helm me, has anyone got an idea?

I tried to reset my iphone5, the reset loading was okay, but after that there is other loading(the one that come everytime after shutting down), so its about 6-7 hours that my phone is stuck on this page. force shutdown didnt work.

I tried to reset my iphone5, the reset loading was okay, but after that there is other loading(the one that come everytime after shutting down), so its about 6-7 hours that my phone is stuck on this page. force shutdown didnt work.

There are many ways to do a reset on an iPhone so which one have you been trying that has got you to where you are now?

I have a partition on my IMac disk and Windows 7 loaded on one partition. I tried to open and W7 will not open and cannot repair itself. Is there a diagnostic/disk repair from Apple that I can try before reloading W7?

I have a partition on my IMac disk and Windows 7 loaded on one partition. I tried to open and W7 will not open and cannot repair itself. Is there a diagnostic/disk repair from Apple that I can try before reloading W7?

Csound1 What Ive been trying to explain is that I have been running bootcamp, I open the app where the first screen is the introduction, i hit continue, the first time I select "download the latest windows support software fromm Apple" then I return and instead select "Install Windows 7." Then hit continue. The third screen is where I "Create a Partition for Windows" I set Windows to 80 gigs then hit INSTALL. As stated before Bootcamp cannot find the install drivers saying "The installer disc could not be found." My windows software is on a USB drive not a disc, I tried using a virtual disc reader to make it appear that the windows software was running on a disc, still no luck. What I would like to know is how to install windows on bootcamp.

My ipod jumps from one screen / app to another on it's own. Sometimes I can't unlock or even shut off. I've tried the reset, I've tried back up, even tried restoring to factory settings and is still having problem. Any ideas of what I can do.

My ipod jumps from one screen / app to another on it's own. Sometimes I can't unlock or even shut off. I've tried the reset, I've tried back up, even tried restoring to factory settings and is still having problem. Any ideas of what I can do.

When you still have the problem after restoring to factory defaults/new iPod then you very likely have a hardware problem and an appointment a th Genius Bar of an Apple store is in order.

I can dial out on my 4s & can answer calls, but no one can hear me talking? Tried network reset...anything else?

Please help...can dial out & answer calls, but no one can hear me...tried network reset...anything else?

Or you can call 1-800-My-Apple
Sounds like there's a hardware problem with your Mic and you need to get it repaired which can be done either at the store (which is going to get super busy very soon) or you can call into tech support for them to set up the repair for you

Trying to reset an iMac HD to one partition

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for