Reducing the OSx86 Partition

[Millentree10]

Have you ever needed to reduce your Osx86 partition for Windows/Linux/Recovery/etc.?

 

Here's what you need;

 

1 Gnome Partition Editor (GPartEd) Live CD

 

1 HDD with OSx86 Leopard installed

 

1 Leopard install DVD

 

2 Pies to give me so you can thank me (JK)

 

 

1. Download and burn the GPartEd live CD

 

http://voxel.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/gparted/gparted-live-0.4.5-2.iso

I don't know when you are reading this so there may have been an UPDATE, to see the latest version go here, and download the .iso under the top one

 

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=115843&package_id=271779

2. Open terminal and type

 

diskutil disableJournal <your_partition>

 

ex., diskutil disableJournal disk0s1 (which it probably will be if you are trying to shrink it from taking up the whole HDD)

 

It should say Journaling is disabled. Now type Exit and hit Command+Q. Just to make sure, open disk utility and select your partition. If you are able to select 'Enable Journaling" (DO NOT ACTUALLY DO IT) then you're good.

 

3. Reboot into your GPartEd CD and select the settings for your keyboard/language.

 

When it loads you should be able to resize/move your OS X partition. Go ahead and do that, hit 'Apply' and exit.

 

4. Reboot into your Leo install DVD and open Disk Utility.

 

Now you select your partition and Enable Journaling.

 

*I don't know if Repairing Permissions right now works to fix an oncoming problem I will explain, but do it anyway.

 

5. Reboot into your actual HDD and into OS X.

 

It should load up fine. HERE'S WHERE THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE.

 

What happened to me is I got stuck in a sort of 'Boot Loop' not exactly a boot loop but Every time I hit login the Login screen reloaded.

 

The Fix: Reboot into safe mode (F8 then -x) you should be able to login. Now open Disk Utility and Repair Permissions, then reboot normally.

 

6. Your OS X partition should now be smaller.

 

Thanks for reading!!

 

 

 

Cheers,

Millentree10

[Beerkex'd]

You can easily resize your HFS+ partition(s) from within Disk Utility (if it is journaled) though, Just drag the partition to the desired size. If it isn't journaled, you can also use Disk Utility to convert it to journaled first.

 

Mine is GPT though, I don't know if it acts differently on an MBR partition.

[Azimutz]

It's not possible to resize hfs+ partitions on MBR scheme, with DiskUtility. I think Gparted does it, though.. not shure.

On GUID, it's a breeze add/remove/resize.. it's even possible to resize the system you are booted on. Pretty funky

[Beerkex'd]

Yet another good reason to use GPT and keep OS X and Windows on separate drives.

[Azimutz]

You're totally right, mate. When possible, it's the best way.

That's why i got me a second internal HD for OS X (well, mainly for OS X), GUID scheme.

This way we get the best of both worlds

 

-----------------------------------

Hey, Millentree10... i went to check Gparted and:

- It can shrink both hfs and hfs+ partitions so, no need to disable journaling.. i guess.

- On the other hand, growing hfs or hfs+ partitions it's not possible.. yet. There's already a sticky for that in this forum.

 

There's a menu on Gparted that shows all the allowed actions on the respective file systems.

[Millentree10]

It's not possible to resize hfs+ partitions on MBR scheme, with DiskUtility. I think Gparted does it, though.. not shure.

On GUID, it's a breeze add/remove/resize.. it's even possible to resize the system you are booted on. Pretty funky

 

I had an MBR scheme when I tested this. DiskUtility was not helping, so I set out to find something that would shrinkify my Leo partition because I decided to install Windows 7 next to it.

 

Today, I have a GUID hard drive devoted to iATKOS 10.5.7, and a different hard drive with windows 7 on it. The way you have suggested

 

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On a completely unrelated note, your PRO/100 VE guide helped me with all 3 of my PC's so thanks again.